That means buying a piece of … Nearly all homes built before 1940 contain lead, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. A common design for fuse boxes in homes built between 1940 and 1965 was the 60-ampere fuse box. Every home comes with its own quirks, but owners of mass-produced, prefabricated homes located throughout the Indianapolis area may encounter a few unusual issues when they remodel or make repairs to these quickly built structures manufactured in Lafayette, Indiana, by the National Homes Corp. beginning in the 1940s. Almost as much as homes built in the 1930s. Just have it inspected. (An ampere, or amp for short, is a unit of electric current.) Houses from this period, including state houses, were often well-built, and have been popular with homeowners wanting to renovate. The rise of America's middle class during the mid-20th century can be traced in the movement from 1920s-era Bungalows to the practical homes that evolved in rapidly expanding suburbs and exurbs, especially in areas with a high population density.Mid-century modern became a style not only of architecture, but also of furniture … In its solid form, interior and exterior lead paint is not considered harmful as long as it isn’t ingested, such as a toddler chewing on a window sill. If there is any evidence of structural defects a structural engineer may need to be engaged. I like mid century homes. Walls and Windows. Inside were four Edison-base plug fuses for branch circuits, and one or more fuse blocks for cartridge fuses to serve major appliances. The homes, which are still around today and are protected, in fact, by being on the National Register of Historic Places, are small compared to today's homes but right in line with the size of homes built in the 1950s. If it has been maintained through out the years you have nothing to fear. The median listing price of homes built in the 2010s is more than twice that of homes built in the 1900s, 1910s, and 1940s. MAINTENANCE FOR 1940s–1960s HOUSES. Regular maintenance required on 1940s–1960s houses includes: cleaning and checking the external cladding and repainting when necessary. Common problems and remedies. Even though the war started in the year 1939 homes were still being built everywhere during that year and on into the 1940s. They were built in a hurry for the soldiers who were returning home after the war. Architecture is a picture book of economic and social history. In fact, according to a New Year's Eve issue of Lima Press nearly 500 thousand dollars (equivalent to millions of dollars in today's money) was spent on local home construction just before the turn of the decade (1939). Insulation was not as good as it is now and wiring was usually only 60 amps (not enough for today's demands). Structural problems in 1940s to 1960s houses may include undersized framing, inadequate bracing and unsafe chimneys. Homes built during the 1940s were often constructed with red brick exteriors that encased colorful interior spaces. Older homes have character, walk-able neighborhoods, and mature trees. One very unusual feature for a post-war home: Many of the main doors are on the side of the house rather than in the front. However just after the second world war there were a lot of homes "thrown together". Windows were all single pane and leaked a lot of heat/cool outside. Any renovation work should begin with a detailed survey of the building structure. 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