Shale infill

[needsleeptoday]

We are in the process of buying a house and paid to have a shale infill test as it in a known problem area.

We paid as the seller didn't want to.

It has come back with a problem and now we don't know what to do

Does anyone have any experience with this?

We are going to ask them to fix it but I'm unsure if they will as it's expensive

Aibu asking them to fix it? That's really the only option as far as we can see (a quick talk with a builder priced it up at 30k plus a new kitchen and downstairs toilet)

Do we have to share the report even though we paid for it?

I think these are questions your solicitor should answer.

How old is the house, and have any problems actually occurred? I hadn't heard of this, but if you Google, there's an article by a RCIS guy, who thinks it's a bit of a non problem.

There's a crack in the concrete floor slab, and a crack above one of the doors which is most likely caused by the floor issues. If there's any ground water or a leak at any point there could be major problems and damage which effect the structural integrity of the house. So it could be a major issue!

The floor needs replacing but will cost in excess of 30k plus a new kitchen and downstairs toilet as both have to be removed to take the whole of the floor up.

It was built in the 70s

Walk away then. The article said that in many houses, there were no issues.

If the tests have come back with high sulphate levels and there is already evidence of concrete damage, then you will need to do remedial works. Were moisture contents high as well?

This document might help you:

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/429208/sulphate_damage_research_report.pdf

If you can’t negotiate with the vendors to cover the cost of the works (and be willing to go through the upheaval), I’d walk away too.