Glenda Taylor | posted October 26, 2021 12:18 PM

New houses must comply with strict design and construction codes, but most of these rules did not exist decades ago, which is why old houses often have unique features that can be challenging or seem very strange. Nevertheless, the old house still attracts many people. They are usually cheaper than new houses, and they attract enthusiastic DIYers who hope to build sweat assets through renewal. In the future, I find some quirks that love them or hate them. These quirks may be closely related to the life of living in the old house.

Forget about sneaking into the kitchen for supper. The noise of the old house is notorious-just passing through a room can cause the hardwood floor to rub against the subfloor, causing a squeaking noise enough to wake other family members. Fortunately, noisy floors can usually be muted. Try to sprinkle a little cornstarch between the floors to reduce wood-to-wood friction that causes noise.

The recently constructed stairs follow the 7:11 rule of the International Housing Code—the height of the risers cannot exceed 7 3/4 inches, and the depth of the treads must be at least 11 inches. However, in old houses, the stairs are built strictly according to their functions, not for safety or convenience, so risers and treads can have multiple sizes. Many historic houses have steep and narrow stairs, some of which are difficult to move through twists and turns. You might find them charming, but don’t plan to put a king-size bed upstairs anytime soon.

Even in old houses with updated HVAC systems, airflow is common because it can be challenging to retrofit old houses with balanced ducts and return air regulators. The heat rises naturally. In old houses, it may flow into the attic or out of the windows on the upper floors. This creates a vacuum effect and sucks in cooler air from the basement or crawl space. Sealing the ground floor and surrounding the foundation may be helpful, but the airtightness of the old house is not as good as that of the new house, and it is almost impossible to eliminate all airflow.

Related: The best door windshield for cooler months

Before heating and cooling costs soared, many old-fashioned home builders adopted multiple tall windows for residents to enjoy the beautiful scenery. These single-pane windows are part of the charm of the old house, but they are not energy efficient—cold in winter and heat in summer. Installing windshields can help reduce some of the heat transfer, but replacing the windows with double- or triple-layer energy-efficient models can make a more noticeable difference.

Pipes called "water hammer" are caused by hydraulic shock. When the water source is turned off, the hydraulic shock will cause the water supply pipeline to violently hit other pipes or wooden frame members on the walls and floors. The noise can be very loud and shocking. Nevertheless, homeowners can reduce it by insulating the pipes in question, reducing the water pressure on the water meter, or installing water hammer eliminators (such as the Sioux Chief water hammer eliminator).

If you are looking for a house with a walk-in closet and enough space to store clothes and shoes, you may not find it in an old house. When building these houses, wardrobes are limited, and most people only have a few clothes to store. If the bedroom is large enough, you can add a separate wardrobe, or if the house has many small rooms—like many old houses—consider turning the extra one into a dressing room.

Related: The Best Wardrobes of 2021

All houses will settle down over time, and old houses have enough time to settle down, which means you may find that some floors are slightly slanted. In addition, sometimes builders don't make the floor completely level from the beginning because they don't have the precise laser levels used by today's contractors. Just because of the slope on one or more floors does not mean that there is a structural problem, but you may still want to conduct a professional inspection to rule out major problems before quoting the property.

This is not the old-fashioned pet entrance you see on the exterior wall near the front door. This is the milk gate. If the house was built before 1950, it is possible that the original owner installed a milk door so that the milk delivery person can deliver milk without leaving it on the porch. Milk doors are one of the more charming quirks in old houses, and some homeowners today use them as mailboxes, newspaper boxes, and even shoe doors.

In an old house, it is not uncommon to walk through one bedroom to another bedroom or find that the front door leads to the kitchen. Decades ago, houses were designed according to the specific needs (or whims) of new owners, and few people thought about whether this layout would satisfy others. Although it is usually possible to change the uncomfortable floor layout, it may be necessary to remove the load-bearing walls and install ceiling beams to support the weight, so it is usually not a DIY project.

Flashing lights are a common sign of old wiring. If the wiring in the house is not updated, it is not only insufficient to power today's electrical appliances, but also a safety issue and will increase the risk of fire. In the short term, consider using low-wattage bulbs and operating only one device at a time. However, the wiring is planned to be updated-and soon.

Related: The best household LED bulbs

Many old houses used to use coal for heating, but most of them have been upgraded to gas, oil or electric furnaces. Coal troughs can still be found in many old houses, some of which have carefully designed patterns carved on cast iron doors. This door is where coal transporters shovel coal into the chute leading to the coal bunker. Although it is a decorative and charming "gatekeeper", it is best to seal and isolate the door to prevent pests from entering.

Related: 10 places you don’t know where pests hide

A hundred years ago, homeowners did not have the benefits of large-capacity refrigerators. In addition, they cannot always get all the food they need from the local market. Root cellars are the second best thing-they are located underground, keeping it dark and cool. Root crops such as radishes, potatoes and carrots can be stored safely for several months. Old cellars can easily collapse, so many homeowners choose to fill them with sand to ensure safety.

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