Hello,
We're looking at buying a converted barn, one of my concerns is the gable end beams are exposed externally, it's essentially just the beam and then the two gable/triangle sides with bricks above and below the beam.
Maybe this is not that uncommon, but the barn dates back to 1800s and wood obviously does not last forever and this is weather exposed. It looks ok to the eye at least...
I'll get it surveyed, but does anyone know how bigger job replacing these things are if/when you need to? Is that likely many 10s of thousands, times two if both gable ends need doing (although one side is cladded so no idea what is under that).
Bonus question, how on earth do you assess the roof or foundations when buying a converted barn, as there is no loft space, and it's anyones guess if they strengthened the foundations when it was converted. Seems like these can be high risk to take on but we love the house... e.g. a surveyor would never know if the rafters were rotten as you just can't see or access.
Thanks!