We are interested in a house built in the late 1800s where the seller claims there is no information whatsoever about when various renovations were done. What are your thoughts on that? We are primarily interested in when the sewage pipes and the floor beams were replaced, etc. For the first 50 years, it was a courthouse and for the last 30 years, as far as we know, it has functioned as an apartment building with 3 apartments.
In old houses with many different owners or even where the same family has owned a house for a long time, it is very often that there isn't much information available.
Some things no one remembers, or the person who remembered such things suddenly resides in a care facility for dementia or has passed away, and suddenly it's a family member who is selling the inheritance and naturally has no idea when certain changes were made.
In old houses, it is often best to assume that everything no one has proof of being newly changed is old and past its technical lifespan and could be in very poor condition. If someone claims that the plumbing was changed 7 years ago and it appears to be professionally done, then it's probably fine. But if it looks questionable, you can actually hire a company to film the sewer pipes to get a clearer idea of their exact condition.
You should evaluate the house based on the facts available and what you can see outright and seek help to check everything you are unsure about, and from that, decide if you are interested or not.
In certain uncertainties, an inspection clause might be the right way, while in others, it might not be relevant at all depending on what the seller is willing to consider and what other interested parties may offer in terms of price and conditions.
Some things no one remembers, or the person who remembered such things suddenly resides in a care facility for dementia or has passed away, and suddenly it's a family member who is selling the inheritance and naturally has no idea when certain changes were made.
In old houses, it is often best to assume that everything no one has proof of being newly changed is old and past its technical lifespan and could be in very poor condition. If someone claims that the plumbing was changed 7 years ago and it appears to be professionally done, then it's probably fine. But if it looks questionable, you can actually hire a company to film the sewer pipes to get a clearer idea of their exact condition.
You should evaluate the house based on the facts available and what you can see outright and seek help to check everything you are unsure about, and from that, decide if you are interested or not.
In certain uncertainties, an inspection clause might be the right way, while in others, it might not be relevant at all depending on what the seller is willing to consider and what other interested parties may offer in terms of price and conditions.
Homeowner
· Småländska höglandet
· 5 586 posts
I don't quite understand this about the intermediate floor and its potential replacement? Is it the autocorrect that's been at work? Because an intermediate floor isn't something you replace regularly unless it's water damaged and there's rot. And if it's that bad, the house has serious problems! As for renovations in general, the eye can usually be a good friend, combined with the camera. Photograph everything that can be seen, and ask for help with age determination here on the forum if needed. You're considering the sewage system and its age, so then photograph all the floor drains; they are a good time marker. The pipes are usually built-in (for example, in the intermediate floor) but may be visible openly in the basement, if there is one. Otherwise, you have to be a detective: closets and cabinets, check the crawl space, etc. Water and heating pipes are usually visible and are easier to date.
The floor joists are as mentioned something you don’t normally replace. In such an old house, it's not uncommon for the floor to sag a little or slope. You need to be aware of this when buying. As mentioned, it's not something you regularly renovate.
Pipes should be visible somewhere. If they are old cast iron pipes, you can assume they are from around or before 1970. If they are plastic pipes, you should take a closer look at them (photograph them, especially any connections/joints). Plastic pipes from the first half of the 1970s were of poor plastic quality, with even worse connections. Today, they are called "äggskalsrör" ("eggshell pipes"), suggesting that they crack easily. In contrast to slightly newer pipes, the joints were glued, with very mixed results, and the plastic is thin and becomes brittle with age. Pipes from around 1975 onwards have connections with rubber gaskets, which so far seem to have "eternal life," and are made of a thicker, tougher plastic quality.
Pipes from after that period are usually still OK today, as good as new. Unless they are subjected to heavy wear, like main pipes in high-rise apartment buildings.
These are the drainage pipes. In the past, cold water pipes were often made of steel, which rusts, and accumulates deposits inside from a mix of rust, lime, and other mineral deposits from the water. Such a pipe usually becomes blocked by 70-80% before it rusts through and starts leaking. The problem of poor flow arises before it leaks.
But what you might see says nothing about what is not visible.
Pipes should be visible somewhere. If they are old cast iron pipes, you can assume they are from around or before 1970. If they are plastic pipes, you should take a closer look at them (photograph them, especially any connections/joints). Plastic pipes from the first half of the 1970s were of poor plastic quality, with even worse connections. Today, they are called "äggskalsrör" ("eggshell pipes"), suggesting that they crack easily. In contrast to slightly newer pipes, the joints were glued, with very mixed results, and the plastic is thin and becomes brittle with age. Pipes from around 1975 onwards have connections with rubber gaskets, which so far seem to have "eternal life," and are made of a thicker, tougher plastic quality.
Pipes from after that period are usually still OK today, as good as new. Unless they are subjected to heavy wear, like main pipes in high-rise apartment buildings.
These are the drainage pipes. In the past, cold water pipes were often made of steel, which rusts, and accumulates deposits inside from a mix of rust, lime, and other mineral deposits from the water. Such a pipe usually becomes blocked by 70-80% before it rusts through and starts leaking. The problem of poor flow arises before it leaks.
But what you might see says nothing about what is not visible.
Member
· Västernorrland
· 12 006 posts
It should be fairly obvious if the plumbing has generally been replaced. How it looks in the bathroom and the various more visible parts should testify as to whether something has been done or not.
The reason we were thinking about the floor structure was that we recently almost bought another turn-of-the-century house where they made a point about ALL the floor structure being replaced. So we thought it was something you have to do after, say, 100 years.
That was kind of our thought too, that you only replace it if something is wrong. Not because a certain number of years have passed.H heimlaga said:
Homeowner
· Småländska höglandet
· 5 586 posts
They might have wanted to mention that the intermediate floor structure was replaced because it isn't visible. It's built-in with various surface layers on both the underside and the topside. A new kitchen, for example, is visible to the naked eye as being new. But no, it's not something you "have to do" unless there is a problem.V villa Adenhielm said:
Member
· Västernorrland
· 12 006 posts
There are many who buy an older house and don't like everything that comes with it. For example, floors that slope in all directions and likewise ceilings. So, they tear everything out and build new. What's left of the old house is usually a frame that isn't even visible........So why one wanted an old house becomes a bit unclear.V villa Adenhielm said:
often it's the location people buy and that many will live in it and then start changing and fixing. if you're going to tear down and build new or build new on a new plot, it's a long time before you have somewhere to live and many don't really have the income for double dwellings and building new preferably at the same time..S Stefan1972 said:
Member
· Västernorrland
· 12 006 posts
sure, that's one aspect but there are plenty of people who have really old houses and proudly say so while they have renovated it to Myresjö standard circa 2020.....P polaris78 said: