air bricks in weatherboard property

[nik]

my partners small weatherboard cottage hasnt any air bricks apparently according to the damp man that was instructed by our buyers.

he has suggested that some be put in, just to the main part of cottage as the newer extension has them.
does anyone know Is this likely to be a costly job?

 

[Matt Green]

Why?

"Because they are not there" is not an acceptable answer, neither is any response including the phrase: "current building regulations".

Seriously: what is so serious that it warrants smacking holes through walls?

M.

 

[JoceAndChris]

A cat.

 

[Feltwell]

You want to use a cat to smack holes through walls? Trust me, an SDS drill or a cold chisel is much more effective and less likely to upset the RSPCA. :wink:

Matt's point is a very good one, is there any evidence of damp that actually means that more ventilation is required?

 

[Cloudscape]

Can you supply more info? Where are the airbricks "needed"? Is there an underfloor void, or are the chimneys capped? The only time I've experienced airbricks that connected a room to the outside world was when I lived in a house that was effectively an airless concrete bunker with condensation running down the walls.

 

[nik]

interesting.. i guess it came up in the survey, or the survey stated to get someone to check out the property for insect infestation and it was these people that said the property needed airbricks.( there wasnt any active insect btw)

maybe just creating a job??.. dont know thats why we are asking the question

is there evidence of damp that actually means that more ventilation is required?

no evidence of damp that we were told about.

Is there an underfloor void,

yes.

are the chimneys capped

two chimney breasts one has been capped the other not.
the extension brick build at the back has airbricks.

i believe, there was gasp of surprise that there werent any airbricks at front or side of the original cottage.

 

[Matt Green]

i believe, there was gasp of surprise that there werent any airbricks at front or side of the original cottage.

And yet their lack has caused no issue or problem indicating the sub-floor void and solum are dry and the timber used in the construction of the floor contains minimal sapwood content. Rejoice.

Why would anyone want to spend money and intentionally damage their house at the behest of a commissioned salesman to address a problem that does not exist?

Curious.

 

[Hatster]

The advantage of using a cat to make holes in your doors is that you get a far more interesting shape

 

[Penners]

Our current house (from which we are about to depart) has no airbricks.

However, their lack has been cunningly offset by the inclusion of howling draughts around most of the windows.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Miserable lot, you are all overlooking the fact that the air bricks allow the little mice to come in and build a cosy home under your floorboards.

I will report you to the RSPCA.

 

[worms]

...which is presumably why you require the cat?