Pre-war buildings run on steam heat, cast-iron waste stacks, and plaster-on-lath walls. These outlast modern equivalents when maintained — and fail expensively when ignored.
Annual boiler service, correct radiator venting (banging pipes are a venting problem, not a character trait), and trap maintenance in two-pipe systems. Uneven heat usually means air valves, not a new boiler.
Trace every stain promptly: roof, riser, or neighbor. Small plaster repairs are cheap; saturated lath and mold remediation are not. Keep humidity moderate — plaster and pre-war floors both prefer it.
Cast-iron drain stacks scale and crack with age; a camera inspection every few years beats a ceiling collapse. Galvanized supply risers nearing the century mark explain weak pressure — budget replacement during any renovation.
Knob-and-tube remnants and 60-amp services still hide in pre-war walls. An electrician's survey is cheap insurance — insurers increasingly ask.
The form on this page reaches maintenance pros who know pre-war stock — free matching.
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