ᐅ Basement Exterior Walls Not Accessible – Is This a Problem?
Created on: 7 Mar 2018 10:06
D
der_Schwede
Hello everyone,
My partner and I are considering buying a semi-detached house from the late 1960s. It is very well maintained, and two extensions were added in the 1970s. What is now on my mind is this: because of the extensions, it would not be possible to access the exterior walls of the basement if there is moisture. This raises the following questions:
1. Is it inevitable that a basement will eventually become damp or wet, or are there basements from the 1960s that stay dry indefinitely?
2. Since the basement could only be renovated from the inside, the main problem (damaged external waterproofing) could not be fixed, and the masonry would remain permanently damp. Would such continuous dampness cause the masonry to deteriorate completely within 10 to 20 years, potentially even threatening the structural integrity of the house?
3. What kind of costs should one expect if a company were hired to carry out waterproofing work (just asking out of curiosity)?
Thank you very much for any helpful answers!
My partner and I are considering buying a semi-detached house from the late 1960s. It is very well maintained, and two extensions were added in the 1970s. What is now on my mind is this: because of the extensions, it would not be possible to access the exterior walls of the basement if there is moisture. This raises the following questions:
1. Is it inevitable that a basement will eventually become damp or wet, or are there basements from the 1960s that stay dry indefinitely?
2. Since the basement could only be renovated from the inside, the main problem (damaged external waterproofing) could not be fixed, and the masonry would remain permanently damp. Would such continuous dampness cause the masonry to deteriorate completely within 10 to 20 years, potentially even threatening the structural integrity of the house?
3. What kind of costs should one expect if a company were hired to carry out waterproofing work (just asking out of curiosity)?
Thank you very much for any helpful answers!
S
Sondelgeher127 Mar 2018 14:4511ant schrieb:
If you’re not only referring to your partner but also the house in question, then I wouldn’t worry. A well-maintained appearance is typically not something you’d expect from a run-down, disguised property.However, this is not good advice... from my experience...
I ended up buying a damp house despite it looking well cared for, only 10 years old, built with top-quality materials, owner-built, and so on... yet it was still damp...
Therefore: always buy with a building expert, and this expert should not just be anyone found online, but a publicly appointed and sworn professional... for example, those listed by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK)....