Extending up on a prospective house

[caleb2003]

I have had an offer accepted on a new! (1920s) House.
The house has a single extension built approx 20 years ago.

I am buying with a view to building on top of the extension so my question is, will a full structural survey be able to confirm if the structure can be built upon? (if so, how much generally is a full structural)

If not should a specialist surveyor/architect be called in, before we go ahead and waste money buying this house (which we probably don't want if the cost to extend will be a full double extension cost).

Thanks for any answers

 

[masona]

The cheapest and quickest way is to pop down to your local planning for a free advice,they will have your property drawing details with them and ask them if they can see any problem of regarding what you want done.

 

[Building Contractor]

You have to expose the old foundations by means of test holes to see how thick and how deep they are. Then get the local building control officer out to check and hopefully pass them to build an extra floor.

Educated guess is that they will not be strong enough as they were only proberly constructed for a single storey

 

[caleb2003]

I spoke to the owner last night and she says that she remembers being told that they went down 6 ft with a view to extending upwards and that she has some original plans/docs on it.

Anyone know if 6ft is generally good enough?

 

[Building Contractor]

Generally 600mm below ground is the norm, but under certain circumstances you have to go down deeper, though any deeper then 2m causes problems in itself with a raft usually the norm. Take no notice of the house owner, if the building was built with building approval then the local authority will still have the original regs, if they don't, then you will have to dig test holes as previously stated.

 

[caleb2003]

Many thanks for the info, I am going to see the owner and friday and have a look over the docs she has, and then I'll ask the council for the docs they have,