Deal Breakers When Buying a Home | Ask This Old House

Summary by Krater

The Ask This Old House cast discusses major dealbreakers to watch out for when house hunting, covering structural integrity, plumbing materials, paint history, electrical systems, and chimneys.

From the video

Answers: What are the major red flags and dealbreakers to look for when buying a house?

• house hunting dealbreakers
• foundation crack inspection
• historical plumbing pipe materials
• paint history and lead paint
• electrical code and knob and tube wiring
• chimney structural lean

What it concludes

• Homes built before 1978 should be assumed to have lead paint, which requires extensive and costly preparation and protection to remove.
• Threaded brass and galvanized piping from the early 20th century can become brittle from electrolysis and should be treated with caution.
• Fuse box service with knob and tube wiring is a major red flag that often requires a complete electrical rewire.
• A leaning chimney indicates structural failure that requires costly rebuilding, shoring up, and masonry matching.