Victorian Terrace - Structure

[FRAN1870]

Hi All,

First time post of hopefully many as we are soon to complete on a stunning Victorian house built 1870. It's actually half of what used to be an 8 bed house which ends a row of traditional miners terraces ( we will have 5 beds, well 4 and a boxroom to be a second bath eventually )

My concern

The area has a history of subsidence, there's a sign about a half a mile away saying road liable to subsidence, and there have been a few Buildings ( a school, a church, and a pub that have been lost over the years. It was a heavy mining area ( ceased in the 50's ) but despite all this my surveyor says there are no issues other than to be expected with a building of age. Apart from a few alarm bells, like some freshly decorated back bedrooms, a door that swings by itself and a Damp patch in the render which is "crack shaped"

Just wondering how much distortion, bow or sag i should expect with a building of this old ? particularly on the landing and if required how easy is it to level the floor providing the joists aren't rotten ?

 

[ntb]

If you paid a grand or so for a full structural survey and they say it is fine I wouldn't worry. If you paid £300 for a mortgage valuation survey then there is nothing obvious enough to worry the bank about lending the money but the survey was done for the bank's interest, not yours...

All old houses tend to be out of level or square. Mostly it's not worth worrying about.

On the subsidence side of things, it's only a significant risk if your house is directly over a coal seam that was cut. A few feet either way can make a big difference. As can the thickness and depth of the seam. There would have been maps and documentation for the workings back in the day. Whether they have survived and made it on to the Web is anyone's guess. Elderly locals may be your best source of info.

 

[mattylad]

I would expect....

The walls to be extremely thick, stone (not regular shape or size) and its a 50:50 chance that you can drill into stone or what appears to be cow poo between them.
The Plaster to be ancient and crumbly (unless its been replaced).
The electrics to need redoing and the routing of them to be extremely hard.

But if its been there this long I doubt its going anywhere soon.

 

[Nige F]

Hi All,

?

You`re in Staffs. So is Noseall - a regular respected builder who posts here - in case you need any work done