Wowzas. I see now. A of mine brother is re-modeling a new home now, with a healthy chunk of work done alongside handy in-laws. It's a hell of a project, but well worth the money saved (not to mention satisfaction). You thinking of re-doing one of the rooms each summer? Have an example picture of the home structure? I've been exposed to barns converted into homes recently. Is that similar? Many of those I would be concerned about especially for heavy winds vaulting trees into the side of the home. Sounds like you got lucky with the builder of the home!Basically, if I opened the wall up, I had to update everything in that wall to meet modern codes. If I don't touch it, I don't have to do anything. At this point, I have three rooms left that I plan to remodel, the master bedroom is one of them.
(house is balloon construction)