flank wall single skin construction- need a know it all

Eilis

Hi everyone
Looking at a house on monday. Estate agent has advised me there is a flank wall to the property which is of single skin construction.

Firstly, what does this really mean and what do i need to consider on viewing?
Can this be insulated, how ,and at what cost? (getting figures of 6000),
I assume heating bills wold be high?


I understand some mortgage companies will not approve a mortgage because of this. I have been told the vendor has a mortgage on the house and re mortgaged.
Sorry for all the questions but hope someone can advise.
E

lincroft1710

Unless it's unique for other reasons, or very competitively priced I'd look for something else.

Eilis

LINCROFT- YOU MAY BE RIGHT! Researching this and its not looking great.

Doozergirl

There should be a double skin, even if it is solid construction.

How old is this house? One wall in single skin doesn't sound quite right. Is there a previously attached neighbour 'missing'?

Doozergirl

Rightmove listing? I'd like to see the house, if poss

steeeb

I assume it used to be a party wall and then the neighbours house disappeared? Otherwise I can't for the life of me work out why it ended up like that.

steeeb

Also - does our boundary end at the wall? If there room to even rectify it from the outside?

eddddy

Does the EA mean the whole flank wall is single skin, or just part of it? Could it be the flank wall of an extension, or an 'outhouse' that has been incorporated into the house.

You can often find single skin extensions on old terraces.

Although it would still be unusual for just one wall (a flank wall) of an extension/outhouse to be single skin.

AlexMac

Insufficient information to give even an (informed) lay opinion. Yes, most houses built in the last 60-70 ish years and some earlier have cavity walls; usually an inner wall of blocks, and an outer of bricks (or other cladding) but there are lots of alternatives. Older houses may have solid brick or stone walls, and modern ones can have SIPS (insulated panels), timber frames with infill and/or cladding...

How old is your one?

Or ask a builder

G_M

My house is entirely single skin I believe, apart from the more modern section that was added in 1905.

Keezing

G_M wrote: »

My house is entirely single skin I believe, apart from the more modern section that was added in 1905.

I'd love to learn more about that! Most brick houses from hundreds of years ago are at least 2 bricks thick. A whole house built in single skinwould be fascinating - is your house from the 1600s?