Single skin gable

[Peter1987]

Hi,

We bought our 150 year old cottage 2 years ago and everything went through no problems. Our mortgage lender is skipton who carried out a basic valuation of the property and all was fine or so we thought.

We are coming to the end of our 2 year deal and the nationwide ( our potential new lenders) have said they won't lend due to the fact the gable wall is 4.5 thick, something skipton didn't pick up on. The wall has an internal timber stud, insulation and plasterboard lining to the inside but we have no space outside to build another skin of wall.

What mortgage providers would lend against our property? And should I be concerned structurally? There are no cracks and has obviously stood the test of time!

Thanks

 

[Feltwell]

Bump!

should I be concerned structurally? There are no cracks and has obviously stood the test of time!

If there are no signs of any problems such as cracking or bowing of the wall then no - if it ain't broke don't fix it.

I'm surprised the Nationwide picked up on that, when we switched lenders (to the Woolwich) we're not even sure the valuer saw the house - it was a drive-by inspection at best. Did you show them a seperate structural survey that you had done when you bought the house, or did they pick it up entirely independently?

Have you spoken to Skipton? If they know that you're considering an alternative, better deal elsewhere they may come up with something close.

 

[Peter1987]

Thanks,

The valuer picked up on this independently and suggested the only way most companies would lend would be to install another skin of wall either internally or externally which would be too costly and messy.

We will be in contact with skipton in April when our fixed term is up for renewal but I am concerned about the saleability of the house in the future.

 

[GRADE_II_MONEYPIT]

We have 3 gable ends single skin and also front and rear elevation of main part of house and kitchen wall single skin (mortgage with First Direct and no issues).

Original mortgage was with Halifax and despite full structual survey it was not highlighted in the report (to lender or me the buyer).

Tell Nationwide to jog on!

 

[plasticpigeon]

Are you sure it is a single skin? Could the Nationwide surveyor not be wrong??

 

[Peter1987]

The wall is definitely 4 1/2 inch thick, we did some measuring!


Thanks

 

[Penners]

Single-skin gable walls are not uncommon. Are the remaining walls of proper cavity construction? If so, then (as a last resort) it should be possible to add a second internal skin to the gable walls by building up on the cavity wall inner skin that (presumably) terminates at the first floor ceiling height. If you use light, air-entrained blocks (such as Thermalite or Durox), 75mm thick, the extra weight will be minimal.

You may even find that Nationwide may be prepared to go ahead with the mortgage advance immediately, with a small sum held back against your completion of this building work.

But before you go to that trouble, have you tried looking around the mortgage market for a more reasonable (I'm avoiding saying "less picky"!) provider?

 

[Peter1987]

Hi,

What I mean is the whole external wall is 4 1/2 " thick not just in the loft space. The walls have been dry lined with plasterboard, timber stud and insulation. If an inner leaf was added it would have to be from ground to 1st floor ceiling.

The front and back elevation are both 9 " solid walls.

Thanks

 

[Penners]

the whole external wall is 4 1/2 " thick ...The walls have been dry lined with plasterboard, timber stud and insulation. If an inner leaf was added it would have to be from ground to 1st floor ceiling.

Sorry for the misunderstanding. I presume, then, that the addition of an inner leaf is going to be impractical on both cost and space grounds.

I'd be trawling the mortgage market for a provider who is prepared to accept the structure.