Single Skin Construction, worth buying?

mrsmortgage

We're on the process of buying s house but it turns out it has done single Skin Construction. We don't know to what extent as the mortgage broker didn't elaborate on it just that we needed a different lender.

We're starting to think that this house will be problematic to remortgage or sell. Another option were thinking is asking for a reduction to protect ourselves from possible future problems.

silvercar

You've started a thread on the mortgage board and had some answers, best to only have one thread running.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6069932/single-skin-construction-tsb-wont-give-mortgage

Chandler85

So it is likely steel frame, potentially timber framed depends on the property.

It really depends on what the other houses in the area are constructed like, for example near me there is virtually no non-standard construction concrete houses and no one would touch them ever. Where other members of my family live they are almost all non-standard construction houses (so they are the standard for the area) and as a result no one bats an eyelid.

I don't think you can ask for a reduction if the house isn't unique (e.g. is part of a wide built estate for example), it sounds like you are just being picky.

That said, my parents have a steel frame property, the mortgage provider wanted the steels inspected in the ground, which was a nightmare (it was 20 years ago though).

If the house is older they'll be little insulation in the walls if any, so basically you have single skin, air gap then timber frame with plasterboard on, so it can be cold, amongst other issues.

mrsmortgage

It's in Cornwall so our best bet is that it's a single granite wall. It does have an extension but it's a modern one. I don't have a copy of the survey just what the broker said.

FreeBear

Cornwall, rendered property - No way of telling if the walls are block construction or granite. Unlikely it will be solid stone. Being Cornwall, you will want to check for Mundic block, and take the appropriate steps with a survey (the mortgage provider may well insist on the extra checks).


Link to the property - https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-73648336.html

mrsmortgage

So the vendor for back to me and said that only one wall is potentially single Skin construction. They have a mundic report and it passed so that's good. Mortgage broker is suggesting asking for a reduction but I can already tell the vendors won't entertain that idea at all.

InformedAdvicePlease

Lots of older houses have single skin walls with no cavity. I wouldn't have thought this was a biggie.

lincroft1710

InformedAdvicePlease wrote: »

Lots of older houses have single skin walls with no cavity. I wouldn't have thought this was a biggie.

Single skin is, 9 inch solid, either Flemish or English bond is almost universal on pre WW2 houses and is not.

SmashedAvacado

you can always internally insulate to improve the efficiency if you want to (if the building isn't listed and if there is enough space). Depending on the appearance you could also look at external insulating but it really depends on what it looks like. As a concept there's no big deal if the walls are thick enough.