Getting a storm shelter signed off is a huge relief. I always say, when you’re dealing with older homes, expect the unexpected—especially behind walls or under floors. Out of curiosity, did you run into any insulation surprises during your checks? Sometimes those old materials can be trickier than the wiring.
Honestly, I think the insulation issues get overblown sometimes. In my case, the wiring was way more of a headache than any old insulation. I did pull up some floorboards expecting to find a mess, but it was just dusty fiberglass—nothing wild like vermiculite or asbestos. If anything, the real surprise was how much patchwork had been done over the years. Makes me wonder if sometimes we brace for the worst and end up spending more than we need to.
Totally get where you’re coming from. I’ve run into way more headaches with old wiring than insulation too—especially when you find those mystery junction boxes buried in the walls. Patchwork repairs are always a wild card. Sometimes I think we psych ourselves out expecting asbestos or some disaster, but it’s just a bit of dust and a few oddball fixes. Still, better to check than get surprised later, right?
Yeah, those hidden junction boxes are always a treat... nothing like opening up a wall and finding a rat’s nest of wires from three different decades. I’ve seen some real “creative” fixes over the years—one time I found a light switch wired with speaker wire. You’re right though, it’s usually not as scary as you think, but you never know till you look. Better safe than sorry, especially when it comes to old houses.
Had a similar surprise in one of my flips—pulled down some drywall and found a junction box just floating in the insulation, no cover, wires twisted together with electrical tape from who knows when. Always makes you wonder what else is hiding in the walls, right? Still, once you get it sorted, it’s a good feeling knowing it’s safe. Old houses definitely keep you on your toes.
