Concrete house

[chasbo]

My son is in the process of buying a house made from concrete. (Poured concrete rather than concrete blocks.) From the style of the windows it would seem to be about 100 years old. Does anyone know how common this method of construction was, and whether there are any problems associated with it.

 

[Johneds]

All concrete houses in their original forms will more than likely have dampness/condensation problems and probably structural problems related to corrosion of reinforcement. Some are easy to repair others not so easy.

A lot depends on whether it is a one-off individual design and construction or if it is a standard non-traditional house which were common from the 1920s onwards. All the non-trad houses have names, e.g. Boswell, Gadie, Whatling etc. If you can find out a name it's fairly easy from there to find out what potential defects to look for.

My advice first of all is to try and find out if it is a known type. Is it out on its own or is it one of a group?

Also beware that some of the non-trad houses are registered defective and lenders will not give mortagages on them

 

[David Q]

Ask Evelyn about the concrete castle.

 

[Nemesis]

Oooh... I can bore for England on this one!

http://www.architecture.com/go/Architecture/Also/VandA_5185.html

Vivat is keen now to take it on. So one day (with a lot of work and if the funding can be found...) you all may be able to stay in it.


http://www.vivat.org.uk/

 

[Gervase]

Old concrete is an absolute b*gger to repair if the reinforcing has 'blown' with the rust - you're looking at expensive work with stainless steel and epoxy resins. The De La Warre Pavilion in Bexhill on Sea is a fine example of an early concrete building, and it was an absolute pig to restore.
A major problem is that many of these buildings were erected before there was any real knowledge of the properties and limitations of modern concrete, so the degradation of the years can render them irreparably dangerous.
Get your son to have a survey done by someone who really knows their stuff.

 

[Nemesis]

Simon Swan