Silly question: "no fines"?

Zelie

I've been flicking around rightmove and seen the phrase "no fines" a couple of times but haven't the faintest idea of what it means. Could somebody clue me in please?

telfordwhite

Zelie wrote: »

I've been flicking around rightmove and seen the phrase "no fines" a couple of times but haven't the faintest idea of what it means. Could somebody clue me in please?

You may be talking about George Wimpy "no fines" concrete (non standard construction) houses.
Built around the 40s and 50s by pouring "no fines" concrete into specially made moulds to form houses in many council areas.

The no fines refers to certain "fine" aggregates that were removed from the mix to give the structure durability and to be less rigid.

This is generally considered to be a solid less problematic structure than most concrete builds but there is some doubt as to their shelf life. They are prone to damp and there were other structural problems in the early days which in many areas were rectified by the local authorities concerned.
If thinking about buying one, they are usually cheaper than similar sized traditional builds but I would recommend you read up on them and ensure said remedial work had been carried out.

There doesn't seem too many problems getting a mortgage for them though many insurance companies won't do the buildings cover.

Zelie

telfordwhite wrote: »

You may be talking about George Wimpy "no fines" concrete (non standard construction) houses.
Built around the 40s and 50s by pouring "no fines" concrete into specially made moulds to form houses in many council areas.

The no fines refers to certain "fine" aggregates that were removed from the mix to give the structure durability and being less rigid.

This is generally considered to be a solid less problematic structure than most concrete builds but there is some doubt as to their shelf life. There doesn't seem too many problems getting a mortgage for them though many insurance companies won't do the buildings cover.

Thankyou, that's very informative. These are BISF houses from around that era (I think) so were probably constructed in the manner you describe.

Richard_Webster

BISF and Wimpey No Fines are not the same type of house at all.

Zelie

Richard_Webster wrote: »

BISF and Wimpey No Fines are not the same type of house at all.

I don't believe anybody said they were, but thankyou for your helpful input.

Snooze

telfordwhite wrote: »

You may be talking about George Wimpy "no fines" concrete (non standard construction) houses.
Built around the 40s and 50s by pouring "no fines" concrete into specially made moulds to form houses in many council areas.

The no fines refers to certain "fine" aggregates that were removed from the mix to give the structure durability and to be less rigid.

This is generally considered to be a solid less problematic structure than most concrete builds but there is some doubt as to their shelf life. They are prone to damp and there were other structural problems in the early days which in many areas were rectified by the local authorities concerned.
If thinking about buying one, they are usually cheaper than similar sized traditional builds but I would recommend you read up on them and ensure said remedial work had been carried out.

There doesn't seem too many problems getting a mortgage for them though many insurance companies won't do the buildings cover.

Good explanation. :T

I lived in a Wimpy no-fines one myself for many years and never had any issues with it at all. Some concrete construction houses are worse than others as the steel rots and forces the concrete away but the Wimpy no-fines ones don't seem to suffer this problem.

Never had any problems with damp and found the house overall to be well insulated : in the winter the house would maintain the heat well, and in the summer the house would be refreshingly cool in the downstairs rooms.

I certainly wouldn't have any problems with buying and living in one again if I was at that kinda level in the housing market.

Rob

Dafydd_Jeff

Zelie wrote: »

I've been flicking around rightmove and seen the phrase "no fines" a couple of times but haven't the faintest idea of what it means. Could somebody clue me in please?

"No fines" houses were were pioneered in the early 60's mainly by George Wimpey. The solid walls were not bricked or blocked - they were cast of a concrete comprising a stone aggregate (chippings) and cement, with the fine aggregate (sand) omitted, hence the description, "no fines". The idea was that the voids formed would afford insulation and exclude dampness, but the houses were a disaster - cold, with chronic condensation problems. I lived in a "No fines" house as a boy during the winter of 1963, and can vouch for this! Many have since been demolished.

MissMotivation

Zelie wrote: »

Thankyou, that's very informative. These are BISF houses from around that era (I think) so were probably constructed in the manner you describe.

BISF houses (British Iron and Steel Federation) are nothing like Wimpey No Fines. The former are steel framed construction unlike No fines which are concrete, as described by other posters.

clutton_2

i own a no-fines property and it is the warmest toastiest little house i own.. no problems at all with condensation or cold or any of the other Concrete issues which surrounded different concrete cancer properties... i think a lot of folks get mixed up with Concrete Cancer houses and Wimpey-no-fines..

there are no issues at all with getting mortages for no fines houses, so lenders obviously think they are a good security...