Funny thing, we also found knob-and-tube wiring tucked behind our old plaster... one surprise after another with these houses.
That’s wild—old wiring always seems to pop up at the worst time. We ran into galvanized pipes during our remodel, which added a chunk to the budget. Curious, did you end up rewiring the whole bathroom or just patching that section? Our total was around $18k, but a lot of that was unexpected fixes like plumbing and electrical. Did you have to redo your subfloor too, or was it in decent shape?
Curious, did you end up rewiring the whole bathroom or just patching that section? Our total was around $18k, but a lot of that was unexpected fixes like plumbing and electrical. Did you have to redo your subfloor too, or was it in decent shape?
Knob-and-tube is always a wild card—never know what you’ll find until you open things up. I’ve seen jobs where folks try to just patch the wiring, but honestly, it’s usually safer (and less hassle long-term) to rewire the whole space if you’re already in there. Costs more upfront but saves headaches down the line.
Galvanized pipes are another classic. They always seem fine until you touch them, then suddenly you’re replacing half your plumbing. $18k sounds about right for an older house with those kinds of surprises. Subfloors can go either way—sometimes they’re solid, sometimes they’re basically compost. If yours held up, that’s a win.
Don’t get discouraged by the curveballs. Old houses have character, but they definitely keep you on your toes...
Costs more upfront but saves headaches down the line.
Couldn’t agree more with rewiring—patching just seems like asking for trouble, especially with old knob-and-tube. We did a full gut and found the subfloor was half rotted under the tub, so that had to go too. If you’re already opening up walls, I’d say check insulation and maybe upgrade to something eco-friendly while you’re at it. It’s wild how one fix leads to another... but at least you know it’s solid for years.
Funny how every time you open up a wall, it’s like Pandora’s box—except instead of hope, you find old wiring and mystery pipes. Ever run into those weird “fixes” from previous owners? I once found a light switch wired to nothing but a nail… Anyone else end up redoing plumbing while they’re at it, or is that just me?
I hear you on the “Pandora’s box” thing—every time I think I’ve budgeted enough, I find something else lurking behind the drywall. Those mystery fixes from previous owners are wild... I once found a pipe capped with duct tape and a prayer. I always wonder, do people just not care or were they just trying to save a buck? Honestly, redoing plumbing seems almost inevitable if you want peace of mind. Did you end up having to move any walls, or was it mostly just chasing down weird wiring and pipes?
