I get what you mean about finding random stuff in the walls, but honestly, I think most of it just falls in by accident. People weren’t that clever about hiding things, at least not in the houses I’ve worked on. As for demo, I usually stop as soon as I hit solid framing and there’s no sign of moisture or critter nests. No point tearing out more than you have to—time is money. If you’re worried about missing something, maybe you’re overthinking it? Sometimes you just gotta trust your gut and move on.
I’ve actually found some pretty odd stuff tucked away in the walls of my old place—old coins, a child’s shoe, even a couple of yellowed letters. Maybe folks around here were more secretive, or maybe it’s just luck of the draw. I get wanting to move fast, but with these older homes, I tend to poke around a bit more. Sometimes what looks solid is hiding a mess behind the lath... had a whole section of rotten sill that wasn’t obvious until I went looking for draft sources. Guess it depends on how much you’re willing to risk missing.
Ever run into knob-and-tube wiring when poking around? I’ve found that slows things down way more than hidden drafts or rotten wood. Do you usually open up every wall, or just target the obvious cold spots?
Knob-and-tube is a real headache, no doubt. I’ve run into it more than I’d like, and it always means slowing down and being extra careful—especially if you’re thinking about dense-pack insulation. Personally, I don’t open up every wall unless there’s a compelling reason. Targeting the obvious cold spots or places with visible issues is usually more efficient, both for time and budget. But if you’re aiming for top-notch energy efficiency, sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and go deeper. It’s a balancing act between what’s practical and what’s ideal... and sometimes the old wiring tips the scales toward “just patch the worst spots.”
Targeting the obvious cold spots or places with visible issues is usually more efficient, both for time and budget. But if you’re aiming for top-notch energy efficiency, sometimes you just have t...
That line about “just patch the worst spots” hits home. Every time I walk into a house with knob-and-tube, I start mentally calculating how much coffee I’ll need to get through the week. Last winter, I tried to do the “full energy efficiency” thing on a duplex from the 1920s. Ended up finding more surprises in the walls than in a box of Cracker Jack.
Honestly, I’ve learned to pick my battles. Unless I’m planning a full gut reno, I’ll focus on the rooms tenants actually complain about—usually the north-facing bedrooms or drafty living rooms. No sense tearing up perfectly fine plaster if the ROI isn’t there.
I get wanting to go all-in, but sometimes, like you said, the old wiring just isn’t worth the headache (or the extra days on the project). My motto now: insulate where you’ll actually feel it... and save the heroics for the next flip.