Pre Purchase survey of a 1920's bungalow: what are the issues

Carlow52

Have been ask to do a pre-purchase survey of a 1920's detached bungalow.

Its dashed with a hip at each end so its like a pyramid.

The house is let and there is no owner to talk to so looking for some additional issues to be looked at/for.

[ windows doors wiring and heating will all be redone.]

[ Some of the items go beyond the normal survey but would welcome ideas ]


In addition to the usual stuff from the desk here I wonder about


1: is the rising main still lead?
2: is there a dpc?
3: what state are the sewers on the property in?
4: if concrete floors will they have dpc / insulation?
5: state of wall vents if any?
6: state of chimneys?
7: water tank if galvo?

Thanks

Poor Uncle Tom

If the windows, doors, wiring and heating are all being redone, it is just as well to state that on the report and that you are not commenting on those.

Check for asbestos in cisterns, pipework, packing, flues, slates or sheetings. It would nat have been used in the 1920's but any modifications or repairs from the 50's or 60's could have included them.

It's just as well to start at the top in the attic, check the chimney(s) for cracking, leeching, porus, whether plastered or not, touching timberwork, any other supports on the breast. Water tank/s, are they supported properly? insulated? are the fittings secured? overflows free, piping insulated? Check the carcass timberwork, any rot? enough supports? is it convertable? member section sizes? Is there felt on the roof? Is it possible to see the roof covering? Check the hips, the hip tile grouting would have been replaced at least twice during the life of the house, if it was left persihed for any length of time it could have caused rot problems. Are the rafter ends burried in the wall or are they on a wall plate?

The walls themselves, the thickness of the wall will tell you a lot about the make up. I find it easiest to deal with insulations as a separate part of the report rather than individually listing roof, walls, etc. There will not be a conventional DPC in the walls (as muffler said below) but there could be a poured pitch damp proof course, you will only know this by checking for discolouration on the wall at floor level at the front door return.

muffler

If it's 90 years old then there will be no dpc's or dpm. Check out the moisture content in the floors and walls. Floors will most likely be vented timber floors.

Determine the wall thickness and it will probably be around 500mm which would have been the norm for stone. Meter is probably located inside the house but if it's being rewired then that's not an issue.

Rainwater disposal was never much thought about in those days so you may find there are no gullys.

Check the lintel types...might be wood.

Thats just a few things that spring to me apart from what PUT said above.

Carlow52

many thanks to you both for this. Some great items.

Am a bit concerned about the lack of dpc and what I can garner from a non-invasive survey.

Looking at house on street view the ground slopes across the front of the house from left to right with a difference of about 6 inches.

The dashing stops at path level on the left and the full plain bottom plastered section is visible on the right.