Do we need to lift floorboards to check timber joists? FTB surveyor vs estate agents

sian0203

We are FTB who had our homebuyer's report back today; it said that the floor in the front room is 'bouncing' and needs URGENT attention. I spoke to the estate agents to let them know that someone will be going to do a test and report for us and the agent told me that the vendors had guarentees for damp course and woodworm course from 2006. I rang the surveyor to see if he thought that would be covered and good enogh and he said that if the guarantees specifically say they cover that room then it should be fine but if not we really need to get it checked. The estate agent said that there was no way the vendors would allow someone in who was going to lift the floor boards, and that they have never lifted floorboards for reports to be done when people are living in the house. She said they have electronic gagets that can tell the condition of the joists, but the surveyor said these gadgets can only tell if there's damp, which he checked and there wasn't. He said they would have to lift the floorboards. I cant see it being that much of a problem, as there's no carpet in that room anyway, just exposed boards. The vendor and the estate agents are really getting pushy for us to sign now, I'm starting to get stressed out. Am I worrying over nothing? Is it worth me getting the joists checked? And would they have to lift the floorboards to do this?
Hope someone can help, Thanks

puddy

does the vendor want to sell or not? if they do, they may want to consider that you need to check things out to the best of your ability

on the other hand,, you might consider that you'll buy it as seen and do the tests when you move in and deal with the work that needs doing whatever that costs

poppysarah

What's the worst case senario? All joists have to be swapped with new?

We viewed a terrace in need of major refurb with a madly bouncy upstairs floor - put me off more than the rewire and new heating it needed.

You could probably do with taking advice again off the surveyor or a builder - and getting an idea of how much potentially it could cost.

DO NOT BE RUSHED
It's your money. Spend it wisely.

Doozergirl

Bouncing floors isn't a good thing. Is it an old house?

I wouldn't expect them to lift floorboards either really, if they do, they're pretty good vendors. However, if you can't find out what the problem is then you should account for having to replace some joists.

Considering that I don't get stressed out about most things 'housey' , I actually would be concerned about bouncing floors as it is likely to be a joist issue. I've bought a house where the dining room floor must have been held up by the powers of levitation. Luckily the house had a cellar so I could see but I didn't step foot in that room after seeing what was underneath!

I'm not concerned that the entire house is about to fall down for you but it does need some investigation - before or after you buy.

Sunnyday

I would want them checking i`m afraid.

When we had the survey on our house some things needed investigating, the room that needed the floorboards taking up was carpeted with underlay beneath. Only a few feet of floor covering was taken up and a few boards and it was all put back to the vendors satisfaction.

As a result no major problems were found and we went ahead with the purchase. I would never have had the confidence to buy otherwise.

Better safe than sorry.

HTH

SD

kunekune

We had this in our survey. Our sellers lifted the joists (fortunately it was polished floor boards, not a carpet or laminate) and inspected them. They found something and fixed it. We have been sent photos of what they found, and what it now looks like, etc.

I think we had good - motivated - vendors.

leveller2911

Worse case scenario is: under the floor the joists are damp,rotten and full of wood worm or worse still death watch beetle, also possible dry rot along with wet rot, possibly needing all timber within 1 metre of the furthest rot needing replacing including plaster being hacked off the walls and re-plastered, I kid you not........But this is the worse case scenario.

It is more than likely that the joists are not fully supported on the timber plates which in tern are fixed on the brickwork, this is very easily put right usually at little cost.

If the vendors really want to sell then there shouldn't be a problem in agreeing to pay for a builder to lift the floor boards and check, so long as any damage to the floor is put right.

Ulfar

leveller2911 wrote: »

Worse case scenario is: under the floor the joists are damp,rotten and full of wood worm or worse still death watch beetle, also possible dry rot along with wet rot, possibly needing all timber within 1 metre of the furthest rot needing replacing including plaster being hacked off the walls and re-plastered, I kid you not........But this is the worse case scenario.

It is more than likely that the joists are not fully supported on the timber plates which in tern are fixed on the brickwork, this is very easily put right usually at little cost.

If the vendors really want to sell then there shouldn't be a problem in agreeing to pay for a builder to lift the floor boards and check, so long as any damage to the floor is put right.

I have had the dry rot scenario and it is not pleasant. Not too worry the op but the way it came to light was springy floorboards, unfortunately the dry rot had started further back in the house. Once dry rot gets going it will eat through anything.

If the vendors won't let you have the inspection done, my advice is walk away. It may be that they know what is wrong and is a factor in them selling.

Lets be honest nobody is selling a house at this time without needing too.

sian0203

Thank you everyone for your fast replies! We have arranged for a builder to go around and check the joists at our own cost on Wednesday next week, but the estate agent told us that the vendor doesn't want the floorboards lifting up, even though they are just polished boards so it wouldn't involve lifting carpets or anything like that. The agent said they have never had a request for someone to lift the floorboards to check under them, ever, which I find quite hard to believe. She told us that they want to sign next week and we wouldn't be able to if we had this check done. I am reluctant to sign without this check as I had been told it could be rot or beetles and I thought that this would be a massive job.

Ulfar

If your not happy walk away.

It could be a massive job or it could be a minor one, you don't know without the check.

The fact that you say they are pressurizing you screams at me that you need this checked.

Doozergirl

You need to speak directly to the vendors if the EA is being obtuse. If nothing is found on inspection then exchange could happen directly after the inspection so that isn't an issue; it doesn't delay things in that respect. I'd point this out to the EA - niggling doubt = delayed exchange, looked at quickly and problem ruled out or estimates done = prompt exchange.

Stupid EA, in my opinion. I think she's the one causing the issue. If the vendors were genuinely refusing then she might be more apologetic than saying she's never had a problem. I think she's influencing them in a naive attempt to push forward. It does need looking at and the vendors need consulting directly. if they are genuine they will be as concerned as you are at this news - if they don't let you do it then I'd knock the price down with good reason - an unexplained problem.