Structural concern on first time buy

Warlie

Hi all,

My partner and I are thinking about making an offer on a lovely converted coach house. Decent price, location and size but we spotted several (what look like) support beams exposed through the exterior wall. Is this something to be concerned about?

As I am new, I'm unable to post the images I have but have included the links with spaces in below... if you could have a look and give me any advice I would hugely appreciate it.

Thanks for any help!

https /ibb.co/q7DD6Ld
https /ibb.co/TKjYnjG
https /ibb.co/JyMhxx3

G_M

No..
It's designed that way.

Doozergirl

https://ibb.co/q7DD6Ld
https://ibb.co/TKjYnjG
https://ibb.co/JyMhxx3

stuart45

Warlie wrote: »

Hi all,



https://ibb.co/q7DD6Ld
https://ibb.co/TKjYnjG
https://ibb.co/JyMhxx3

Here's the photos.

Doozergirl

Which bit of it is lovely? A cheap fit out of kitchen and bathrooms and a lick of paint? Because the most important bit is the structure and that is as ugly as sin. What have they done to it?!

Given that what is visible has been treated with such utter disrespect - wrong materials - modern bricks, concrete tiles, PVC windows (best thing about it), what looks like nearly pure concrete used as mortar, random blocks, tyrolean, rusting metal, galvanised steel trunking and wires everywhere - clearly just botched in with no regard for anything, I can't imagine that you're going to show me anything that would convince me that this is a decent prospect of a property for a FTB, unless you really like fixing broken old houses.

The rusted metal looks like a rusted steel - the end of an I beam. What's inside there? A bulkhead where a steel could be running to the opposite wall? Anything protruding from opposite wall?

Seriously, I've bought and worked on very neglected houses that always have sad human stories attached to them, but that building has been treated with utter contempt by its owners and it's the building I feel sorry for.

I wouldn't touch it unless you like a money pit.

Get a full buildings survey and prepare yourself for a long read. I'd be most worried if it wasn't lengthy.

Davesnave

It's a barn, it's very 'utilitarian' and whoever's converted it has no idea about aesthetics, but things can be like that in rural environments, especially in...ahem.... certain parts of the country.

If I were you, I'd make some enquiries first to establish when the conversion work was done and whether the council have records showing it was signed off for building regulations. Never mind the steels at this stage; you can get a survey later, if it goes that far.

I say this because there are some converted barns near me that were turned into holiday homes cheaply in the 1980s, which have since shown serious problems as a result of the shoddy workmanship. Local people know this, which makes them hard to sell, even though they now have full residential status.

Make enquiries at the council and talk to locals.

AdrianC

As DoozerGirl says - the beams are the least of the problems there. Just look at that last pic, especially, but all three show zero respect or care - repointing is desperately needed.

You really need a full structural by somebody specialising in old buildings, because whoever worked on this place did not have the first scooby.

AnotherJoe

It looks like someone built a house out of the stuff they had left over including a couple of old stone walls, surplus bricks and a window ? And left over concrete which they rushed to slam into the joints before it went off so they didn't have to buy mortar?

Presumably the "lovely" aspect refers to the interior? Or, and please excuse this, but are you registered blind

My immediate thought is, if its that bodged on the bits you can see, what on earth is the state of the bits you cant see, like plumbing and electrics?

FreeBear

Save your money on having surveys done and run away.
Alternatively, make an offer based on demolition and rebuild - Yes, it really does look that bad. You have RSJs that are rusting, really ugly & bad "pointing", and a structure that is going to need a lot of money spent on basic maintenance.

If the building is listed and the conversion signed off by the local conservation officer, then he/she needs dragging over a bed of hot coals. If the work hasn't had approval, you will be picking up the bill to put right any noncompliance.

Got a link to the property listing ?

Warlie

Thanks all - I know it's far too easy to fall for an attractive interior alongside a decent price (for Bristol) and location without paying proper attention to the structure etc.

No beams protruding from the other side as all other walls are rendered. Makes me wonder what horrors might be under there considering the state of the exposed wall.

I'll have a chat with my partner about what to do but I think it sounds pretty clear that we should avoid...

Here is the property listing for anyone who is curious about the entire thing (sorry for the lack of a proper link again, paste it after the rightmove.co.uk): /property-for-sale/property-71173243.html

Doozergirl

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-71173243.html

Just like I said. A slap of paint and a cheap kitchen and they've fooled you, briefly.

They haven't even changed the ceiling fan and dodgy lampshade. How long do you think they've been there for?

The vendor is taking the absolute proverbial.

RUN!