Old House
Evidence Guides
Sixteen focused references for observing older-home systems, finding records, and asking the right licensed professional what can be confirmed.
Guide finder
What are you investigating?
Showing 16 guides
Electrical
6 guides
Plumbing
3 guides
Safety
5 guides
Structural
1 guides
Environmental
1 guides
All Guides
Knob and Tube Wiring
Observable clues, alteration records, and questions for a licensed electrician
60-Amp Electrical Service
How to document service capacity and confirm it with the electrical authority or a licensed electrician
Galvanized Steel Plumbing
Observable flow clues, renovation records, and questions for a licensed plumber
Aluminum Wiring
Era associations, visible markings, alteration records, and electrician confirmation
Asbestos Cement Siding
How to document suspect siding without treating appearance as laboratory confirmation
Lead Paint
Paint clues, record checks, and when laboratory or qualified assessment is useful
Cast Iron Plumbing
Drainage clues, camera inspection questions, and repair records to request
Buried Oil Tanks
Site clues, property records, and environmental follow-up questions for former fuel storage
Vermiculite Insulation (Zonolite)
Visual clues, safe non-disturbance guidance, and laboratory confirmation pathways
Polybutylene (Quest) Plumbing
Pipe markings, alteration history, written insurer questions, and plumbing assessment
Federal Pacific Stab-Lok Panels
Panel identification clues, permit records, and questions for a licensed electrician and insurer
Zinsco (Sylvania) Panels
Panel identification clues, service records, and questions for a licensed electrician and insurer
Whole-Home Electrical Rewiring
How to define scope, compare written quotes, and verify permits and completed work
Radon Testing & Mitigation
Health Canada testing guidance, result interpretation, and mitigation follow-up
Foundation Cracks & Bowing Walls
How to record crack characteristics and decide what qualified assessment to request
Chimney & Flue Failure
Observable chimney clues, service records, and qualified inspection questions