Matching old trim is the bane of my existence. I’ve spent way too many weekends hunting for something “close enough” at salvage yards, only to realize the stain never quite matches. You nailed it with this:
“Old framing is like opening a mystery box every time.”
Last time I tried to build up on a 1915 duplex, I found knob-and-tube wiring running through places it had no business being. Ended up rewiring half the upstairs just to get the new bathroom lights working. At least with a bump-out, you know what you’re getting into—dig, pour, frame, done (well, mostly).
That said, sloped yards can be a real headache. Had one project where we had to bring in a mini-excavator just to level things out, and the roots from an old maple nearly derailed the whole thing. Still, I’d rather deal with mud and roots than try to blend new drywall into 100-year-old horsehair plaster.
You’re not alone—sometimes the “simpler” option is just the one with fewer surprises.
Bumping out vs. building up: which way to expand?
Man, I hear you on the trim hunt. I’ve got a box in my basement labeled “maybe close enough” that’s just full of failed attempts. Honestly, every time I’ve tried to build up, it’s been like a scavenger hunt for hidden disasters—last time, I found an entire squirrel nest in the attic joists. Bump-outs aren’t exactly a walk in the park either (especially if you hit old sewer lines), but at least you’re not fighting ancient lath and mystery wiring. I’ll take mud over plaster dust any day, even if my boots never recover.
Bumping out definitely feels less like opening Pandora’s box, I’ll give you that. Every time I’ve worked on a build-up, it’s like the house is hiding secrets just waiting to mess with your timeline. But I do kinda love the challenge of making old spaces work—sometimes you find cool old details worth saving, even if you have to wrestle with ancient wiring. Still, mud is easier to clean up than plaster dust... and at least you know what you’re getting into with a bump-out, most of the time.
Mud over plaster dust any day—my wallet and my vacuum both agree. I swear, every time I’ve cracked into an old wall, I find something weird... once it was a mummified mouse. At least with a bump-out, the surprises are usually outside, like roots or rocks, and you can budget for that. Still, sometimes I miss the character you get from working with the old stuff, even if my bank account doesn’t.
I get the nostalgia for old walls, but from a numbers standpoint, I’ll take a bump-out any day. Less risk, more control over the budget, and you’re not rolling the dice on ancient wiring or hidden rot behind plaster. Had a project in a 1920s bungalow—every demo day was a new “adventure” and not in a good way. Sure, character’s great, but surprise repairs eat into your ROI fast. If you’re looking at long-term value, bumping out just makes more sense to me.
