You home inspector can take a look at your roof up close, but you can easily tell if there is considerable damage by just looking up at it from the ground. The average life expectancy of a roof is 20 years, and since a 1970s home is more than four decades old, it should have been replaced at least once already. The downside is that most homes do not have Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs), which provide shock protection. The upside about 1970s houses is that these often have the modern 3-slot receptacles that are similar to what are being installed today. If these problems are not addressed, the pipes might begin to leak under the floor slab and cause major damage.

What’s more, the interior surface of pipes could already be releasing tiny flakes of rust that clog showerheads and faucets. You may begin to notice visible corrosion, especially on the pipes that are close to the water heater. Unfortunately, these types of pipes have a 20 to 50-year lifespan. The common plumbing materials used in the 70s were galvanized steel water pipes. You could also knock down a wall and create an open-plan living and dining area. If you are selling or buying a 1970s home like this, you could consider adding more space by building a porch. The master bathroom was already a standard part of the house, but this was not much bigger than the hallway bathroom. The average 1970s home is around 1,000 square feet less than newer homes today. Here are some of the common problems with 1970s houses: 1) Floor Area There are, however, quite a few problems with 1970s houses that you might encounter with these older homes. For the most part, homes that were built back then are weathertight and structurally sound with good ventilation, airtight windows, subfloors and large eaves. Even if the 70s was a challenging decade with multiple recessions, around 20 million housing units were built during this time. Most houses built in the 1970s are still likely to be sound today, but there are some maintenance issues that you have to consider if you are buying or selling this type of home.

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