Nearly all homes built before 1940 contain lead, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. However just after the second world war there were a lot of homes "thrown together". Older homes have character, walk-able neighborhoods, and mature trees. They were built in a hurry for the soldiers who were returning home after the war. Homes built during the 1940s were often constructed with red brick exteriors that encased colorful interior spaces. Just have it inspected. (An ampere, or amp for short, is a unit of electric current.) The rise of America's middle class during the mid-20th century can be traced in the movement from 1920s-era Bungalows to the practical homes that evolved in rapidly expanding suburbs and exurbs, especially in areas with a high population density.Mid-century modern became a style not only of architecture, but also of furniture … If it has been maintained through out the years you have nothing to fear. Inside were four Edison-base plug fuses for branch circuits, and one or more fuse blocks for cartridge fuses to serve major appliances. Any renovation work should begin with a detailed survey of the building structure. Personally, the newest house I would ever live in would be one built at Mid-century - from 1946-the early 60s. Common problems and remedies. A common design for fuse boxes in homes built between 1940 and 1965 was the 60-ampere fuse box. The HOME REFERENCE BOOK - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 25th Ed., 2012, is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. That means buying a piece of … If there is any evidence of structural defects a structural engineer may need to be engaged. Insulation was not as good as it is now and wiring was usually only 60 amps (not enough for today's demands). The homes, which are still around today and are protected, in fact, by being on the National Register of Historic Places, are small compared to today's homes but right in line with the size of homes built in the 1950s. See the guide for external wall maintenance Architecture is a picture book of economic and social history. The median listing price of homes built in the 2010s is more than twice that of homes built in the 1900s, 1910s, and 1940s. One very unusual feature for a post-war home: Many of the main doors are on the side of the house rather than in the front. Regular maintenance required on 1940s–1960s houses includes: cleaning and checking the external cladding and repainting when necessary. In its solid form, interior and exterior lead paint is not considered harmful as long as it isn’t ingested, such as a toddler chewing on a window sill. MAINTENANCE FOR 1940s–1960s HOUSES. In fact, according to a New Year's Eve issue of Lima Press nearly 500 thousand dollars (equivalent to millions of dollars in today's money) was spent on local home construction just before the turn of the decade (1939). Every home comes with its own quirks, but owners of mass-produced, prefabricated homes located throughout the Indianapolis area may encounter a few unusual issues when they remodel or make repairs to these quickly built structures manufactured in Lafayette, Indiana, by the National Homes Corp. beginning in the 1940s. Houses from this period, including state houses, were often well-built, and have been popular with homeowners wanting to renovate. Walls and Windows. Structural problems in 1940s to 1960s houses may include undersized framing, inadequate bracing and unsafe chimneys. For example, a home built in 1953 may have different problems from one built in 1920. I like mid century homes. 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