Man, the hidden stuff is always what gets you. We tried to DIY as much as we could—demo, painting, even tiling—but the second we found some sketchy wiring and old pipes, we called in the pros. Ended up replacing everything behind the walls just for peace of mind. Did you find the permits and inspections part as much of a hassle as the actual work? That was a whole saga for us...
Did you find the permits and inspections part as much of a hassle as the actual work?
Honestly, the permits and inspections were almost more stressful than the remodel itself. The paperwork, waiting for approvals, and scheduling city inspectors dragged things out. I get why it’s necessary, but it felt endless. We spent about $18k total, mostly because once we opened up the walls, we had to bring everything up to code. If you’re in an older house, budget for surprises—those hidden issues are almost guaranteed.
- Had a similar experience with my 1920s bungalow.
- Permits took forever, and every inspection felt like a mini heart attack.
- Ended up spending around $21k, mostly because the old plumbing was a total mess.
- Wish I could say the process was smooth, but honestly, the charm of old houses comes with a price—literally and figuratively.
- Would I do it again? Maybe... but I'd definitely brace myself for more surprises behind those plaster walls.
the charm of old houses comes with a price—literally and figuratively.
That’s the truth. I tackled a 1940s bathroom last year and thought I’d budgeted for “surprises,” but the electrical was a whole saga of its own. Did you end up having to rewire anything, or was it mostly plumbing headaches? Curious if you found any original features worth saving, or did everything have to go? Sometimes I wonder if it’s better to gut or try to work around what’s there...
We had to rewire a bunch of it, actually—old knob-and-tube everywhere, and the inspector wasn’t having it. Plumbing was a mess too, but at least that’s pretty standard in these places. I did keep the original medicine cabinet and tile floor, though; just couldn’t bring myself to toss them. Sometimes working around what’s there is more work than just starting over, but man, the character you get from those old details is hard to beat.
