Home Construction History
What to expect in your house
Do not expect modem systems and devices when buying an older house. Below is a short list of important dates in recent history, for changes in home construction and materials. Get the age of the house that you are purchasing and see on the chart below what you can expect.
- Prior 1940 Balloon framing is used
- After 1940 Knob and tube electrical wiring is not used
- Prior 1950 Supply plumbing is mostly made out of galvanized steel
- After 1955 Waste plumbing is most likely made out of copper
- Prior 1960 Electrical systems were not grounded; 2-prong non-grounded outlets are common
- During 1960 Grounded electrical systems are introduced
- After 1960 Waste plumbing mostly plastic (price of the copper dramatically increased)
- Prior 1960 Walls and ceilings are lath and plaster
- After 1960 Drywall is mostly used for walls and ceilings
- Prior 1965 Wood planking is used for sub-floors
- After 1965 Aluminum wiring introduced (cost of the copper went up during the Vietnam war)
- During 1970 Aluminum wiring is widely used
- Prior 1970 Concrete blocks are used for foundation walls
- After 1970 Concrete is mostly used for foundation walls
- Prior 1975 The insulation of walls and ceilings is usually minimal
- After 1975 GFCI outlets used in bathrooms
- After 1978 Aluminum wiring is not used anymore
- After 1978 Lead based paint is not manufactured
- After 1978 GFCI protection used in garage
- After 1980 Wafer board sub-flooring is introduced
- After 1980 Formaldehyde insulating foam is banned
- After 1987 GFCI protection used in kitchen
- After 1990 GFCI protection used in crawl spaces
- After 1996 GFCI protection used above all kitchen countertops
- After 2003 AFCI protection used in bedroom circuits
Information provided by:
Tiger Inspection Services
Toll Free: 1-866-844-3726
Servicing Western and Central Colorado
