Age is just a number, as the saying goes. But when it comes to the age of your home, that number does carry meaning. There are a lot of practical and aesthetic differences between a newly-built home in an up-and-coming subdivision and a historic home on a shady street.
As home design and styles changed throughout the years, so did the materials used to build them, and the codes they were built under. The age of your home impacts many things including
- the way you live in it,
- what needs to be done to maintain it,
- what would be involved in a remodel, and
- how much maintenance and remodeling will cost.
Popular Styles Through the Years
A hundred years ago, the predominant home style in America was the Craftsman Bungalow. These sweet homes had low-slung roofs, front porches with tapered columns, and overhanging eaves. Inside, they often featured an open floor plan, built-ins, and excellent craftsmanship. These homes are generally small by today’s standards.
Larger homes came into style with Tudor-inspired Colonial-revival homes. These homes are recognizable for their partly-timbered, partly stone (or stucco, or brick) exteriors, decorative chimneys, and asymmetrical design. Inside, they offer a lot of square footage and generally smaller rooms. This, and the wood paneling they offer, makes them cozy but some may not like the lack of an open floor plan.
Single-story Ranch homes became popular in the 1950s and 1960s. They are generally low to the ground and well-integrated with their natural surroundings. Ranch homes offer open floor plans and often have large patios or other outdoor living spaces.
Split-level homes, with two or three levels connected by short staircases, came into style in the mid-20th century as well. These homes are usually built on sloping ground and they follow the slope. They became popular because they’re affordable to build and offer a lot of square footage, with large, open living spaces. On the downside, the many staircases can make it hard for older people and young children to navigate.
McMansions, the somewhat derogatory term for large homes that began to be built in the 1980s, are known for their very large footprint (often over 3000 square feet) and often smaller yards. They focus on comfort: large closets and bathrooms, tall ceilings, oversized kitchens and bathrooms, and lots of windows.
Modern Farmhouse-style homes, made popular in part by Joanna Gaines, rose in popularity in the 2010s and beyond. Their charming mix of old-looking materials and modern conveniences make them beloved by some. Others believe they will eventually go out of fashion.
Today’s new homes focus on sustainability and functionality. Many people who are building new houses want their homes to be environmentally friendly, wired for smart appliances, and focused on spaces that support their well-being. They want multi-functional spaces that can adapt to their changing needs and desires.
Changes in How Homes are Built
Your home’s age dictates not just its style, but also how it was built. Through the past century, building codes and popular building materials have shifted dramatically. One example of this is what materials are used on interior walls.
During the 19th and early 20th centuries, plaster and laths were the most commonly used materials for interior walls and ceilings. Laths–thin boards nailed horizontally in strips–were erected and then covered in a lime or gypsum paste. When the paste, or plaster, hardened, it could be painted or wall-papered. Sometimes the plaster was applied directly over brick walls and helped insulate the home. Plaster walls and ceilings are fire-resistant and muffle sounds much better than today’s interior walls, but they can also be difficult to install and repair. Today, we generally use drywall installed over insulation. It’s faster, less expensive, and easier to repair.
Building codes have changed as well. Beginning the 1600s when people began creating building codes to keep entire towns from burning down when fires started, and continuing to today when codes are in place to maintain the safety and effectiveness of electrical, plumbing, and more, building codes have evolved based on needs and changing practices. And as we learn more about how to build safe homes, codes change to reflect that as well. An example of this is the fact that asbestos used to be approved for use in homes and now is definitely not.
Remodeling and the Age of Your Home
What does this mean for you as you consider remodeling your home?
The Age of Your Home Impacts What You Remodel
To begin with, the age of your home may determine what exactly you want to remodel. Older homes, for example, may need drastic changes made in bathrooms or kitchens to support a modern family. Or they may have narrower hallways and smaller windows that you’d like to enlarge to make the space feel bigger and airier. On the flip side, if your home is newer, you may be remodeling in order to add some character, to make it unique and fitted to your family, instead of the blank slate you initially bought.
The Age of Your Home Impacts What Is Required
If you have an older home, more work may be necessary to bring your house up to code and keep it functioning well for you and your family. You may need
- HVAC work or replacement to make your heating and cooling more functional.
- Electrical and plumbing system upgrades, to keep your home safe.
- Structural changes like raising ceilings, widening hallways and doorways, and adjusting staircases to bring them up to code and make them more usable.
- Upgrades in energy efficiency, like adding or replacing insulation, and replacing old, single-pane windows with energy-efficient ones.
- Removal of dangerous materials like asbestos and lead-based paint.
Additionally, if you are lucky enough to own a historic home, there will likely be requirements about what can be changed and how, in order to preserve the building’s historical significance.
The Age of Your Home Impacts What Your Costs Will Be
For homes built before the 1980s, we generally tell clients to expect to pay between 10-20% more for a remodeling project. However, this can be less based on how the home has been maintained. For more information, see our Cost Guide.
The Age of Your Home Has Benefits Too!
If you live in an older home, you may have more upkeep or specialized maintenance. But an older home comes with a lot of plusses as well. Older homes have a lot of character. From built-ins to wood paneling, from stunning fireplaces to charming kitchens, older homes stand out. While new-construction homes often go for the easiest and most convenient designs and details, older homes have thoughtful and well-designed spaces.
Older homes are often made of better materials and have better craftsmanship than new homes. Today, homes are built quickly but older homes came together slowly and steadily. The quality of the materials and the building means that older homes were designed to last–and they have!
Whatever Its Age
If you own a newer home, you know that it comes with pros and cons. You may have to work a little harder to give it character and make it fit your style, but you probably won’t have as many maintenance issues. Remodeling will likely be easier, both because it’s already up to code and because it probably already aligns with how your family lives. You’re improving an existing space, not reinventing it.
If your home is older, you also see its pros and cons. It has a ton of character and it was built with an eye for excellence. But common problems with older homes include some systems that need upgrading, rooms that don’t fit your lifestyle, and maybe historical concerns that need to be addressed.
Whatever the age of your home, we can help you remodel it. Our professional designers can help you accentuate the good your home offers while minimizing the less desirable aspects. We can help you transform your home–whatever its age–to fit your lifestyle, needs, and desires. If you’re ready to get started, contact us today. We’d love to help you make your house the perfect home.
