Bricks, Masonry, Asphalt and Concrete - Concrete Block House
Doityourself.com community forum was created to provide answers to all questions related to home improvement and home repair. Doityourself community can help you find information about how-to topics on small fixes to large remodeling projects. With comprehensive how-to content and expertly moderated community forums DoItYourself.com makes it easy to tackle even the most complex home improvement projects.View Full Version : Concrete Block House
Friver
09-21-07, 04:59 PM
Contemplating buying a single level house built in 1951. The exterior walls are all concrete block. The seller is daughter of original owner. Anything I should be looking for or be aware of before I proceed?? House is in NW part of country, so will have plenty of moisture and cold winters to contend with.
quickcurrent
09-22-07, 06:57 AM
Make sure that the house is properly insulated. In a cold environment it could be very costly to heat if it isn't. You could ask to see the heating bills for one year.
Also look for cracks and leaks in the walls especially below ground level (assuming it has one). Go see the house on a rainy day.
Other than that, look for everything else that's common to other building styles.
Also look for cracks and leaks in the walls especially below ground level (assuming it has one). Go see the house on a rainy day.
Other than that, look for everything else that's common to other building styles.
Friver
09-22-07, 08:22 AM
The house has a woodstove located in the center of the living room and plenty of wood stacked in back yard. I am afraid that the heating bill could be misleading. There are no obvious large cracks in the walls, but I have not gone into the crawl space and looked at foundation.
If I were to buy the house, I would most likely gut the place and rewire/re plumb/ and put in new windows and doors. At that point I would then have access to interior walls.
I am meeting today with contractor to look house over. Just concerned because we do not see many concrete block homes in this part of country
If I were to buy the house, I would most likely gut the place and rewire/re plumb/ and put in new windows and doors. At that point I would then have access to interior walls.
I am meeting today with contractor to look house over. Just concerned because we do not see many concrete block homes in this part of country
quickcurrent
09-22-07, 09:56 PM
The house has a woodstove located in the center of the living room and plenty of wood stacked in back yard. I am afraid that the heating bill could be misleading. There are no obvious large cracks in the walls, but I have not gone into the crawl space and looked at foundation.
If I were to buy the house, I would most likely gut the place and rewire/re plumb/ and put in new windows and doors. At that point I would then have access to interior walls.
I am meeting today with contractor to look house over. Just concerned because we do not see many concrete block homes in this part of country
You should assess what it is that you're buying before you buy it so that you can value it properly. Once you get it for what it's worth, you can then fix it up properly. You just need to avoid surprises as much as you can.
If I were to buy the house, I would most likely gut the place and rewire/re plumb/ and put in new windows and doors. At that point I would then have access to interior walls.
I am meeting today with contractor to look house over. Just concerned because we do not see many concrete block homes in this part of country
You should assess what it is that you're buying before you buy it so that you can value it properly. Once you get it for what it's worth, you can then fix it up properly. You just need to avoid surprises as much as you can.