House age X-ray1880s · Colorado

Built in 1880: 9 things worth checking before you offer.

Worth checking for this era. This is not a finding about a specific house. A full listing check is a separate step.

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  1. 1.Lead paint

    Federal rule

    Federal law requires a lead-paint disclosure for most housing built before 1978. Worth checking for this era.

    Pre-1978: the federal lead-paint disclosure applies to most housing built before 1978.

    How to spot it. Start with the year built. Ask for the disclosure, the EPA/HUD pamphlet, and any report the seller already has. Peeling paint is a condition clue, not proof.

    Who checks it. Lead inspector or risk assessor

    EPA: Lead-Based Paint Disclosure Rule (Section 1018 of Title X)

  2. 2.Balloon framing

    Commonly reported, verify

    HUD says platform framing replaced balloon framing from the 1850s to the 1920s in different areas. Balloon framing commonly has concealed spaces that extend unblocked from the basement to the attic, and those cavities can let fire spread between floors. Commonly reported, verify. Worth checking for this era.

    How to spot it. Concealed spaces that run unblocked from the basement to the attic. Ask whether the framing is balloon or platform.

    Who checks it. Home inspector

    HUD: Rehab guideline: Fire RatingsNational Park Service: Structural fire: preserving a legacy

  3. 3.Lime mortar

    Era check

    Portland cement was first made in the United States in 1872 and was not in common use until the early 20th century, about 1919. Brick or stone from this era commonly used lime mortar. Repointing with hard Portland cement mortar can damage soft old brick. Old foundations need a moisture check. Verify the mortar before you repoint. Worth checking for this era.

    How to spot it. Hard Portland cement mortar on soft old brick or stone. Ask what the last repointing used, and whether the foundation stays wet.

    Who checks it. Mason

    National Park Service: Preservation Brief 2: Repointing Mortar Joints in Historic Masonry BuildingsNational Park Service: Preservation Brief 39: Holding the Line: Controlling Unwanted Moisture in Historic Buildings

  4. 4.Lime plaster

    Era check

    Until the end of the 19th century, plasterers commonly used lime plaster on wood lath, with fiber from animal hair (cattle or hog hair). Gypsum plaster came into use around 1900. Verify which plaster is on the walls. Worth checking for this era.

    How to spot it. Plaster on wood lath. Historic lime plaster used animal hair as fiber. Ask a plasterer which mix is on the wall before you patch it.

    Who checks it. Plasterer

    National Park Service: Preservation Brief 21: Repairing Historic Flat Plaster — Walls and Ceilings

  5. 5.Knob-and-tube wiring

    Commonly reported, verify

    Active knob-and-tube in houses built through the 1940s is commonly reported, verify. HUD’s appraisal guide says it can remain if it is in good condition and the service is at least 60 amps. Worth checking for this era.

    How to spot it. Ceramic knobs in an open attic or basement, a fuse panel, or two-prong outlets, with no record of a full rewire.

    Who checks it. Electrician

    HUD: HOC Reference Guide: Electrical and Heating

  6. 6.Asbestos

    Era check

    EPA’s home guide says sprayed or troweled ceilings in homes built or remodeled between 1945 and 1978 may contain asbestos, and that EPA prohibited spray-applied asbestos insulation in 1973. Intact material is not, by itself, a project. Worth checking for this era.

    How to spot it. Popcorn ceilings, older floor tile, and pipe wrap. Do not sand or scrape them to find out.

    Who checks it. Accredited asbestos inspector

    EPA: Asbestos in the Home

  7. 7.Radon

    Regional, depends on location

    EPA says every home should be tested, and that the zone map is not a result for one house. Worth checking for this era.

    How to spot it. A PVC pipe and an exterior fan can mean a system is already installed. Ask for the before-and-after test numbers.

    Who checks it. Radon measurement professional

    EPA: EPA Map of Radon Zones

  8. 8.Hail damage

    Regional, depends on location

    NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center records more large hail on the southern Plains (Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas) than on the northern Plains (Nebraska, the Dakotas, and northeast Colorado). Worth checking for this era.

    How to spot it. Random soft spots in asphalt shingles, or a listing that mentions a recent roof claim. Ask whether the carrier already paid actual cash value.

    Who checks it. Roof inspector

    NOAA Storm Prediction Center: The NSPP Severe Weather Database

  9. 9.Expansive clay

    Regional, depends on location

    The Colorado Geological Survey calls expansive clay one of the state’s most widespread geologic hazards. Worth checking for this era.

    How to spot it. Seasonal door stick and diagonal cracks that open in a dry spell and ease after rain. Ask whether the slab was designed for swelling soil.

    Who checks it. Structural engineer

    Colorado Geological Survey: Expansive Soil and Rock

What is worth checking for a house built in 1880?

Built in 1880: 9 things worth checking before you offer. On this checklist: Lead paint, Balloon framing, Lime mortar, Lime plaster, Knob-and-tube wiring, Asbestos, Radon, Hail damage, Expansive clay. Each line is worth checking for this era.

Does a house built in 1880 have these problems?

No. The list is what is worth checking for this era. It is not a finding about a specific address. A full listing analysis is a separate step.