Hello!
We viewed an unrestored house from 1968 and really like the location.
However, we are concerned about a wall on the south side that appears blackened on the outside and shows signs of water damage and possibly ventilation issues on the inside.
Do you think it’s worth bringing in an expert for an inspection? Or does this look like a serious problem?
The attic doesn’t look great either, but it appeared dry. The insulation is partly hanging down and is blackened.
We are prepared for a major renovation costing over €300,000 (heating, electrical, bathrooms, roof, exterior insulation). But having to replace the masonry as well would be too much.
Thanks!!
Marie
We viewed an unrestored house from 1968 and really like the location.
However, we are concerned about a wall on the south side that appears blackened on the outside and shows signs of water damage and possibly ventilation issues on the inside.
Do you think it’s worth bringing in an expert for an inspection? Or does this look like a serious problem?
The attic doesn’t look great either, but it appeared dry. The insulation is partly hanging down and is blackened.
We are prepared for a major renovation costing over €300,000 (heating, electrical, bathrooms, roof, exterior insulation). But having to replace the masonry as well would be too much.
Thanks!!
Marie
At first glance, I don’t see anything surprising or critical for a house from the 1960s.
Why would you need to replace the wall there? In pictures 1 and 2, are those shadows/reflections on the ceiling, or is it really discolored? If it’s a concrete ceiling, it doesn’t matter; the same applies to wooden beams, as long as they haven’t been wet for an extended period (years).
The interior wall looks completely normal. An older house with poor thermal insulation will eventually develop some damp spots at ceiling junctions and corners over the decades, resulting in discoloration. With external insulation, this becomes a thing of the past.
The insulation is gray/black from decades of dust; this is not mold or anything similar.
Choose an experienced energy consultant from your area for planning. Not because you can’t figure out which measures make sense based on common sense and possibly forum advice, but for construction supervision (approval of contractor work) and guidance on possible grants from KfW and Bafa.
Why would you need to replace the wall there? In pictures 1 and 2, are those shadows/reflections on the ceiling, or is it really discolored? If it’s a concrete ceiling, it doesn’t matter; the same applies to wooden beams, as long as they haven’t been wet for an extended period (years).
The interior wall looks completely normal. An older house with poor thermal insulation will eventually develop some damp spots at ceiling junctions and corners over the decades, resulting in discoloration. With external insulation, this becomes a thing of the past.
The insulation is gray/black from decades of dust; this is not mold or anything similar.
Choose an experienced energy consultant from your area for planning. Not because you can’t figure out which measures make sense based on common sense and possibly forum advice, but for construction supervision (approval of contractor work) and guidance on possible grants from KfW and Bafa.
Hello Marie,
The pictures show typical signs of aging for an unrenovated house from ’68, but nothing that would immediately raise major concerns. The black discoloration on the ceiling and interior walls looks like cold spots, possibly from past moisture issues or poor insulation. The exterior facade appears consistently discolored, which could simply be algae growth or moisture caused by thermal bridges. The attic looks old, and the insulation is crumbling. That was to be expected but isn’t necessarily a serious problem.
Still: yes, get a building inspector. Not because it looks particularly bad, but because with a renovation budget of 300,000 (currency), it really makes sense to have a clear understanding upfront. This way you can identify early on if there are hidden moisture problems, voids in the masonry, damage to the roof structure, or energy efficiency upgrade opportunities beyond what you have already planned.
In summary: the house appears to need renovation based on the photos but isn’t completely off-track. Hiring a building inspector for a project like this is a worthwhile investment to avoid unpleasant surprises later on.
Best regards
The pictures show typical signs of aging for an unrenovated house from ’68, but nothing that would immediately raise major concerns. The black discoloration on the ceiling and interior walls looks like cold spots, possibly from past moisture issues or poor insulation. The exterior facade appears consistently discolored, which could simply be algae growth or moisture caused by thermal bridges. The attic looks old, and the insulation is crumbling. That was to be expected but isn’t necessarily a serious problem.
Still: yes, get a building inspector. Not because it looks particularly bad, but because with a renovation budget of 300,000 (currency), it really makes sense to have a clear understanding upfront. This way you can identify early on if there are hidden moisture problems, voids in the masonry, damage to the roof structure, or energy efficiency upgrade opportunities beyond what you have already planned.
In summary: the house appears to need renovation based on the photos but isn’t completely off-track. Hiring a building inspector for a project like this is a worthwhile investment to avoid unpleasant surprises later on.
Best regards
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