1930's style home - advice

Beano123

We bought a 1929 Semi and so far its been (generally) lovely.

There's a few stray cables/pipes the haven't traced or done anything with. We think some are TV cables and some are probably old back boiler pipes. I suspect this is common to all houses.

There are a few odd quirks in ours which add to the character of the house. The high ceilings are lovely as is the picture rail. Chimneys already in place make life much easier if you do want a fire. I'd much rather buy an old house with character than a new one without.

My mains points would be:-

- Check the chimneys (if there) have been swept, properly capped and are vented to ensure they stay dry. Finding 4ft of damp foot in the bottom of one chimney was not amusing! Another had a pigeon skeleton in it... (that was not lovely) The Guild of Master Chimney Sweeps is a good place to start for a Sweep.

- You may have a lead water supply pipe. This may, or may not bother you. Read up on it if you have and take sensible precautions. (i.e. don't leave the water standing to long etc)

Other than that I'd just do a full building survey and make a list of things to do. General maintenance will need to occur! Ours needs new gutters, the Chimney flashing needs replacing and a fair bit of repointing. Other than that its solidly built.

lisa110rry

I live in a home built in 1932 which, although kept to a reasonable standard was not modernised at all (yeah!!!!!).

The leaded lights are still there (though now encased in double glazing). There is even one which brings borrowed light from the office below the stairs into the hallway.

There are high ceilings and BIG windows. There are fireplaces in two of the bedrooms and two reception rooms (and we removed a fifth from the wash house when it was absorbed into the kitchen).

We removed a Belfast sink (d*mn it, it was taken away by the plumber without my knowledge).

We moved in in 1987 and replaced the following: water pipes, including from road to main stop !!!!, electricity, a "new" boiler in 1987, only replaced this June, windows eventually. Later we had the roof insulated and cavity walls insulated. The external doors were also replaced but the internal doors are original, with copper and brass doorknobs. Obviously we have replaced the kitchen a couple of times. Oh yes, and we put a living flame gas fire in in place of the open fire in the living room back in 1998.

Enjoy your lovely home!

Waterlily24

Our first house was a 1930s semi and it was fine it had to be modernised but that's what we wanted, we prefer 1920s/1930s houses - most of ours have been. Our big mistake was buying an expensive new build in the mid 80s. One built in the 60s was also fine. All others were detached.

almwales

thanks for all your comments - very helpful indeed.

clint_S

I rented a 1930's 3 bed semi whilst my new build was being built. I would never own one.


- Damp, everywhere no matter how long you keep the windows open through winter.
- Tiny third bedroom and the old chimney meant rooms were smaller and awkward.
- no insulation and the bay at the front of the house was single brick! Freezing in winter and never kept the heat so large heating bills.
- Lived next to an old quiet couple and yet could still hear them walking around next door!
- Old Coal shed built under the stairs would leak, had it fix regularly.


Funnily the 1950's house I lived in before never had any of these issues and the new build doesn't have them either.

staffie1

Agree with hazyjo. My 1930s semi seems to have paper-thin walls adjoining next door. Can hear talking, sneezing, coughing and cupboard doors opening and closing. Can get on your wick something rotten. Their kitchen adjoins my dining room, and main bedrooms adjoin too, so next time for me it will be halls adjoining to minimise the area the two properties touch or will go for detached. But you might be lucky and have a more solid build.

Check if any load bearing walls have been removed previously (it's common for kitchen/dining room wall to be removed). Make sure building regs documents are all present and correct.

Hoploz

I've got this book. I bought it when I thought I was going to buy a 1930's house, but I was sadly outbid! Still an interesting read.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/1930s-House-Manual-Repair-Popular/dp/0857338196