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Dating a house is quite useful as it helps determine the timeframe for significant
Home Improvement Costs in a home. As home inspectors, we like to make ourselves
look smart by  mentioning
the approximate age of the home early in the inspection. After many years of
home inspection, we feel it is time to let everyone else
in on the secrets (apologies to other home inspection firms).
Outside Clues:
- look for dates on manhole covers,
sidewalks or curbs
Inside Clues:
- thermopane
windows often have a metal strip between the panes of glass with the
date of manufacture (check several windows and the sliding glass
door too)
- look for a sticker
on the electrical panel with the ‘date
of possession’
- if the furnace
looks original, look for installation stickers or gas tags hanging from
the gas piping
- if the water heater
looks to be original, check for installation stickers
- many porcelain
plumbing fixtures have a date stamped inside – check
the toilet tank lid or the tank near the water line
- stone
foundations are typically pre-1930
- concrete block
foundations are typically pre-1970
- poured concrete
foundations are typically post 1970
- wood frame construction
with a brick veneer (the walls with the holes at the bottom) are typically
post 1970
- solid plank subfloors
were typically used pre 1965
- aluminum wiring
was used extensively from the late 1960’s through
to the late 1970’s
- knob and tube
wiring was used pre-1950
- two prong outlets
(no ground) pre-1960
- galvanized supply
piping was used up until the mid 1950’s
These are some of the ways you can narrow the date of construction of a home
based on construction details. If none of these clues help, quite often the
survey (which will be required to complete the sales transaction) will show
an original date at the bottom.
Or, if the homeowner is original,
ask: “How old is this house??”
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