Help! Concrete house?

mark55man

worried_jim wrote: »

They probably need an honest truthful answer!

true - good point, basic construction details would seem to be reasonably uncontroversial, but Jim's prob right to be worried

davidmcn

OP, what makes you think they're concrete?

If there were a problem with mortgageability, the prices ought to be significantly lower than similar conventionally-built houses in the area - are they?

Jewels&binoculars

OP, what makes you think they're concrete?

If there were a problem with mortgageability, the prices ought to be significantly lower than similar conventionally-built houses in the area - are they?

I suspect they're concrete because another house (sold a year or 2 ago) was listed as a 'concrete construction'.

And yes, it is significantly cheaper than other houses in the area, though that could be because it's ex local authority. Definitely brick built ex-LA houses are going for a similar amount, but they are on a slightly rougher road.

martinthebandit

Well the simplest solution is to knock on next door and ask them, politely of course

Jewels&binoculars

sorry if this is a dumb question but why don't you just ask the estate agent

Valid question, i intend on speaking to them about it after the bank holiday. I want to be armed with information when I do so though; and, as someone suggested, I doubt their integrity..

bxboards

It looks like an ex-council house to me, so is likely to have been constructed probably from the 1960's.

I'd be amazed if this isn't a brick construction with cavity, with rendering outside.

The reason it's slightly cheaper is that is clearly ex-council, I think the 'concrete' thing is a complete red herring.

GrumpyDil

I've been looking at PRC houses recently and this house does not look like any of the PRC types I've seen. I suspect that they are brick with render but I would firstly ask the EA and make sure you get more than a valuation survey.

Jewels&binoculars

It looks like an ex-council house to me, so is likely to have been constructed probably from the 1960's.

I'd be amazed if this isn't a brick construction with cavity, with rendering outside.

It is an ex council house, yes; and I believe the EA mentioned it was build in the 60s.

What is rendering? Why did they do this to council houses in the 60s?

artyclarty

I have an almost identical ex council house (mine being semi however). I would say with about 99% certainty that is brick with render. Mine was built in 1948 so I would guess that is of a similar era. The ones that are still council have been looked after very well. If you don't mind the stigma of living in an ex council house, they are well built and pretty good value for money.

Render is brick with a specific plaster/cement covering. Here is a very boring wikipedia article.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cement_render

It is supposed to help with insulation and damp and some people think it looks nice, I do!

stator

Built in the late 60s or early 70s according to old-maps.co.uk

Looking at them, I would guess they are brick or block, but you can't rule out concrete construction like Laing Easi-form or Wimpey no-fines as these were used in some places up to the 1980s.

If you want to know for sure ask for access to the loft. If you go in the loft and look at the gable end walls you can see what they are made from. Either brick/block or poured concrete is fairly obvious.

Personally I own a Laing Easi-form house and think they're fine anyway.