Buying a beautiful wreck

AdrianC

I can take a damn good guess at the origin of the damp. Roof, gutters and ground levels.

If you're willing to get stuck in DIYing, there's some good easy wins on that place. But I think I'd definitely be starting by learning to plaster, because I doubt there's a single square inch of sound, un-blown plaster in that whole property...

jackyann

BUT if you wanted, you could consider this:

http://www.fermacell.co.uk/

You can put it inside, over the walls. It has fantastic insulation properties, and because you skim it, you don't need to worry about plastering.

But to get back to basics, I agree that the source of the damp is the real issue. A good surveyor can give a good opinion, but it will be a gamble to a certain extent.

I wish you luck!

LEJC

Beautiful property with lots of potential...but I fear a £40k renovation budget wont go far.

We spent close on £50k just generally updating and upgrading an edwardian property a few years ago...nothing major but once you factor in the roof,electrics plastering,windows,a little remodelling or work with walls.....then start to think about kitchen and bathroom,decoration etc....the budget wont go far...
my estimate is your budget might make the property water tight but you'll need a lot more for the internal fixtures and fittings.

mrsmazza

I really like it, but I do think it 40k it very tight. But if its not your main home you just take your time and do things when you have the money. It's ideal to convert part of it into a holiday let or great b and b .

missbiggles1

I have to disagree with everybody else in that I think that £40k may well be enough, unless you discover something nasty like dry rot.

We restored (or some might say partially restored) a 17th century, 4 bed stone built house in South Shropshire for about £10k 20 years ago which is about £20k today, I think. We did a bit of labouring and the decorating ourselves but otherwise everything was done by local tradespeople, including putting in a damp proof course, new kitchen, moving bathroom upstairs and some new wiring.

I say partially restored because we went down the NSH/woodburner route and didn't install double glazing which others might want to do differently.

brodawel

Perhaps not as convenient but http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-40544157.html

AlexMac

I'm with AdrianC and mrsmazza (and, I guess you) in seeing its massive potential; I'd also bet that their diagnosis re damp is correct- the rainwater goods are shot and that damp in the upper rooms is an obvious sympton, aggravated by the condensation which is signalled by the mould throughout.

Once you make it watertight, strip wallpaper and any obviously defective plaster, get heating going, throw the windows open and dry it out you might be pleasantly surprised - and at least you'd be doing this over the summer months.

Yes the budget is very tight, but with a bit of DIY and patience (and assuming you can rough it?), you could get by.

I've only done renovations on 3-bed Victorian houses...
- in one; replacing twin roofs, full re-wire, re-plumb, c/h, new kitchen/bathroom, full internal re-dec- for about £25k, but that was at 1995 prices; so double that now
- in another; the same work, minus the new roof but with some internal demolition and partitioning to create 2 bathrooms as well as a new kitchen- for the same budget but at 2008 prices- so about £40k now...

Good luck with the decision... http://www.spab.org.uk/ will be inspirational

smallholdingsister

I would want to know if there is any asbestos in it and whether you will be needing to remove any if so.

DigForVictory

How many of you are there in the family currently? (I'm eyeing child labour, extra hands, how many toddlers you can shove in a travelcot with a door over it & other property renovation woith small people underfoot issues.)

+1 for learn to love plastering. Once you have that licked & enjoy it, you'll never lack for work.

If you can find a local conservation enthusiast who understands & ideally has had dealing with local planning, you may have an ally who is unmatchable. Or have mat Satan in human form, depending on whether you agree or disagree with them.

You're sorted for main electricity, gas, sewerage, phone? That makes everything boatloads easier. Not easy, just easier.

40K budget to do what? Get it dry? Get it campable in? Refurbish it into an alternative family home for 365 usage? As for prety much every idea, a full survey is a solid help even if it can't tell the whole tale.

My parents took on a "second home" with no roof & a tree in the kitchen, with 2 girls under 3 & another on the way. We learned ground rules like answer every call, do not go out of line of sight, Always shut the gate & if it looks like it'll burn, bring it to the woodpile. Decades later, it's still not a 365 house but ye gods we know & love it's every stone and that my parents are selling it (out of fatigue) makes me wish they'd accept a kidney instead, but I can't keep it up either.

If you do go ahead? You won't be able to call your soul your own for years, but you'll have a unique place with a very solid family history.

yellowbear

Reported spammy post.