Cellar

[Matd]

Hello

My cellar is coated with some type of thick whitewash (I presume it's lime?)

It obviously hasn't been renewed in a long long time an shows several cracks where the builing has 'moved' over the years.

How would I go about sprucing it up so not to stress out an over zealous building surveyor ?

Thanks

 

[Cocoa]

I'm not sure if this is any help at all, but I have addressed the same issue in my cellar by taking a stiff brush to all the walls in my cellar to get rid of the flakes. The plan was to give it a new coat of whitewash / limewash as the soon as the weather warmed up (although now it has, I spend all my time in the garden). I only purchased my house in February, and the surveyor didn't mention it as a cause for concern, although he was quite pragmatic and an obvious lover of old buildings. What were your surveyor's concerns?

 

[Matd]

We are thinking of selling the house an didn't want to put anyone off seeing cracks in the cellar. Our surveyor was a huge fan of old buildings and confidently saw the cracks for what they were. I'm just concerned that a prospective buyer's surveyor might not be so understanding. So what product do I use?

 

[tobydog]

If it is lime and lime wash already then it probably just needs a good stiff brushing down to get rid of the rubbish and flakes and then a few coats of limewash which should also help seal the cracks. Maybe it shouldn't look too neat otherwise that in itself could raise suspicion. It is, afterall, a cellar. It just reminds me of being told once to be wary of buying a secondhand car that's had its engine bay steam cleaned.

When you say the house has "moved over the years" and your surveyor "saw the cracks for what they are", what sized cracks are you talking about? Hairline or real movement? Photos whould be helpful. Just curious / nosey otherwise just slap on the limewash.

 

[Penners]

If it is lime and lime wash already then it probably just needs a good stiff brushing down to get rid of the rubbish and flakes and then a few coats of limewash which should also help seal the cracks.

I agree - assuming that the cracks are nothing controversial.

 

[Lime]

We are thinking of selling the house an didn't want to put anyone off seeing cracks in the cellar. Our surveyor was a huge fan of old buildings and confidently saw the cracks for what they were. I'm just concerned that a prospective buyer's surveyor might not be so understanding. So what product do I use?

IME the behaviour of the surveyor will depend both on the amount of money being borrowed and the attitude of the BS or bank doing the lending.
Exactly the same crack can be seen as either critical or totally unimportant depending on the surveyor and his/her instructions.

 

[Penners]

I agree. What's more, a surveyor's view of the cracks may well be greatly exaggerated by any potential purchaser, in an attempt to get a price reduction.

 

[Roger H]

So... Limewash - either buy pre prepared or batch your own - hydrated lime mortar (builders lime) stirred into a bucket of water and left overnight. Drain off the water from the top and scoop out the 'putty'. Mix with clean water 1:1 and add a dash (5%) of boiled linseed oil. Whizz the lot with a hand blender or similar. Apply with thick paintbrush onto a dampened wall. 3 coats should give decent coverage. 1 day between coats, or at least 'til nearly fully dry. Works for me.