Signs That Your Home Is Aging and What You Can Do To Stop It

Homes tend to age just like we do. Leave a home for too many years without renovating it and the cracks will start to show. For example, you might notice paint peeling around your home, your water fixtures might be leaking, or your lawn could be overgrown and taking over the driveway. These are things that we definitely take notice of, but few people actually bother fixing them immediately.

This is because most people aren’t really bothered about these problems. They see them and it doesn’t affect their lives that much, so they leave them and deal with it another day. After all, a bit of peeling paint or some overgrown weeds aren’t going to ruin your day, so why bother with it now if you can deal with it later?

Sadly, this kind of thinking can really make someone lazy. After a few years of acting like this, you’ll probably find that it’s too late to manage something yourself. For instance, once the paint starts to peel in one section of your home, it’s probably going to start peeling elsewhere. Similarly, if your roof is starting to crumble because a few tiles have fallen off, then it’s a sign that you should replace your roof sooner than later because the other tiles are going to follow.

So in this post, we’re going to cover a bunch of different signs that your home might be starting to show its age. Along with what you can do to give it a breath of fresh air!

Worn-out floors that deserve better

Take a look around your house and give the floors a good look. Inspect the carpets a bit and try to look for photographs of your home from a few years ago. Unless you’re diligent about washing the floors and carpets, you’ll probably notice that they’re darker and dirtier than they were before! Carpets and floors can collect a lot of dust and grime, and they’re not exactly easy to clean either. Unless you have a strong vacuum cleaner and carpet cleaner to work with, you’ll probably end up with dirty carpets after a few years that need to be fully cleaned.

In addition, your wooden carpets can also suffer from wear and tear over several years. Worn-out hardwood floors can easily be repaired with the right services, but it can be costly. These problems can be further exacerbated if you’ve ever had water damage or experienced adverse weather on a regular basis. For instance, a storm could cause water damage, leading to mold that spreads around the home or even cause the wood in your floors to rot. All of these problems can be fixed by maintaining the floors, giving you a beautiful home with well-kept flooring.

An aging roof that might crumble soon

Your roof is one of the most important components of your home, but also one of the most neglected. It protects you from the elements. It also ensures that no critters and rodents can just jump into your home from above. Sadly, a lot of people put minimal effort into their aging roofs. This is due to the amount of time, effort, and knowledge it takes to really get them into good condition. It’s also fairly dangerous to perform DIY repairs on your roof unless you have the knowledge and experience to do so.

So what kind of things do you look out for? The most obvious thing to keep an eye out for is missing or broken shingles and tiles. This usually means that your roof is starting to become vulnerable to leaks and potentially rodents. If a few tiles are missing, then it’s likely going to happen with the rest of them eventually. In a situation like this, you might want to consider licensed and reliable local rubber roofing contractors to switch your roof to something completely different. It can add a completely new dimension to your home and could even improve the overall look and durability.

In short, an aging roof is usually a sign that the rest of your home is aging. It’s arguably one of the most long-lasting components of your property. The roof is usually last to crumble down. So, if you’re noticing a few cracked shingles, it’s time to replace or fix that roof to prevent it from completely collapsing.

Outdated landscaping that ruins your curb appeal

Another way to tell that your home is aging and needs to be updated is to take a look at your landscaping. Good landscaping can boost curb appeal and make your home look fantastic, but it can show signs of aging and become outdated if you don’t update it.

One of the biggest signs to look out for is any overgrown plants. If there are shrubs, trees, or even flowers that have started to grow out into your driveway or even invade your neighbor’s lawn, then it’s probably a good idea to start trimming them or even replacing them with something new. Weeds and other similar invasive plants can also become a problem since they spread really quickly. It’s best to cut them off as soon as possible. This avoids any potential issues in the future with overgrown weeds.

Colors can also be a contributing factor that makes your landscaping look outdated. For instance, dead or dying plants can usually take on a yellowy shade which makes them look unappealing and weird. You’ll want to swap these out for healthier plants or even consider adding more flowers to create more color contrast between your flowerbeds. This will give your exterior a much-needed color upgrade and also help you take care of neglected plants.

Lastly, overgrown lawns can be a huge problem because they not only affect your property but can also hinder your driveway or even the main road outside your house. If you leave your lawn to grow uncontrolled, then it’ll quickly spread and look like you’ve completely neglected your house. No matter how nice the inside of your home looks, a neglected overgrown lawn can ruin its image.

Old furniture that you should replace

Furniture can take up a lot of space in our homes. They’re usually large pieces that are difficult to replace. It’s usually a good idea to refresh our furniture now and then or at least give it a deep clean. Lots of dust can get trapped in furniture which makes it look dark and dull in appearance. In some cases, sunlight can also damage our furniture which causes it to fade and lose its vivid appearance.

This is when you should start thinking about replacing your furniture. Colors are a fantastic indication of furniture that should eventually be replaced. However, instead of replacing the whole thing, you could just swap out the upholstery instead. This will still require some DIY knowledge or a professional to help you, but it can be a much better option than replacing the entire piece, especially if it’s a large and sentimental item like a sofa.

Style can also be a factor that helps you determine when to replace your furniture. Furniture and interior design styles change over time, so it’s important to keep up with the times if you don’t want your home to look old and outdated. You can keep up with the latest furniture styles to see what will work best for your home, but you can also rely on timeless antique pieces by creating a style of your own.

And lastly, the condition of your furniture can also make your home feel old if you’re not maintaining them. Uneven tables, broken chairs that you’ve attempted to fix, or even slanted shelves can all contribute to your home feeling old and worn out. Fixing these issues doesn’t take long. It might not require a complete furniture replacement, making them a simple and effective fix to make your home look fresh and new.

Keeping up with technology

Lastly, why not consider adding some smart home technology to your house? Smart homes can feel a lot more modern and will offer some convenient advantages to make your life easier and more comfortable. For instance, smart home technologies can help maintain the temperature in your rooms. This helps you save on heating and cooling bills. You can also fine-tune your lights to create the perfect mood in your rooms. Some people even use smart appliances that connect to their phones, giving them more control. Automated actions such as starting up a coffee machine every day at the same time are quite handy.

Keeping up with technology like this is a fantastic way to make your home look and feel more modern. Smart home technology can take a bit of time to get used to. But, it’s a fantastic way to stop your home from aging too much and to give it some practical and convenient functionality. It’s affordable, suits every home, and could change the way you live your life.


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Barb Webb. Founder and Editor of Rural Mom, is an the author of "Getting Laid" and "Getting Baked". A sustainable living expert nesting in Appalachian Kentucky, when she’s not chasing chickens around the farm or engaging in mock Jedi battles, she’s making tea and writing about country living and artisan culture.
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