The First Steps To Take When Renovating An Abandoned Home
Posted on: 25 September 2017
Any home that has stood unoccupied for a long time will be the worse for wear. Small issues that normally would have been caught by attentive homeowners get out of hand, and once small issues start, it takes little time for them to become big. Taking on this kind of fixer upper takes some guts, and you may not know where to begin.
Here are the first steps you need to take when restoring and renovating a previously abandoned home.
Clear Debris
There may be years (even decades) of trash and leavings left inside the house. Using a large roll-off dumpster, begin removing all the old furniture and garbage. This can take several days. You'll want to make sure that all people involved have gloves and face masks, because you don't know what sort of toxins might be in the air (including asbestos, mold spores, and rodent droppings).
Stop and Seal
Homes that have stood unoccupied for a long time sometimes because the targets of animals and vandals. Windows may be broken, the roof may have holes, and the siding may be overgrown with harmful vines and weeds. Your first task it is to stop the damage from getting any worse. Broken windows and roof damage mean that moisture can pour into the house, causing rot and mold problems. Cover broken windows and roof holes with plastic to seal them off. Replace missing or broken doors with cheap substitutes that will function for the time being.
Mold Testing and Demolition
Your next task is to conquer the mold. You'll want to hire mold remediation services from a place like Safe-Way Waterproofing & Mold Remediation to help you get the mold out. Because a lot of the home features will be moldy from lack of climate and moisture control, pairing mold testing and mediation with demolition is ideal. This way, you can remove old cabinets, curtains, carpeting, and even paneling and wallpaper that is showing signs of mold. Mold remediation can be expensive, but you don't want to start any rebuilding until it is completely gone. This way, you can repair plaster, sand down hardwoods, repaint, and sheetrock without having to worry about ruin down the road.
Pest Control
Pest control is another first step for restoring an abandoned house. All the gaps, broken areas, and worn seals on doors allow for mice, cockroaches, ants, bees, and bats to make a home inside. Some pests, like mice and roaches, can be exterminated with lethal treatments. However, bats and bees are essential to the environment and should not be killed or poisoned. You'll need a professional to help to relocate bee colonies and bat populations without harming them. Sealing off areas helps to keep bats from returning.
Essential Systems
When the house is cleared of debris, unwanted bathtubs, old cabinets, mold, pests, and is properly sealed, you can get started on making essential system repairs. You can (and should ) begin with roof repairs. This way, you can removed the plastic sealing covers and begin interior work in earnest. Following the roof, waterproofing the basement and making any necessary foundation repairs is the next priority.
After the roof is functional and the foundation repaired, it's time to turn attention to the essential systems of the house: HVAC, electrical, and plumbing. HVAC makes the work environment controlled and helps with interior moisture problems. It's easier to run new ducting when the house is open right after demolition. Repaired electrical is needed for all power tools needed in other repairs. Finally, plumbing allows work to continue on rebuilding bathrooms and and the kitchen to modern standards. You may need to dig up the yard and access the
For more information on mold and moisture remediation, contact a professional company in your area.
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