Browse Forums Bathrooms and Laundry 1 Feb 28, 2009 5:29 pm Hi all,
I'm looking around at places to buy - today I saw one I really liked, but I found a slight problem - next to the shower is a small amount of wall (about 30 cm wide, going up to the ceiling), and it appears to be rotting. Otherwise, the place looked great! Anyway, the very bottom of that wall section appears to be moudly/rotten (the skirting board up maybe 15cm?).Just the bottom, but I guess it could be really worse than that behind the wall. (?) I will have another look within the next few days, and take some photos of the damage.... but what do people think? Should I look away from purchasing the property? I'm assuming a building inspector would be able to assess the damage and estimate repair, and I'd knock that off the purchase price to allow for the repairs. But could this be a telltale sign of major damage? Anyone had experience with something like this and can offer any advice for someone who has no clue? - Gareth Re: Small amount of rotting wall in bathroom 2Feb 28, 2009 5:42 pm Gareth….this is a common problem in older houses.
Eventually the water repellent membrane brakes down in the shower. The big question is……is the house on a concrete slab or piers with chip board flooring? Internal and External Building and Colour Consultant Online - Worldwide http://www.denovoconcepts.com Re: Small amount of rotting wall in bathroom 3Feb 28, 2009 5:46 pm To be honest I'm not actually sure - I was thinking it was a slab, but I guess you never know! I'll call the real estate agent first thing Monday to ask, and also to book in for another look.
I'm assuming a slab would be better? The house is around 15 - 20 years old, from the looks of it. Re: Small amount of rotting wall in bathroom 4Feb 28, 2009 5:59 pm Gareth....we can nut this out now.
Was the land flat….not on an incline at the back so the house had to be build up to meet the front or back? How many steps did you have to walk up to go into the house? Internal and External Building and Colour Consultant Online - Worldwide http://www.denovoconcepts.com Re: Small amount of rotting wall in bathroom 5Feb 28, 2009 6:10 pm Michelle, I sent you a PM with a link to the house... hopefully it worked (don't know quite what I'm doing!).
Annyway - the land is on a slight slope - the front is at the ground, but it raised up at the rear. Re: Small amount of rotting wall in bathroom 6Feb 28, 2009 6:10 pm If the house is on a slab…..you are ok….well sort of!
There is obviously a leaking shower happening. Here’s a good one for you. I too have been looking for a house to buy. One I looked at was on chipboard flooring, as the land was on an incline and sloped to the front, so on piers. The minute I walked into the house I could smell it……mould, big time! I went straight the bathroom, what a mess!!!! It had been leaking for a long time, and I have no doubt the chip board has sucked the water up like a cotton wall ball! That’s when you get problems! $$$$$$$$$$ I then pulled the carpet away from the wall to see the mess…..I walked away, the house has loads of to offer, but that was enough for me.$$$$$$ When you go back for a second look, pull the carpet away from what ever wall is at the back of the bathroom, you will see how much damage has been done if it is chip board. If it is a slab, you are in a much better position! Internal and External Building and Colour Consultant Online - Worldwide http://www.denovoconcepts.com Re: Small amount of rotting wall in bathroom 7Feb 28, 2009 6:15 pm Thank you SO much for those tips - I will definitely have it checked out on Monday. Definitely something to think about over the weekend though!
I'm in the situation where I want to buy a place with no major structural damage - I don't want to spend lots of $$$$$ repairing stuff like that. Painting the walls yes, but structural damage due to a leaking shower, no. Re: Small amount of rotting wall in bathroom 8Feb 28, 2009 6:26 pm No problem, I have never been so stressed while looking for a house to buy…..and neither where the agents trying to sell to me.
Didn’t take them long to relies, I was not the normal house hunter! I pointed stuff out to them that made their skin crawl, as they just didn’t wan to know…..and neither did I! I was a hard sell, I can tell you now. I know a lot about houses….and how they should look and perform, I’m afraid the agents went running from me….. Internal and External Building and Colour Consultant Online - Worldwide http://www.denovoconcepts.com Re: Small amount of rotting wall in bathroom 9Mar 02, 2009 12:21 pm Any house on piers with a wet-area over chipboard is cheap and ******* to begin with.... Re: Small amount of rotting wall in bathroom 11Mar 02, 2009 7:37 pm I have spoken with the real estate agent, and yes - it's definitely on piers. A workmate is currently having his house renovated, so his renovator has agreed to take a look for me to give me his opinion.
Basically, I'm a first home owner so putting my money towards the deposit, and won't have much left over for immediate renovation. So buying the place cheap then renovating later *might* be OK, but it all depends on how much it'd cost to fix it.... either that, or just "up" my budget to 220-230k for a more decent place! Re: Small amount of rotting wall in bathroom 12Mar 02, 2009 7:41 pm webbiegareth…great you’ve got someone to look at it for you.
I can’t believe it’s on chipboard! WOW, that has thrown me! Totally agree with your line of thought, and there are some who can do the work themselves, and some that can’t. And there’s no need to lie to yourself and tell yourself you can….if you can’t! If it big $$$$$ walk away! Internal and External Building and Colour Consultant Online - Worldwide http://www.denovoconcepts.com Re: Small amount of rotting wall in bathroom 13Apr 07, 2009 8:36 pm Gareth, if you do buy the house, it's ok it's not on a slab and on piers (that's great in old houses for sub-floor ventilation). However you want to make sure that when you get the bathroom re-done - add say $12k as a very rough guide - then the builder lays down a fibre cement floor. Easiest is Scyon Secura wet area flooring. It's moisture resistant so doesn't need waterproofing on top (except in the shower area) and it doesn't swell when it gets wet like chipboard. That's why tiles crack and pop off, because the chipboard is swelling...Anyway good luck whatever you choose. cheers Re: Small amount of rotting wall in bathroom 14Apr 09, 2009 10:28 pm Its shocking if tiles have been laid over the chipboard directly. The chipboard should first be covered with 6mm tile underlay sheeting then waterproofed. I'm beginning my main bathroom reno in a fortnight. Ripping up the chipboard floor and putting down new 15mm compressed fibro. The whole reno will cost about $4500 including claw-foot bath and solid Sydney Blue Gum vanity. Its a traditional federation style bathroom. The vanity I'm making myself and I'm doing all the work except some minor pipe relocating. You will need to replace the entire stairs. Carpenter is the trade you're after. 1 4334 8 2620 Do I need to concern about this pattern of crack? Is this crack showing some signs of bigger problems? Thanks for any suggestions! 1 1911 |