What You Should Know About Renovating Older Century Homes in Toronto

You’re staring at cracked plaster walls, uneven creaky floors, and outdated fixtures of your century home and thinking, “It’s time for a renovation.” But let’s be clear: conducting major renovations of an older home isn’t a simple project. It’s a multi-month logistical challenge that involves detailed planning, hundreds of decisions, and a significant investment of time and money.

This article will help you navigate this complex process and get started with the right questions. From before the first swing of the hammer, to the final inspection, we’ll cover what you absolutely need to know about your older home before you renovate.

Advantages of Older Homes

Older homes in the City of Toronto typically have strong structural walls made of two layers of brick, with solid foundations and dimensional lumber for framing (which is thicker than what is available today). The double brick keeps the house cool in the summer and warm in the winter, helping you save on your energy bills. These historic homes were also built to last, and they have more than held their own over the past 100+ years. With some careful review and planning, they are ready to support future changes, upgrades or additions. They also tend to have a classic look that never goes out of style and with a good design, can integrate modern building practices/materials to improve their efficiency and comfort, giving you the best of both worlds.

Managing your older home

Though older Toronto homes have a number of advantages, there are also a number of unique concerns that come with a home renovation of an older house that you usually don’t encounter with new construction or a newer home.

Outdated wiring can limit insurance 

For instance, your house might still have knob and tube wiring—a fire hazard that often requires a complete overhaul. Knob and tube wiring, common in homes built from the 1880s to the 1940s, may not meet modern electrical demands and often makes it difficult to secure insurance from most home insurance companies. If you suspect your home has this outdated wiring, a professional electrician should evaluate its safety and whether a full replacement is needed.

Asbestos can be lurking in the walls

Asbestos is a toxic mineral that was frequently used in a variety of household materials like insulation, plaster, paint, tiles, wrap for rad pipes and ductwork. Exposure to asbestos can lead to serious health issues, including certain forms of cancer. If you’re concerned about potential asbestos, lead paint or other hazardous materials in your older home, you should consult a certified abatement professional for evaluation and removal. Depending on the situation, you might need to completely remove hazardous materials from your property or seal them with specialized encapsulants for safety.

Uneven foundations can upset your plans

Older homes in the city can present structural issues that have developed over the years. Foundations can settle and water damage can weaken structural materials and exacerbate settling. Some older Toronto homes are built on filled in or underground rivers or built without proper foundations. When making structural changes, it’s crucial to consult with a structural engineer to assess the state of your foundation’s integrity. This can help you prioritize essential repairs or reinforcements during your renovation project.

Floors and walls can be weakened or altered

While most Toronto older homes have brick exterior walls, many were simply wood framed with an exterior siding or veneer. This framing was typically done as “Balloon Framing”  where the exterior wall framing is continuous past each floor, with the floor joists nailed to the side of the wall, rather than sitting on a top plate. This method of framing is structurally sound, but can impact some of the options when it comes to altering the structure or opening the framing and must be taken into consideration in the planning.

In other cases, wooden elements may rot or be damaged by pests, or load-bearing walls might have been compromised by previous alterations, causing sagging or squeaking floors. Further, joists in older homes can often be over-spanned, requiring reinforcement by “sistering” the joists, which strengthens the ceiling and makes it more level. With older homes in Toronto, there are only a handful of different versions of houses that follow a similar floor plan, which can help trained renovation experts anticipate the layout and consider structural limitations.

Old plumbing can leak 

In homes built several decades ago, galvanized steel or even lead pipes were the standard for water supply. These materials are prone to corrosion, sediment build-up, and can pose serious health risks. Modern-day water usage can further strain these outdated systems, leading to frequent leaks, water pressure issues, or contaminated water supply. Old drainage pipes can also crack and leak causing mould or flooding. This not only compromises your quality of life but also can disrupt your renovations plans. 

With an increase in extreme weather, you may face unexpected flooding (conduct an assessment of your risk). Backwater valves, updated drain pipes, sump pumps, and other waterproofing measures can help limit your flood risk. If you suspect your home has outdated plumbing, a licensed plumber should conduct a comprehensive evaluation. Depending on the severity, partial to full replumbing may be advised.

Outdated HVAC can disrupt your comfort

Dealing with an outdated HVAC system in an older home can be a multifaceted challenge that extends beyond simple upgrades. You may encounter archaic components like old oil drums, asbestos-laden materials, and furnaces in unconventional locations—each presenting its own set of problems that require specialized handling. For example, asbestos materials necessitate professional abatement, while old oil drums could pose environmental hazards and may require complex removal procedures. 

The relocation of oddly-placed furnaces in old buildings often involves rerouting ductwork and electrical wiring, and potentially even gas lines. Adding to the complexity, you may find that the existing ductwork is undersized, leading to inefficiencies and uneven climate control. Updated rads, boilers, and pipes can significantly add to your developable space for improved layouts and functionality. While modern stand-alone AC systems can compliment an existing rad system.

Drafty building envelope

Older homes were built using little to no insulation in the exterior walls and single pane windows. These houses are very energy inefficient, with a lot of opportunity for cold air to flow in and warm air to flow out during the winter. The attic or flat roof may also be minimally insulated, which can be the biggest cause of heat loss. In some instances, where windows might have been updated, they lack the proper insulated seal around the window frame, which continues to allow the air to transfer. 

Having a chance to open ceilings and walls to provide a proper amount of insulation and vapour barrier, along with updated, energy efficient windows with proper air barriers, are excellent steps towards making an older home more comfortable and air tight.

Past renovations can trip up the best laid plans

A distinct challenge in managing older homes is dealing with the remnants of previous renovation projects over the past 100 years that may have been executed poorly or without proper permits. This is particularly true for plumbing,electrical and HVAC systems, where DIY fixes, outdated methods or recalled products could now compromise the structure, cause hazards or even create legal liabilities. Before making any changes, it’s essential to have specialized professionals examine these systems. They can identify what needs renovation work, what can be kept, as well as what safety standards or building codes must be met for your renovation to proceed smoothly.