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Original poster

Would you buy a house like this?

60 replies

Pigletin · 16/02/2025 09:54

Posting in AIBU for traffic.

We have found our dream house in terms of budget, space, condition and location. The structural survey returned a couple of major things that concerned us:

  • Spray foam insulation on the roof which will cause a huge expense and potentially means replacing the roof (assuming the bank will give us a mortgage due to the type of insulation). We are prepared to split the cost of a new roof with the sellers and they are willing to do the work.
  • My husbands’ bigger worry is that it’s a timber frame house with an outer skin of bricks. The surveyor has no way of ascertaining the condition of the frame as it’s all hidden. The overall condition looks good from what you can actually see and the sellers seem to have taken good care of it in the 4 years since they’ve lived there. The house is 30 years old and we have read online that the usual span of life of these types of houses are 50-60 years.

This will be our forever house but is also an investment for our kids for when we are gone. We can potentially move out of the UK when we retire or downsize and would want the house to hold or appreciate in value (London) when sold. From what we read online it’s questionable whether this can happen with a timber frame house in another 20-30 years and people might be reluctant to buy it due to the above (essentially having similar concerns to ours). I know timber framed houses are the norm in many countries but they are built differently to the ones in the UK and there are disadvantages to the building process here. The reality is if we walk away and look elsewhere we will end up with a smaller house in a less ideal location.

Would you buy a house like this? Would the timber frame put you off considering we want it to keep or grow its value?

YABU - Stop worrying, buy your dream house.
YANBU - Walk away.

OP posts:
sparkysdream · 16/02/2025 11:26

The vast majority of houses built in Scotland in at least the last 40 years or so timber frame. It’s totally standard.

Mrsttcno1 · 16/02/2025 11:25

If I was in your position then for me the fact that I’m already concerned about the lifespan of this house would be enough to make it an immediate no. If I’m worried about it now then my buyers in 30 years are also going to be worried about it- more so with another 30 years on the clock- so it’s not a particularly safe investment.

Plus if this is a bit of a “unicorn” house, as in perfect location, perfect house and perfect price, and there is genuinely nothing else like it that you could afford, I’d have a real good think about WHY this one is affordable. It’s never for no reason. Plus the sellers wanting out after only 4 years, and agreeing to pay towards the roof, to me seems a bit like rats trying to get off the ship before it sinks.

Original poster
Pigletin · 16/02/2025 11:23

Time40 · 16/02/2025 11:14

I had spray foam taken out of a roof last year. It cost £4,000 - that was for a huge, high attic roof in a three-bedroom Victorian mid-terrace. The roof timbers underneath turned out to be absolutely fine, and the spray foam had been on for twenty years. One thing to look at is if the foam is all over the underside of the entire roof, or if it has been sprayed in between the roof timbers, leaving some timber exposed. If it's been sprayed all over there is more risk of finding damage underneath. The roof I had done had the foam between the roof timbers, not all over.

This is helpful, thank you. From the pictures I can see that the foam is between the roof timbers leaving some of it exposed. It was done less than 4 years ago.

OP posts:
Time40 · 16/02/2025 11:18

... oh yes, and I will add that the first builders I asked about removal of the foam said they would have to take the entire roof off and work from the outside in. They quoted £10,000. The builders who eventually did it were prepared to work from the inside, which made the job much cheaper.

Original poster
Pigletin · 16/02/2025 11:17

MoodySky · 16/02/2025 11:15

I wouldn't buy any house that has a lifespan of only 50 years! That's madness.

As I mentioned in a previous post, we don’t know if this is actually true, it’s just what we have read online hence asking for more opinions.

OP posts:
Original poster
Pigletin · 16/02/2025 11:16

@godmum56 I'd think really hard about the foam in the roof. do you know what a worst case cost would be and will the sellers just knock that off the cost of the house or will they get it done before you move in? What will happen if the work costs go up because of what they find?

All very valid questions and something we will be considering very carefully before agreeing to proceed.

OP posts:
MoodySky · 16/02/2025 11:15

I wouldn't buy any house that has a lifespan of only 50 years! That's madness.

Catza · 16/02/2025 11:15

Pigletin · 16/02/2025 11:14

I’m asking for opinions and people’s views. We have not made up our mind. Just commenting that comparison to timber framed houses in other countries is not useful and I have stated that in my OP.

Show quote history

But I wasn't the one comparing it either...

Time40 · 16/02/2025 11:14

I had spray foam taken out of a roof last year. It cost £4,000 - that was for a huge, high attic roof in a three-bedroom Victorian mid-terrace. The roof timbers underneath turned out to be absolutely fine, and the spray foam had been on for twenty years. One thing to look at is if the foam is all over the underside of the entire roof, or if it has been sprayed in between the roof timbers, leaving some timber exposed. If it's been sprayed all over there is more risk of finding damage underneath. The roof I had done had the foam between the roof timbers, not all over.

Original poster
Pigletin · 16/02/2025 11:14

Catza · 16/02/2025 11:07

I have no idea how American houses are built. I am going by the PP's comment who suggests they are built using 2x4s. You seem to have your mind made up, not sure how much point there is to this thread.

Show quote history

I’m asking for opinions and people’s views. We have not made up our mind. Just commenting that comparison to timber framed houses in other countries is not useful and I have stated that in my OP.

OP posts:
babasaclover · 16/02/2025 11:11

It's not a forever home if it'll only last 50/6" years and is already 30 years old.

Banks don't like lending on timber houses.

I'd want proper bricks and mortar

Mumlaplomb · 16/02/2025 11:09

Is it mortgagable if it is non standard construction? The two issues would be a firm no for me as I’d imagine it would be very hard to sell particularly if the market wasn’t as hot as it is now.

Catza · 16/02/2025 11:07

Pigletin · 16/02/2025 11:00

American houses are built with much thicker timber frames and the majority of the frame is exposed so you can actually spot any issues and remediate quickly. American houses (and Swedish houses too for that matter) are built completely different. Also if a house in the U.S. gets too old and is not well maintained it’s much easier to bulldoze and much cheaper to rebuild than a house in the U.K. Totally different situations and not sure the comparison is useful.

Show quote history

I have no idea how American houses are built. I am going by the PP's comment who suggests they are built using 2x4s. You seem to have your mind made up, not sure how much point there is to this thread.

godmum56 · 16/02/2025 11:06

I was around 30 ish years ago when the phrase "timber framed" changed to "brick and timber" We were looking at houses then and looked at a lot of new and newish brick and timber houses, expensive ones, and I have to say, I wasn't impressed. In the end we went for a 1 year old brick construction house which I still live in. Its my impression that brick and timber house construction techniques have moved on and improved considerably in 30 years but I still wouldn't consider a 30ish YO one. I'd think really hard about the foam in the roof. do you know what a worst case cost would be and will the sellers just knock that off the cost of the house or will they get it done before you move in? What will happen if the work costs go up because of what they find?

Original poster
Pigletin · 16/02/2025 11:00

Catza · 16/02/2025 10:49

Do they bulldoze over the majority of American homes and rebuild them every 50 years?

Show quote history

American houses are built with much thicker timber frames and the majority of the frame is exposed so you can actually spot any issues and remediate quickly. American houses (and Swedish houses too for that matter) are built completely different. Also if a house in the U.S. gets too old and is not well maintained it’s much easier to bulldoze and much cheaper to rebuild than a house in the U.K. Totally different situations and not sure the comparison is useful.

OP posts:
Original poster
Pigletin · 16/02/2025 10:57

The house is 30 years old and the report says that it is built using traditional methods and materials which makes me think it is not a non-standard construction.

You make a good point about the house being an outlier. It is indeed an outlier and I’m also wondering why the vendors are also selling after only living there for 4 years. They have put a lot of money into the house and it all appears to me that they intended this to be a long term home, it for some reason they are selling (and staying in the area). So yes I have these concerns as well but not sure if they are well founded or just me not understanding the area and market well.

OP posts:
Catza · 16/02/2025 10:49

Sherararara · 16/02/2025 10:33

There are many different types of timber frame. The ones that are hundreds of years old you are thinking about use. big thick oak beams for example. A modern timber frame can equally be softwood “2x4’s” nailed together and covered in plasterboard. This is how the majority of American homes are built for example. So of all depends on the specifics.

Show quote history

Do they bulldoze over the majority of American homes and rebuild them every 50 years?

Original poster
Pigletin · 16/02/2025 10:46

The property is built using traditional materials and techniques.
The external walls of the property are of timber frame construction, with an outer leaf of brick finish.
The roof is of pitched construction with a tiled covering.
The ground floor is built of concrete beam and block construction. The upper floor is built of suspended
timber construction.

This is what the survey says. I have just re-read it and it sounds like it is not a non-standard construction.

OP posts:
toomuchfaff · 16/02/2025 10:43

Pigletin · 16/02/2025 10:35

We don’t know if the 50-60 year life span is correct, it is just what we read online. We want is our forever house but when we die we want the house to have kept its value and essentially mean that for us it’s also an investment for the kids (for after we die).

Show quote history

as someone mentioned earlier, if it does have a lifespan, then 20yrs down the line, that life span is markedly shorter. Making it a risky investment for me.

Original poster
Pigletin · 16/02/2025 10:38

Legaleagleplease · 16/02/2025 10:03

There are so many timber framed houses in the UK there is no chance at a point in time they will be demolished and rebuilt.

Where does this idea even come from? I used to have one and the insulation was excellent and our fuel bills very small.

There many types of timber framed houses but this one has a much thinner frame than the thick ones built a LONG time ago. This is much more modern construction so it’s not yet known how long it will last.

OP posts:
Original poster
Pigletin · 16/02/2025 10:35

toomuchfaff · 16/02/2025 10:00

The house is 30 years old and we have read online that the usual span of life of these types of houses are 50-60 years.

So its got max 30 yrs left, and you want it forever AND to be an investment for the kids? Are you planning on dying next year? The math doesn't math

We don’t know if the 50-60 year life span is correct, it is just what we read online. We want is our forever house but when we die we want the house to have kept its value and essentially mean that for us it’s also an investment for the kids (for after we die).

OP posts:
Sherararara · 16/02/2025 10:33

Catza · 16/02/2025 10:28

This baffles me too. Timber frame is a pretty established method of construction used for centuries. I think 50 year lifespan is a myth, quite likely perpetrated by anti-newbuild folks. It's certainly doesn't appear in any official sources.
My grandparents bought a new build property in 1964 and were told that it will fall apart within 30 years due to construction methods. They still live in it today and it didn't need much more than a bit of remedial work on a roof.

Show quote history

There are many different types of timber frame. The ones that are hundreds of years old you are thinking about use. big thick oak beams for example. A modern timber frame can equally be softwood “2x4’s” nailed together and covered in plasterboard. This is how the majority of American homes are built for example. So of all depends on the specifics.

Gardendiary · 16/02/2025 10:29

What sort of age of house? is it non-standard construction, as in hard to mortgage or just a timber frame? Which as a pp commented isn’t that unusual. If it’s just the roof and you’re going half’s that sounds completely sortable. However, the fact you say anything else might be smaller or in a worse area makes me think there might be more longer term value concerns otherwise why would it be an outlier?

Catza · 16/02/2025 10:28

Legaleagleplease · 16/02/2025 10:03

There are so many timber framed houses in the UK there is no chance at a point in time they will be demolished and rebuilt.

Where does this idea even come from? I used to have one and the insulation was excellent and our fuel bills very small.

This baffles me too. Timber frame is a pretty established method of construction used for centuries. I think 50 year lifespan is a myth, quite likely perpetrated by anti-newbuild folks. It's certainly doesn't appear in any official sources.
My grandparents bought a new build property in 1964 and were told that it will fall apart within 30 years due to construction methods. They still live in it today and it didn't need much more than a bit of remedial work on a roof.

Sahara123 · 16/02/2025 10:24

Check with your mortgage provider, there has been recent talk on the news that mortgages will not be available for houses which have spray roof insulation.