As someone who watches a lot of HGTV shows, I’ve become used to a narrative that appears in virtually every episode about a home renovation. The idea is that at some point, there will be an unforeseen problem that the host must reveal to the homeowner. They will work through it by the end, but it creates drama in the middle of the show.  When you watch a lot of these shows, this starts to feel like an obligatory part of the story that has to be included for dramatic purposes.  So, you naturally start to wonder if it really was just a made up problem.  

However, if you have been involved with at least a few home renovations of your own, you may recognize that even if they don’t come up in every single project, they are common enough that the shows may not be that far from reality.

As a veteran of many home renovations over the years at multiple properties, I have run into my fair share of renovation surprises.  Enough so, that I don’t think of most of them as surprises anymore.  I have learned through experience to never say that any project will be ‘quick and easy’ even if it just involves tightening the handle on the toilet.  Unforeseen issues are one of the few constants in home renovations, along with the fact that it will cost more than you initially plan. 

Here are just a few things you may run into when taking on medium-to-large home renovation projects.

Plumbing or  HVAC in unexpected places

One common project in a lot of home renovations and updates involves removing walls or partitions that break up the floorplan.  Today, open-concept floor plans are extremely popular, so knocking down a wall between your kitchen and dining room or something similar is often one of the first things people decide to do to update a house.  While removing a wall always involves some extra work beyond simply demoing the existing structure (drywall, flooring, paint, etc.) the surprise often comes from what is hiding inside that wall.

I won’t even get into the issues if you plan to remove a load bearing wall, as you may be able to determine this in advance or at least be prepared for it to be an issue. The big surprises tend to be when you find plumbing or HVAC ductwork in a wall where you can’t really see a reason for them to be there in advance. You never know why or how these systems were initially built into the home or revised during a previous renovation. 

For the most part none of these issues are insurmountable, but they can still be challenging (especially if you are taking on a DIY project), time consuming and costly.  Rerouting plumbing or duct work is rarely something fun, but they are simply some of the typical problems you may run into in a renovation project.  

Damaged or uneven flooring

It’s pretty common to update your flooring either when you move into a new home or just over time as you stay in one place.  Maybe you’re just replacing carpet or you might be updating or adding hard surface flooring like tile, hardwood, laminate, or another option.  Whichever it is, flooring updates are very common renovation projects, either going DIY or hiring a contractor.  New flooring also comes into play when you are updating a kitchen with new cabinets. In all these cases, you are hoping (assuming?) that when you remove the existing flooring you will find a nice level and sound subfloor to work with as you install your new flooring choice.  Unfortunately, this is not always the case.

It’s amazing what you might find when you pull up that carpet pad or old linoleum tile. Whether it is damaged or rotted plywood subflooring or stranger things like a crumbling concrete floor overlay (only ran into that once, but it wasn’t fun). In kitchen remodels you may be really surprised to find that the floors under the existing cabinets are very uneven.  You can address these issues if you are prepped for them. 

Interesting electrical wiring decisions

Another common surprise when you start opening up walls or ceilings or even just want to add new recessed lighting in a room may be discovering some very odd decisions in how the electrical wiring has been set up. Older houses are certainly more prone to these issues, but it is not at all uncommon in newer homes, especially in cases where previous renovations have been completed.  While a professional electrician should run wiring up to current (at the time) building code, homeowners will sometimes take on their own wiring projects and this can definitely lead to issues. 

Personally, I’ve seen extension cords put behind drywall as de-facto electrical wiring to get power made available to a new room or part of the house. We have also run into cases where wiring isn’t properly connected or connections aren’t sealed up. 

Projects involving electrical wiring are a place where hiring a licensed professional is highly advisable, to make sure they are completed safely and properly. While a poorly sealed heating duct or may be problematic it isn’t likely to start a fire in your attic.