Owning a home is a serious responsibility. After your house is built, you’ll have to deal with maintaining it to ensure that it remains to be livable. Cleaning can be an easy task for any homeowner, but time will come when you’ll need to do more than that. Repairs and renovations will be inevitable after living in your house for a couple of years so that it remains to be safe to live in.
However, the signs that you need renovation may not be as obvious compared to seeing the need for general cleaning.
Here are five telltale signs that a major renovation is needed in your home:
1. Leaking roof
If your home is fairly new, a leaking roof could mean that the roof installation wasn’t done well. However, if you live in an older house, the roof could be rotten already. You wouldn’t want a leaking roof, especially during the rainy season, so it’s best to do some checks for damages and rotting before the rainy season starts. You can use trusted scaffolding and parts like those from TotalContec to ensure your safety when you inspect the roof. Some ways to tell that you may have a leaking roof are:
- Roof rot which could be caused by moisture absorption in the mat
- Water stains on your ceiling or walls
- Damaged roof flashing
- Drips on walls, even if they seem intermittent
- Spots on exterior walls
- Missing shingles
2. Termite infestation
An older home can be attractive to pests and insects because the materials inside can be aging and deteriorating. Termite infestations can lead to structural damage that you probably won’t even notice, lowered aesthetic value, and health conditions like allergies or asthma attacks. Here are a few signs of termite infestation so you can renovate wisely:
- Hollow sounds when knocking on wooden parts of the house
- Small tunnels or holes in the wooden walls, beams, and parts
- Presence of flying termites or their wings in the vicinity of your property
- Sawdust debris in unusual places
- Mud tubes which could lead to the termite colony
- Spongy flooring
3. Damaged flooring
Damaged flooring could mean tiles that are detaching, water stains, unusual gaps, and other signs of extreme wear. The wearing off could be caused by various reasons, and your floor is actually holding a lot of weight like foot traffic and heavy furniture. Whatever the cause is, a damaged flooring will mean a major renovation before it gets worse. Examples of damaged flooring are:
- Torn and worn out carpets
- Squeaky or loose floorboards
- Floor plank cupping
- Loose or rocking toilet in your bathroom
- Cracked tile flooring
- Bubbling linoleum flooring
4. Chipping or Peeling paint
Another sign which tells that your home is in need of a major renovation is when exterior and interior paint starts to peel, chip, or wear out. This means that your home is deteriorating and you’ll need to take a look at areas that need repainting. Repainting will touch-up those dirty spots and update the look of your entire home. Here are some painting tips:
- Remove existing paint with the use of a steel wool before repainting.
- Apply fresh coats of paint on both your exterior and interior walls.
- Include kitchen and bathroom cabinets in the touch-up.
- Also check molding, baseboards, and other parts of the home for repainting.
5. Your kitchen and bathroom look old
Both the kitchen and bathroom are crucial parts of the house. If you feel that these areas are old and outdated, then it’s time for a renovation. Whether it’s the old fixtures, worn out tiles, or old appliances, fixing these areas will significantly add to your home’s value and improve the aesthetics. Your kitchen needs a renovation when:
- Your appliances are outdated, and your energy bills are running up. Newer appliances are energy-efficient and can save you money.
- The cabinets are falling apart. Kitchen cabinets can have more attention compared to other cabinets in the house and can be damaged quicker.
- Visible signs of burn damage or discoloration over the years, regardless of how careful you’ve been in the kitchen.
- You don’t have enough space, and you need a new layout for better traffic and more storage areas.
- You don’t like to use your kitchen anymore, or no one likes to spend time there.
Your bathroom calls for a renovation when:
- You have leaking pipes. Leaking pipes can cause severe property damages when not addressed early, and can lead to mold build up and increased water bills.
- Outdated fixtures like toilets, sinks, faucets, shower heads, and so on. They look old, stained, worn out, or are leaking.
- Stained tiles or signs of water damage that could call for subfloor change.
Final thoughts
Home renovation can cost you money, but you shouldn’t ignore the warning signs listed above before things get out of hand. It’s crucial that you do needed renovation and upgrades to keep your family safe, have a livable home, and increased home value if you want to put it in the market.
