#oldhouseproblems

[exactexteriorsllc]

My Front Door is Basically a Screen Door in Winter

Opening Line "Scrolling Pinterest got me thinking about… how my front door is less ‘grand entrance’ and more ‘invitation for Arctic gusts.’"

The Project I love my 1930s bungalow, but its original front door might as well be made of tissue paper. Every winter, I do that awkward shimmy to open it just enough to grab packages without letting all the heat escape. My cat has started giving me judgmental looks.

The Discovery While researching “doors that don’t hate me,” I stumbled on Exact Exteriors’ guide to energy-efficient doors (Expert Door Installation). It’s here, and it taught me that steel doors with thermal breaks exist—aka “magic doors that don’t turn your foyer into a wind tunnel.”

Ideas

A storm door could be a cute Band-Aid solution (but let’s be real, I need surgery, not a Band-Aid).

That “historic charm” I���m clinging to? Yeah, it’s costing me $50 extra a month in heating bills.

Closing Thought I’m not ready to part with my vintage door… but I am ready to stop wearing a parka indoors. Compromises.

Hashtags: #DraftyDoorDrama #ProvidenceLiving #OldHouseProblems #EnergyEfficiencyFail #DoorGoals

[custombycavelli]

The ‘Why Is Everything Crooked?’ Chronicles

Scrolling Pinterest got me thinking about doors that actually close. Our 1930s cottage has character (realtor code for "nothing’s square"). The bathroom door sticks in July, the closet won’t latch, and the trim looks like it was cut with a butter knife.

The Problem: Do we embrace the quirks or fight for functionality? I’m tired of hip-checking the kitchen drawer shut.

The Discovery: A rant in a local Facebook group mentioned Custom By Cavelli’s Service Areas. Turns out they specialize in fixing "charming" old homes without erasing their soul. Their gallery showed a Craftsman’s trimmed-out pocket door that slid like butter. Sorcery.

Takeaways:

Custom trim can hide sins (like that time we "adjusted" the doorframe with a hammer).

Historic homes need carpenters who speak "old house" (plumb lines ≠ optional).

Maybe we shouldn’t let my uncle "take a look" with his Dremel.

Closing Thought: Priorities: 1) Fix the demon closet, 2) Stop apologizing to guests for the wonky baseboards.

[mejiaconstructionde]

Hidden Hazards: Is Your New Castle Home Structurally Sound?

Those hairline cracks in the walls or sloping floors might seem minor, but they could signal bigger problems lurking beneath the surface. Here in New Castle, older homes often face foundation shifts, moisture damage, or framing issues—things you’ll want to catch early before they turn into costly repairs.

If you’ve noticed doors that stick, uneven floors, or new gaps around windows, it might be time for a professional assessment. Ignoring these signs can lead to bigger (and pricier) headaches down the road. For a deeper dive on what to watch for, I found the full breakdown here: https://mejiaconstructionde.com/structural-repair-framing-new-castle/.

A little prevention now can save you from major stress later!

Suggested Labels: #HomeMaintenance #NewCastleDE #StructuralRepairs #OldHouseProblems #FoundationCheck

[asheninks]

My dog Greatly Dislikes rain.

It is currently raining.

She decided the best course of action was to throw a fit until I opened my bedroom door--which I did because I thought she wanted to make sure nothing was Leaking, #OldHouseProblems, but no.

She ran immediately upstairs, screamed at the top of her lungs until she woke up the Grandmother Unit, and then, satisfied that her chaos was achieved, ran back downstairs and got back in bed.

?????

[watchoutforice]

...very intently listening to the mouse in the closet....I need to get some traps tomorrow, didn't have a chance today. But the Woo is more than willing to take that little bugger out....if only it would come out of the closet.... . . .#ComeOutAndPlayLittleMouse #IllBeYourFriend #WeCanDoLunch #SaidTheSpiderToTheFly #IHateMice #WooDoesntHateMice #WahioLucyfur #WahioTheWoo #MiceSuck #DisturbingMyRest #NastyVermin #OldHouseProblems #FarmHouseProblems (at Wahio Walkabout) https://www.instagram.com/p/BxeE3x-gsUs/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=na0fr3p0zljo

[debsmooth]

After and before. It’s a dark #teal. Quite soft and plush underfoot. Now I just have to un4ck the rest of the house and touch up the filthy, kid handprint walls and it’ll look like people live here. It’s been insane getting to this point. #newcarpet #oldhouseproblems (at Lochend, City of Edinburgh) https://www.instagram.com/p/CXio-1HIVU0/?utm_medium=tumblr

[alifeatthelanding]

Another change at The Burrow! Before and After! Don’t worry, I plan on reusing the period light to replace a weird modern one in the kitchen!! Here is an old house for you!! I took down the period light fixture to find NO JUNCTION BOX- I wasn’t *entirely* surprised although it had looked like this light was painted and messed with. So there I was... couldn’t put the old light back (no grounding wire) SHOULDN’T put the new light up.... I did anyway. I’m calling some electricians tomorrow for quotes... Funny thing is? I bought this house on the promise they fixed all that... I guess they only fixed the stuff we could all see... oh well! #electricalproblems #newlight #beforeandafter #changes #oldhouseproblems #diningroomlight #chandelier #wayfair #blackfridayarrivedinjanuary #ineedanelectrician #lifeintheburrow

[outhereontheprairie]

Oh it’s ugly. We peeled up the floor and...it’s ugly. It’s black with mold and water damage. And whoever did this work did a very shoddy job. They even left their construction garbage behind, under the new, slightly higher floor. Also - don’t do this. Why would you make an entirely new, higher floor above the old gorgeous one in a room that’s already tiny? At least give yourself some head room! I could just curse. And have. Many times, seeing this. How will we restore this? It never was intended to be a bathroom in the first place - we think it was probably a closet or a very tiny bedroom. We aren’t sure yet, but it’s a tear out job. On the positive side, at least I can paint over that horrid brown wall color quite easily now! ...that’s the only positive I can find. Our money is just vanishing into this project. Because we almost assuredly will not get a return on investment. This is being done for the love of the house and for wanting to be honest and not hide a defective portion of this old place. 🏡 #outhereontheprairie #oldhouse #restoration #oldhouserestoration #oldhouseproblems #construction #diy #diyprojects #oldhousediy #crookedfloor #oldbathroom #oldhousebathroom #bathroomtearout (at North Dakota) https://www.instagram.com/p/CBo1Udcg4Rx/?igshid=ddogga3m03d8

[lady-melee-blog]

First off furnace update: after an hourish we got it back on with a "warning" light that says low flame detected 😥 At least the house warmed up! After that was settled I was like let's take a jab at the wallpaper in the bathroom! Didn't get far into that when I stopped for a snack and the oven hood fell! I looked at it and the darn thing it was held up by 2 brackets and a single screw! The later of which had given out 😭 So here we are hours later with half removed wallpaper and a reattached oven hood. I'm calling it a day 😂😂 #oldhouseproblems #handylady #snowdayadventures #ladymelee #wallpaperfromthe70s https://www.instagram.com/p/B7eS9XGJYEl/?igshid=1bhotn57czzs

[apxor]

You can also see this - abandoned?- house on the road to the lake. Does anyone know if this one is actually abandoned? It's falling to the road hopefully there's this tree. . . . . #oldhouse #oldhouselove #oldhouses #oldhouseproblems #australiagram #seeaustralia #travelgram #travel #travelblogger #travelphotography #travelgram #honor8x #visitaustralia #victoria #australiatrip #road (à Colac, Victoria) https://www.instagram.com/p/BtdEDHIAZ6S/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1tao9yn6pe51e

[skokieg]

I was adulting so hard on my birthday #oldhouseproblems #plumbing #birthday

[mbzmetalsmith]

Our home has a Very effective intruder alert system , demonstrated here by @cosmo_bz . . . #squeaky #myoldhouse #alarmsystem #intruderalert #sneakingout #shhhh #ohbequiet #oldhouselove #oldhouseproblems #soquietandpeaceful #funnyvideos #shhh https://www.instagram.com/p/B6oGvKIBaMy/?igshid=8x3xtah1jagc

[crackiehatesfeet]

A #TBT to our old house. And I mean old (like 210 years old). This fireplace was original to the house and the chimney served the basement kitchen, living room, and second floor. When we bought the house it was unsafe to have fires in the fire place and it took 7 years before we could get the chimney lined. ⁣ *⁣ Shoutout to @the_chimney_wife and Atlantic Chimney Service. The came and did an amazing job of breathing new life into our old farmhouse four years ago this week.⁣ *⁣ Do you love old houses? I miss mine sometimes. We have a fireplace at our new house, but it isn't nearly so pretty.⁣ *⁣ *⁣ *⁣ ⁣ #momoftwins #oldhousenewlife #fortbirthday #oldmom #fraternaltwins #twintoddlers #oldhouselove #oldhouseproblems #twinmom #twinstagram #busymom #instatwins #fireplacessofinstagram #fireplace #oldhouse #oldhouselove #oldhousesofinstagram #toddlersmiles #Toddleradventures #mamarazzi #momtog #motherhoodunplugged #bestofmom #lovelysquares #ohmamamoment #thedailybasic #acupofmotherhood #flashesofdelight (at Easton, Maryland) https://www.instagram.com/p/BrVVKCCg0yN/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=m29fg8zsdx1m

[katydidskritters]

This guy slithered out of his bag for one last photo before he was taken to his new home. He’s off to help keep someone’s house warm! Get your own this weekend at Yellow Door Art Market’s birthday bash...winter is coming! #draftsnakes #draftstopper #draftdodger #energysaving #energysaver #winteriscoming #drafty #draftyhouse #draftywindows #thisoldhouse #oldhouseproblems #oldhouselove #oldhouses #oldhousenewhome #yellowdoor #berkley #berkleymi #berkleymichigan #downtownberkeley #bohohome #vintagehome #bohodecor #vintagedecor #supportsmallbusiness #supportsmallbiz #buyhandmade #katydidskritters https://www.instagram.com/p/BoRkxrSg1gK/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=zmtsqoh8t3a6

[lindavater]

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A post shared by Linda Vater (@potagerblog)

🍂🤬🍂 I know this too shall pass, but I am incredibly frustrated (and feeling quite sorry for myself😉) with all my plumbing issues....this old house is having major digestive distress and I fear may soon need a major purge and colonoscopy on the west side of my yard. I fear major digging and landscape disruption to come😫. Right now I’d just like to be able to use our 🛀 and 🚽😞😳. So, what’s happening in YOUR world today🙄. #lindavater #plumbing #plumbingissues #plumbingproblems #oldhouseproblems #oldhouses #oldhousewoes #goodbyefall #topiary #englishtudor (at Crown Hts. - Edgemere Hts., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)

[linenandwildflowers]

The original door hinge to our grandsons bedroom door that is135 years old that held the door snapped off. He opened the door & he had to catch his door as it was falling. I couldn't believe it. So my my husband & RJ had to go out to get new hinges for it. Unfortunately the old ones will have to retire! . . . . #oldhouse #circa1885 #HistoricHouse #vintagehardware #olddoorhinge #oldhouseproblems https://www.instagram.com/p/CH3ZEqonx41/?igshid=zdeuhvk74i0r