Single Skin Extension

Ciderarmy1987

Hi

We have had an offer accepted on a house but have found out after from talking to our mortgage adviser that because the kitchen extension is single skin that we will have difficultly getting a mortgage from a fair few lenders.

It does look like we would be able to find some lenders that are ok with it as it is only single story but our problem is that if it is an issue now, is it something that is likely to remain and issue for the future.

Basically I'm asking if we should pull out of the house or not. We have got the house at a price we were happy with before we realised that this would be an issue so think we may be slightly over paying now

Cheers

Hoof_Hearted

This is pretty unusual for a properly built extension. Garages are often single skin because it's cheap and there is not the need for insualtion. However, you can insualte by lining the inside. If it was build recently it obviously has been done without building regulations and would put me off.

Ciderarmy1987

Hoof_Hearted wrote: »

This is pretty unusual for a properly built extension. Garages are often single skin because it's cheap and there is not the need for insualtion. However, you can insualte by lining the inside. If it was build recently it obviously has been done without building regulations and would put me off.

It is an old Victorian property and the extension is also probably pre 1930s.
The extension is raise from ground level, so should avoid rising damp and it also has a pitched roof.

we have had a builder look at the property and he doesnt think that there is an issue with it at all and is just "red tape" from the mortgage companies. So at least we know it is structurally sound

Mozzanov

Do you have any idea how thick the walls are? Was a building survey done or just a standard homebuyers or...?

(The reason I ask about wall thickness is they might be double bricked, but without a cavity, which might make a difference.)

Ciderarmy1987

We havent done survey or homebuyers report but have just been round the house with a builder who has quoted us for future work.

He thinks that the wall is single skin and is pretty sure of that.

We know from our mortgage adviser that some lenders will definately not lender to us so we dont want to waste our money doing a survey if we know it will be reject.

Is so annoying because we have finally found a house we really like and had planned how we would overcome the issue of the single skin only to find out we may not get a mortgage and then if we do might not be able to sell in the future

Hoof_Hearted

I took single skin to mean I brick thick. If it's two bricks, 9 inch, I don't think it would be a problem, other than a bit colder. I would be very surprised if you couldn't get a mortgage.

Ciderarmy1987

Hoof_Hearted wrote: »

I took single skin to mean I brick thick. If it's two bricks, 9 inch, I don't think it would be a problem, other than a bit colder. I would be very surprised if you couldn't get a mortgage.

We dont think that it is double brick though, that is the problem

t0rt0ise

Single skin is different from solid wall. If the former you may have problems, if the latter then not. I've just been watching them build a solid wall extension downstairs, from my upper window. Very interesting and instructive. The house is Georgian so solid wall so the extension has to be in keeping.

Ciderarmy1987

t0rt0ise wrote: »

Single skin is different from solid wall. If the former you may have problems, if the latter then not. I've just been watching them build a solid wall extension downstairs, from my upper window. Very interesting and instructive. The house is Georgian so solid wall so the extension has to be in keeping.

what are the options to overcome the problems with a single skin

Mozzanov

Ciderarmy1987 wrote: »

what are the options to overcome the problems with a single skin

Wall stud, insulation, plasterboard, or something like that. You would lose a bit of space, that's the problem though.

Ciderarmy1987

Mozzanov wrote: »

Wall stud, insulation, plasterboard, or something like that. You would lose a bit of space, that's the problem though.

The builder has said we could do that and we would lose 150mm, which is not ideal but would be could live with that.

But would that be enough for a mortgage company?? Or do we need to bite the bullet and get a survey done to properly find out what they think?