While most old homes lacked insulation in outside walls and attics, the tight homes built today insulate against high heating and cooling costs. And air conditioning has evolved from large, loud, watt guzzlers to smaller, quieter, less-expensive systems. With growth rings spaced far apart, the wood is inherently weaker and more prone to rot. Before the 1980s, commercially available wood was harvested from old-growth forests, which produced dense and durable lumber. Still, new homes often benefit from new technology in building and designing.
Homes tend to be designed with more windows to create an open, airy feeling.
Even a recently built home may have an inadequate fuse box-style panel that falls short of the energy demands of 21st century families. Plumbing Long ago, before we understood the effects of lead exposure, lead pipes were standard equipment. Over the years most homeowners have replaced them with galvanized pipes, which have been found to corrode. Although copper piping is now the product of choice, fittings connecting old lead or galvanized pipes to the copper piping may be vulnerable to corrosion. Only you and your family have the answer.