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Buying a non-standard construction home - terrible idea?

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  • lincroft1710
    lincroft1710 Posts: 18,900 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    I've never come across stramit being used for external walls. I first encountered it in the 1970s when it was quite common to use stramit for internal partitioning. 
     

    The problem is that although the bungalow is over 50 years old, without knowing the exact composition of the external walls and an expert opinion on these, you cannot judge whether the walls are good for another 50 years or may be just 5!
    If you are querying your Council Tax band would you please state whether you are in England, Scotland or Wales
  • Woolsery
    Woolsery Posts: 1,535 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Being of  certain age, one thing stands out to me and that's the claimed speed of erection..... :)

    httpswwwgracesguidecoukimages66bIm1952BDig-Stramitjpg
    Yours is the first house I've heard of with this material used as external walls. Surely there must also be a steel or wooden frame involved somewhere?

  • Slithery
    Slithery Posts: 6,046 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Woolsery said:
    Being of  certain age, one thing stands out to me and that's the claimed speed of erection..... :)

    httpswwwgracesguidecoukimages66bIm1952BDig-Stramitjpg
    Yours is the first house I've heard of with this material used as external walls. Surely there must also be a steel or wooden frame involved somewhere?

    The speed of my erections has definitely been getting slower and slower over the years...
  • Woolsery
    Woolsery Posts: 1,535 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Slithery said:
    Woolsery said:
    Being of  certain age, one thing stands out to me and that's the claimed speed of erection..... :)

    httpswwwgracesguidecoukimages66bIm1952BDig-Stramitjpg
    Yours is the first house I've heard of with this material used as external walls. Surely there must also be a steel or wooden frame involved somewhere?

    The speed of my erections has definitely been getting slower and slower over the years...
    So long as a steel or wooden frame isn't required....
    In the advert the material is claimed as ideal for partitions, decked surfaces etc, but there is no suggestion of suitability for the weight-bearing job of exterior walls. Those are shown as brick.

  • rovingrom
    rovingrom Posts: 1 Newbie
    First Post
    Hi Moneysavers, I am currently looking at moving to my next home, one I have my eye on is non-standard construction, advised as "straw prefab" by the Estate Agents. No other information available from the vendor or agents, and I've not been able to find much information online about it, other than I believe the most common version is called stramit. 

    I'm a latecomer to this discussion, some 3 years after the initial post and replies, which I have found extremely helpful in my own search for info!  I'm wondering what your conclusion was - did you buy the property in the end or look for something more conventional?

    My interest is that I have been looking at buying a 60 year old bungalow in Blairmore on the Cowal Peninsular in Argyll & Bute.  In Scotland house buyers do not normally commission their own RCIS survey as all properties for sale must have a survey done by an independent surveyor before they can put a property on the market. On this property the surveyor wrote the following:

    "The property is mainly of timber frame construction with a rendered Stramit board (cement straw board) with a painted external finish on a rendered brick base course.......".

    "There is normal age related wear and tear associated with this type of structure. Slight hairline cracking was noted at joints in places.......".

    "The property is of slightly non-traditional construction in that the outer wall cladding consists mainly of a cement
    straw board (Stramit) which has a roughcast external finish. In our experience this does not affect the
    marketability of these properties and the suitability of the property for loan purposes will depend entirely on the
    lending criteria of the particular lending institution."

    Thus it appears that the structure is: timber frame, Stramit boards secured to the frame, rendered externally and with plasterboard internal lining.  The "Engineering for Change" website suggests that Stramit has excellent thermal insulation properties equivalent to (or greater than) those of traditional building materials like brick.  I appears that a double stata with cavity for insulation is not therefore needed.  The website states: "Stramit panels consist of compressed straw, extruded between two surface layers of liner-board. The ends and sides of the panels are sealed to protect the straw core. The traditional thickness is 58 mm, but 38 mm, 50 mm and 76 mm also being used. 

    However other websites contain some warnings, these being principally:
    1.  Some (but not all) Stramit board production included the use of asbestos in the panel end and side sealing. Like all asbestos this is not a problem unless disturbed, however could affect property insurance and future saleability.
    2.  Because of the way in which the straw is compressed, undamaged Stramit "does not support combustion" and will not ignite when an open flame is applied. However once damaged, the straw content will burn easily.
    3.  Once water penetrates the Stamit board sealing, the board is then compromised and will collapse. Ensuring water does not penetrate the board is of crucial importance.

    I have decided NOT to continue with the purchase of the property in Scotland.  While I am in favour of environmentally friendly construction methods (Stramit is highly eco-friendly), I am not convinced of its long term strength and durability.  None of the sites I have found make any comment on the effective lifespan of Stramit and this house was built around 1965.

    I have added these details in the hope they may be of use to other people reading this thread who may be considering buying a Stramit board property.
  • Albermarle
    Albermarle Posts: 27,871 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Seventh Anniversary Name Dropper
    The original poster has not posted on any MSE forum for over 3 years, so is unlikely to reply.
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