Difference between revisions of "Problem Constructions"
(wood cat) |
(Mortgage Companies) |
||
| Line 20: | Line 20: | ||
==Steel Frame== | ==Steel Frame== | ||
Steel Frames rust, and houses may have frames that are impossible or impractical to inspect, thus the condition of the frame can not be determined. | Steel Frames rust, and houses may have frames that are impossible or impractical to inspect, thus the condition of the frame can not be determined. | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | ==Mortgage Companies== | ||
| + | Abbey and Halifax lend on steel frame. | ||
Revision as of 03:35, 23 January 2008
There are 4 main types of construction especially prone to structural problems.
Timber Frame
Timber frame buildings are relatively common. Unfortunately so is cement render on timber frame. This traps damp in the frame, and sometimes leads to rot of the frame. Repair can be costly. Prevention consists of using only lime or earth based renders on the building, and only lime or earth based porous paints. Cement renders and modern impermeable paints should be avoided.
Earth Buildings
Known variously as cob, earth, adobe and other names, earth buildings are part of Britains historic housing stock. While these work well enough as designed, common modern alterations can lead to significant structural problems. Cement render tends to cause damp walls, and when the cob reaches a certain level of water content, it loses its strength and can collapse. Although not common, there have been cases where the cement render had become structural due to failure of the cob, caused by the cement render.
Cement rendered earth should generally have its render removed, and be rerendered with lime, which is porous enough to permit any damp in the wall to evaporate out. Precautions are needed in doing this, as it could rarely cause collapse if done wrongly.
Replacement roofs can sometimes be an issue with earth buildings, as these buildings require generous roof overhangs, and these are not normally provided on modern roofs.
Reinforced Concrete Buildings
Reinforced concrete buildings suffer from rusting and consequent expansion of the reinforcing steel, which breaks the concrete apart. Most of the compressive strength of the building material is thus lost. These are known as a defective building type, and obtaining mortgages is difficult if not impossible.
Steel Frame
Steel Frames rust, and houses may have frames that are impossible or impractical to inspect, thus the condition of the frame can not be determined.
Mortgage Companies
Abbey and Halifax lend on steel frame.