10 Things I Find in Every Older Home in Southern New Brunswick
After 10 years and thousands of inspections, the same issues show up again and again. Here's what they are and what they cost.
By Jonathan Gogan, RHI
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Last Updated: April, 2026
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11 min read
Quick Answer
Older homes in Southern NB share a remarkably consistent set of issues regardless of neighbourhood or price point. The 10 most common findings, from knob-and-tube wiring to inadequate insulation, directly affect insurance, financing, and what you will spend in the first few years of ownership. Total correction costs across all 10 items can range from $40,000 to $100,000+ if everything needs attention. None of them should stop a purchase, but all of them should be budgeted for.
At a Glance
Older homes in Southern NB share a predictable set of issues regardless of neighbourhood or price point
Several of these, wiring, plumbing, insulation, directly affect insurance, financing, and resale
None of them should necessarily stop a purchase, but all of them should be budgeted for
Total correction costs across all 10 items can range from $40,000 to $100,000+ if everything needs attention
Knob and Tube Wiring
Still active in a surprising number of pre-1950s homes. The wiring itself isn't automatically dangerous, but it wasn't designed for modern electrical loads. The real problem is when someone has buried it under blown-in insulation, spliced into it with modern wiring, or run it through areas where it can't dissipate heat properly.
Most insurance companies in New Brunswick either won't cover homes with active knob and tube or will charge significantly higher premiums.
💰 Full rewire: $8,000–$15,000+
Galvanized Steel Plumbing
Common in homes built before 1970. These pipes corrode from the inside out, gradually restricting water flow. You'll notice low water pressure at fixtures, rust-coloured water when taps are first turned on, and eventually pinhole leaks. By the time you can see corrosion on the outside, the inside is usually worse.
💰 Full repipe (copper or PEX): $5,000–$12,000
Aluminum Wiring
Installed in many homes built between 1965 and 1976 when copper prices were high. Aluminum expands and contracts more than copper, which can loosen connections over time and create a fire risk at outlets, switches, and panel terminations. It's manageable with proper remediation, usually pigtailing with copper connectors, but it needs to be addressed by a licensed electrician.
Like knob and tube, it can affect your insurance.
💰 Pigtailing: $2,000–$4,000 · Full rewire: significantly more
Vermiculite Insulation
That pebble like, grey brown granular insulation sitting in the attic of many older NB homes. Not all vermiculite contains asbestos, but a significant percentage was sourced from a mine in Libby, Montana (sold under the brand Zonolite) that was contaminated. You can't tell by looking at it. Until it's tested, it should be treated as suspect and left undisturbed.
This also limits how thoroughly I can inspect the attic, if I can't safely move through the space, conditions under the vermiculite go unreported.
💰 Professional removal: $5,000–$15,000+
Clay or Cast Iron Sewer Lines
Pre-1970s homes in Southern NB almost always have clay or cast iron main sewer lines. Clay pipes develop cracks at joints where tree roots find their way in. Cast iron corrodes and develops bellied sections that pool water and debris. Both can function fine for decades, and then fail suddenly.
The only way to know the condition is a sewer scope camera inspection, which is why I recommend it on every older home.
💰 Sewer line repair or replacement: $5,000–$10,000+
Egress Window Violations
Finished basements in Southern NB homes often have bedrooms that were added without proper egress windows. New Brunswick building code requires a minimum 3.8 square feet of unobstructed opening in every bedroom for emergency escape. Many older renovations used standard basement windows that fall short of this requirement.
A pre-listing inspection identifies these issues before the buyer's inspector does, giving you the opportunity to disclose, adjust the listing price, or address the window sizing on your own timeline.
💰 New egress window + well: $3,000–$6,000 per window
DIY Renovations Hiding Problems
This is the one that surprises people the most. Fresh drywall, new flooring, a recently finished basement, these aren't always improvements. In older homes, renovations done without permits or professional oversight often conceal problems rather than fix them.
I've seen new walls built directly over active knob and tube wiring, moisture barriers installed backwards, structural members notched or cut to run plumbing, and electrical work that wouldn't pass any inspection. The better a renovation looks on the surface, the more carefully I look behind it.
💰 Correction costs: from a few hundred dollars to $30,000+
Foundation Moisture and Water Intrusion
Older foundations in Southern NB stone, rubble, block, and early poured concrete were not built with modern waterproofing. Many have no exterior membrane, no interior drainage system, and no sump pump. Water staining on basement walls, efflorescence (white mineral deposits), musty odours, and evidence of past water lines are extremely common.
Some moisture is manageable. Persistent water intrusion is a different conversation.
💰 Interior drainage + sump: $5,000–$10,000 · Exterior: significantly more
Undersized Electrical Panel (60-Amp)
Many older homes in the area still have 60-amp electrical service, the standard when homes had a few lights, a stove, and not much else.
Today's loads (dryers, heat pumps, EV chargers, air conditioners, home offices) require 100 amp service at minimum, and many homes are being upgraded to 200 amp.
A 60 amp panel doesn't just limit what you can run, it can also be a red flag for insurance and financing.
💰 Panel upgrade (60 → 200-amp): $2,500–$5,000
Inadequate Insulation and Air Sealing
Older NB homes were built before modern energy codes. Many have little to no insulation in exterior walls, minimal attic coverage, and significant air leakage around windows, doors, rim joists, and attic hatches. The result is high heating costs, a major factor when many of these homes still run on oil, and condensation risks in attics and wall cavities.
Thermal imaging during the inspection makes these gaps clearly visible.
💰 Attic insulation: $2,000–$5,000 · Full envelope: $10,000–$25,000+
The Bottom Line
None of these items should necessarily stop you from buying an older home. Some of the best-built homes in Southern New Brunswick are 80 or 100 years old. But knowing what's there and what it will cost to address is the difference between a smart purchase and an expensive surprise.
Frequently Asked Questions About Older Homes In New Brunswick
Are older homes in New Brunswick a bad investment?
No. Many older homes are well-built and have stood for decades. The key is understanding the condition of the major systems before you commit, so you can budget for upgrades and negotiate accordingly.
Will my insurance company care about knob and tube or aluminum wiring?
Yes. Most New Brunswick insurers require disclosure of active knob and tube or aluminum wiring. Some will decline coverage, others will charge higher premiums or require remediation before issuing a policy.
Should I get a sewer scope on an older home?
Yes. If the home was built before 1970, the sewer line is almost certainly clay or cast iron. A sewer scope is the only way to see what's happening inside the pipe.
How long does it take to inspect an older home?
Older homes typically take 3 to 4 hours due to the additional systems, materials, and conditions that require evaluation. You receive your report the same day.
Can I negotiate the price based on inspection findings?
I get this one a lot, and honestly, your real estate agent is the person you want in your corner for that conversation. They live and breathe the local market, they understand the pricing on your specific home, and they know what approach is going to work best given your situation. What I focus on is making sure your report gives you a clear, honest picture of the property so your agent has something solid to work with. It's a team effort, and that's where the two of us work really well together.
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About the Author
Jonathan Gogan, RHI, WETT, CNRPP
Jonathan Gogan is the owner and operator of East Coast Home Inspection Ltd, based in Hampton, New Brunswick. With over 10 years of experience and thousands of completed inspections across Southern NB, Jonathan specializes in older homes, thermal imaging, sewer scope inspections, radon testing, and WETT inspections for wood-burning systems.