First time buyer - Horizontal crack on external wall

hazyjo

My sister's garden has been completely under water from the River Roding before, so make sure you do your homework. Talk to locals, look for old articles online, etc.

Seems odd it's "an easy fix" yet they didn't do it with the hundred grand they spent. Doesn't sound like they've done it up to sell, you just need to work out if it's all fur coat and no knickers!

The decking looks way to high with no ventilation, you can even see part of the previous ventilation brick in that third pic.

Davesnave

I didn't refer to 'gaps for drainage' in my comment about the decking, but to the whereabouts of the inspection chamber(s) which will need to be accessed if there is a drain blockage on the property.

I'm sure the guy is as sincere as you say, but I note from the picture above that he's covered most of an air brick too, which again hints at style over substance.

Doozergirl

The level 3 survey might give you an idea as to why those cracks are there.  They will probably still recommend a structural engineer.  It's a chicken/egg scenario.  If you get the structural engineer in first, that isn't survey of anything other than the structure.  It is the most important thing though! 

It sound like it's worth giving the vendors the benefit of the doubt.  If it has been comprehensively done inside, then perhaps this is what is left to you.  No house is perfect and the cost of trying to get it there is often more than the house is worth, so there expenditure so far will probably help you.  Renegotiating to fix it is an option.  

LoveSauce

I'm so very sorry to hijack this thread, but I've been searching for a name for the building work on a house that's covered in little stones for a long time. My house has this feature and was wondering what exactly is the purpose? Is it just cosmetic?

Sibbers123

Render can hide all sorts of unwanted issues. Get a survey completed. Ask if it has fallen through before and if so why?

It is a worry that it is symmetrical and suggests it is not just the render drying out. The fact they have covered it up is almost as if they are trying to hide something.

Don't trust anyone except your own solicitors and your own surveyor. The vendors are not going to say the reason they are selling is that the house is going to fall down are they!

hazyjo

LoveSauce said:

I'm so very sorry to hijack this thread, but I've been searching for a name for the building work on a house that's covered in little stones for a long time. My house has this feature and was wondering what exactly is the purpose? Is it just cosmetic?

It's pebbledashing. Was part fashion, part protection, part cover for crap brickwork.

Smodlet

hazyjo said:

LoveSauce said:

I'm so very sorry to hijack this thread, but I've been searching for a name for the building work on a house that's covered in little stones for a long time. My house has this feature and was wondering what exactly is the purpose? Is it just cosmetic?

It's pebbledashing. Was part fashion, part protection, part cover for crap brickwork.

I know I am paranoid about "render" but how can anyone, even Doozergirl and Davesnave, know for a fact these properties are rendered and not non-standard construction without actually viewing them?  I would be really interested to know.

All the surrounding properties seem to have been "rendered"; how normal is that?  I suppose it depends on area but I have found it more likely to find rendered properties among a load which have not been rendered; i.e. you can see the bricks on adjacent houses.

Whether they are or not, this property and the neighbouring one seem to have structural issues.  Personally, I would look elsewhere, OP.

Davesnave

Smodlet said:

hazyjo said:

LoveSauce said:

I'm so very sorry to hijack this thread, but I've been searching for a name for the building work on a house that's covered in little stones for a long time. My house has this feature and was wondering what exactly is the purpose? Is it just cosmetic?

It's pebbledashing. Was part fashion, part protection, part cover for crap brickwork.

I know I am paranoid about "render" but how can anyone, even Doozergirl and Davesnave, know for a fact these properties are rendered and not non-standard construction without actually viewing them?  I would be really interested to know.
All the surrounding properties seem to have been "rendered"; how normal is that?

What do you mean, "even Davesnave?" I don't know even a quarter as much as Doozer!

But I'd say these houses date to a time before concrete panel, steel frame and other non-standard types of construction became a common thing.

And I don't have a problem with render, mainly because the property I live in is rendered, as was the last one too! Down here in Ruralshire, the majority of properties are rendered and painted, echoing the days when they cobbled houses together here out of whatever they had, including mud, straw and even animal hair. You can't get much more non standard than that!

[Deleted User]

OP - I personally dont like the look of that house or the matching cracks. As my late dad would say - its the house of a bodger. 

Rowingirl

Yikes! There's  a lot going on here: cracks, flooding, moving walls, removing chimney breasts and poor access to drainage covers. A structural survey and all the paperwork for the renovations should be the minimum requirements. If the sellers are lovely and genuine they shouldn't have a problem with this.
There are a couple of chimneys in your photos and it's not clear if they belong to your sellers' house or the neighbours' houses.
When the sellers removed the chimney breasts, did they remove or structurally support the remaining chimney stacks? If they did neither you could ens up with a chimney literally sitting in your lap.