Funny you mention attic venting—I had a similar issue in a 2005 build. The builder used those cheap baffles that collapsed over time, so airflow was basically zero. Ever notice if your builder cut corners elsewhere, like with windows or siding? Sometimes I wonder if it’s just my luck or if this is common with houses from that era.
That sounds all too familiar... I’ve noticed on my place (built in ‘03) the windows aren’t great either—single-hung, cheap seals, and a few have fogged up already. Did you see any shortcuts with insulation? I found some spots where they barely filled the cavities. Makes you wonder if it was just the era or certain builders cutting corners.
Makes you wonder if it was just the era or certain builders cutting corners.
I’ve got a 2002 place and yeah, insulation was a joke in some spots. Pulled off a few outlet covers and could literally feel a draft—turns out they skipped the insulation behind some boxes entirely. I don’t think it’s just the era, though. My neighbor’s house is the same age but way better built. Seems like it really depended on which crew showed up that week...
I get what you’re saying, but I’m not sure it’s always just the crew. Sometimes it’s the builder trying to save a buck or rushing to finish the job before the weather turns. I’ve seen newer houses where the insulation is perfect in some rooms and basically nonexistent in others. My uncle’s place from the late ’90s is actually better insulated than my buddy’s 2010 build, which seems backwards. Maybe it’s a combo of bad luck and whoever’s managing the site that day...
You’re spot on about it not always being the crew. I’ve seen plenty of jobs where the builder cut corners, especially when they’re up against a deadline or trying to keep costs down. Sometimes it’s just whoever’s running the show that day—if the site manager’s not paying attention, stuff gets missed. I’ve actually inspected houses where the insulation in one room is textbook perfect, and then you walk into the next and it’s like they forgot it entirely. Drives me nuts.
Funny thing is, older homes can be better built than newer ones, depending on who did the work and how much pride they took in it. My neighbor’s 1985 place holds heat way better than some of these “energy efficient” new builds. It’s not always about age—it’s about the attention to detail and whether shortcuts were taken. If an inspector thinks your house is older than it is, there’s probably a reason, and it usually comes down to those little things that add up over time. Sometimes you just get unlucky with who was on the job that week...
