Sagging floors!

Rileybobs

Hi All,
Recently viewed a lovely three storey cottage (around the 100+). Everything thing looks okay, other than the top floor where the bedrooms are.
The floor is not level, it seems to be sagging, if that's the right word. It's worst in the biggest room with around an inch gap between the floor and skirting board in one place. Estate Agent sold character...
There are no big cracks evident anywhere in the property, or windows dropping.
On the first floor though the living room has been knocked through to one big room.
We're taking a builder on a second viewing next week, but as first time buyers we'd just like some opinions or advice on it.:D

Soundgirlrocks

There are few possibilities that spring to mind that I would be nervous of

1) Removing the wall in the living room has caused the drop
2) Someone has cut into the joists to lay pipes causing the joist to bow.

Very old properties (200 years +) I would expect sagging floors but not so much in a late Victorian early 20th century property.

Thrugelmir

With character comes quirks. If you are seriously interested pay for an appropriate survey. As there maybe issues that aren't visible.

Rileybobs

Thanks both, we are interested and of course will get a full structural survey done if we make an offer.
This world is all new to us as first timers, we don't want to end up with a job that's going to bankrupt us haha.
Would the builder be able to tell what is causing it?

G_M

Is the builder any good?

Rileybobs

Yes I believe so, they've been recommended as excellent and have built up a good reputation in the area. Hopefully they're not wrong! :-)

PhilE

Rileybobs wrote: »

Thanks both, we are interested and of course will get a full structural survey done if we make an offer.
This world is all new to us as first timers, we don't want to end up with a job that's going to bankrupt us haha.
Would the builder be able to tell what is causing it?

Not unless he's a fully qualified surveyor as well as a builder. Some might be able to tell, but a builder hasn't the same qualifications and training as a surveyor, generally speaking.

No large cracks in the wall are a good sign. However, given the age of the property it would be best to have a full structural survey.

Surrey_EA

PhilE wrote: »

Not unless he's a fully qualified surveyor as well as a builder. Some might be able to tell, but a builder hasn't the same qualifications and training as a surveyor, generally speaking.

No large cracks in the wall are a good sign. However, given the age of the property it would be best to have a full structural survey.

A good builder with experience of old houses, is often as good as a trained surveyor in my experience.

aneary

Surrey_EA wrote: »

A good builder with experience of old houses, is often as good as a trained surveyor in my experience.

Totally agree, my father has had to clean up the mess of surveyors and civil engineers over the years, he's a carpenter but has 40 years of experience instead of a degree.

hazyjo

Is it definitely sagging and not a case of the skirting boards being lifted (badly) due to laminate flooring or shagpile carpet or something years ago? Or is it not like that all the way round the room with an obviously sloping floor?

jimmy_cricket

From your other posts, I think you live in the same area to me. We have a 30s home and the floor upstairs slopes. Bomb damage from the war apparently. We have been there over 20 years. It has never moved in all that time and tbh I don't notice it now.
I would get it checked though