Tiger
Member
Registered: 12th Jun 01
Location: Leicestershire Drives:Astra VXR
User status: Offline
|
I've often thought of this.
I live in a new build house, and while you can't ever imagine why it would eventually fall down / be knocked down to build a new house on top of it etc., I can't see it lasting, say, 1000 years.
So, what factors would go for or against the length of time a house would actually last for or at least be liveable in.
Ben.
[Edited on 08-11-2009 by Tiger]
|
mattk
Member
Registered: 27th Feb 06
Location: St. Helens
User status: Offline
|
how long its maintained for, Ive worked in a 450 year old cottage that was still very very solid, yet Ive worked in a 20yr old house that was uninhabited for 3 yeard and it was fit for being knocked down, its amazing how quickly an empty house starts to deteriorate
supose its like a car if you look after it it will keep going
|
Sam
Moderator
Premium Member
Registered: 24th Dec 99
Location: West Midlands
User status: Offline
|
My other half's family home is a listed building that's like nearly 400 years old and that's still around (only just though LOL)! Mind you they had to completely rebuild it over 30+ years ago as it was literally falling apart but still, as far as we know no major work was done on it before they bought it!
|
Twiggy
Member
Registered: 15th Oct 04
User status: Offline
|
I think moden houses are just timber frames and plaster board, which does not help.
|
AlunJ
Member
Registered: 3rd Apr 07
Location: Newport
User status: Offline
|
don't make anything like they used to... (or so i'm told) 
|
Mad Moe
Member
Registered: 14th Jun 01
Location: Northumberland
User status: Offline
|
There's absolutely no reason why a Timber Framed house couldn't last hundreds of years if properly maintained.
|
mwg
Member
Registered: 19th Feb 04
Location: South Lakes
User status: Offline
|
It will have been designed to last a certain amount of time, most stuff is these days. Not sure what that would be on a new build house
|
smcGSI16V
Member
Registered: 26th May 03
Location: Farnborough Drives: Thurlby 888 CDTi No.98
User status: Offline
|
About a couple of hours at the most if you put a match to one.
|
lostboy
Banned
Registered: 29th Jan 09
Location: Durham
User status: Offline
|
The house I live in now is over 100 years old, structurally it's fine just a tad cosmetic work needed.
And considering the area has an underground river and a mine, its not bad at all, although some areas sank into the ground.
|
DaveyLC
Member
Registered: 8th Oct 08
Location: Berkshire
User status: Offline
|
quote:
Originally posted by Twiggy
I think moden houses are just timber frames and plaster board, which does not help.
As twiggy says most modern houses are mass produced timber frame builds and the bricks are just added to weather proof it, they arent really that structural..
Smaller developers still block build houses.. I live in a 12 year old block built house, the walls are about 18 inches thick so its a bit of a waste of space when land comes at a premium but it will definitely out last a timber frame house as long as there is no subsidance etc.
My old man is an architect and he thinks timberframe houses are brilliant.
I suppose only time will tell, since the 80's most houses are timberframe so give it another 20 years and we'll see what they are like then 
|
ed
Member
Registered: 10th Sep 03
User status: Offline
|
'They aren't really that structural' - interesting thing to say about a structure.
|
Mad Moe
Member
Registered: 14th Jun 01
Location: Northumberland
User status: Offline
|
I think you'll find that timber frame houses are still a relatively new concept in the UK and certainly weren't common place until the mid to late 90's.
|
Jake
Member
Registered: 24th Jan 05
User status: Offline
|
quote:
Originally posted by DaveyLC
the walls are about 18 inches thick
you sure about that?
|
Eck
Premium Member
Registered: 17th Apr 06
Location: Lundin Links, Fife
User status: Offline
|
The cottage I live in is coming up for 100 years old and it's absolutely solid. Only negative is that it's so old, the road that used to run down the front of our house disappeared and was relocated behind us... So yeah, our house faces out onto tree's
|
Mad Moe
Member
Registered: 14th Jun 01
Location: Northumberland
User status: Offline
|
quote:
Originally posted by jake
quote:
Originally posted by DaveyLC
the walls are about 18 inches thick
you sure about that?
Could quite conceivably be 14-16 inches think depending upon the size and style of brickwork, potentially wider again if constructed from natural stone.
[Edited on 08-11-2009 by Mad Moe]
|
Jake
Member
Registered: 24th Jan 05
User status: Offline
|
if its 12years old and brick/block i cant see it being 18 fucking inches thick. conventional houses have 100mm brickwork-65/75mm cavity then another 102mm for the blockwork. if its natural stone on the other hand it might be slightly thicker
|
Mad Moe
Member
Registered: 14th Jun 01
Location: Northumberland
User status: Offline
|
Could also be constructed using a flemish bond to give you that sort of depth, however it's unlikey as it very expensive
|
Jake
Member
Registered: 24th Jan 05
User status: Offline
|
i thought it could be 9inch brickwork but on a house of that age if it was flemish/english bond i'd have thought it would still be single skin
|
Mad Moe
Member
Registered: 14th Jun 01
Location: Northumberland
User status: Offline
|
Dont get me wrong mate I think it unlikely as well, just stating that in certain circumstances he could be correct.
My home is knocking on 500 years old, constructed from natural stone that is almost 2ft thick in places
|
Bonney
Member
Registered: 14th Nov 04
Location: St Helens
User status: Offline
|
Know of someone who lives in a house that is around 15 or so years old and its past it. All the ceilings are cracking, the pipes recently burst in the kitchen, and also the bathroom, The double glazing units have failed (water between the pains of glass) roof tiles slipping, plaster board nails popping out of the walls and coming through the plaster.
Personally i think these new houses are disposable houses as they start to wear quite quickly, Well thats from what i've seen anyway.
|
jungle
Member
Registered: 22nd Nov 07
Location: methilhill,fife
User status: Offline
|
like i say to laura i will never own a new build unless i build it myself! there not worth the hassle when you find out that alot of corners have been cut just to get the thing ready for the buyers
|
Jake
Member
Registered: 24th Jan 05
User status: Offline
|
quote:
Originally posted by Bonney66
Know of someone who lives in a house that is around 15 or so years old and its past it. All the ceilings are cracking, the pipes recently burst in the kitchen, and also the bathroom, The double glazing units have failed (water between the pains of glass) roof tiles slipping, plaster board nails popping out of the walls and coming through the plaster.
Personally i think these new houses are disposable houses as they start to wear quite quickly, Well thats from what i've seen anyway.
sounds like a timber frame with all that movement? in fairness double glazed units have beads inside them to soak up moisture and after 10years they are no good and the windows mist up. perfectly normal
|
Colin
Member
Registered: 4th Apr 02
User status: Offline
|
Well im moving into a new buld soon but I dont particularly think there built to last. I'll probably move into something older next, nice old cottage, decent sized rooms & some space outside being the draw more than anything else.
|
AndyKent
Member
Registered: 3rd Sep 05
User status: Offline
|
You need to be careful when saying 'new build'.
New build from a massive developer are just done as quick as possible, as cheap as possible.
New build from a small time builder is likely to be miles better quality and you're unlikely to have half as many problems.
I'd have no problems at all living in a new build house, so long as it wasn't from a big construction company
|
Mad Moe
Member
Registered: 14th Jun 01
Location: Northumberland
User status: Offline
|
I think you're spot on there Andy, I've being doing small high quality developments for the last few years I know for a fact none of my customers would have to worry about the crap they'd put up with off a larger developer
|
