After seeing a few sets of blueprints for houses built 50 or 100 years ago, they certainly don't build them like they used to.
I submit that, in many ways, they actually build them MUCH better.
The blueprints Ive seen show things that wouldnt pass the most lax of codes today. Floors built on 2x8s (which would likely bounce and squeak like a bed at a cheap motel), 2x4's for rafters, etc. Not to mention the "relaxed" energy efficiency of those bygone era homes.
What IS lacking in the average house today is craftsmanship. While the average house of yesteryear might have had beautiful moldings in each room, those things are present only in higher end residences now. And I think that the houses of past generations were simply loved more than our homes are today. It is highly unusual for someone to spend their entire adult life in one, or even two, houses now. Not so when our grandparents were young. They frequently lived in the same place their whole married lives and gave the houses constant TLC.
Just my thoughts anyway. What are your experiences with old houses?
Although I'm relatively new to the home buying market...I certainly agree with you, Gryphon! My auntie bought her childhood home from my grandmother's estate a few years back -- and I've watched her upgrade it, as well as, run into some of the various issues (e.g. asbestos, plaster walls, plumbing, etc.) that she's had to deal with.
However, it's a SOLID house and the craftsmanship beats many modern homes of today.
We live in a disposable society.
Plates are disposable, cups, silverware, towels, now we've entered the realm of disposable cars and disposable houses. I was looking on the realtor.com site last night, and there were homes in a high priced area of Indy going for $250k and up, were 6 years old or newer, and the siding looked like shit and was falling down in some spots. I don't get it...why build stuff that just falls apart? I guess so the consumer is forced to pass it along and replace it with a new, unused model.
More than likely. I think the structure of houses is stronger now than say 50 years ago. Its the finishes that are crap.
Vinyl siding, nylon carpets, vinyl floors. Most of us live in a Barbie dream house.