When building on an old house, problems will almost always arise that no one could have foreseen in advance.

When a “hole” is made in the house’s structure, it almost always turns out that there are several unforeseen works that need to be carried out. These may include rotten rafters, drilling beetle infestation, inadequate insulation in a roof or under a floor, running rot in a chimney core, faulty electrical installations, etc. These works are not “forgotten” things, as no one could have predicted the extent of them in advance.

Root and fungus

In some cases, rot and fungus are found in existing structures such as beams or roofing.

Always start by contacting the insurance company that has taken out the house insurance and agree with them on how to proceed. If the damage is covered by the insurance, you must agree on how the damage will be repaired – by your own or the insurer’s workmen.

Then contact a professional expert to assess the extent and nature of the damage. If it is true dry rot, it may have spread to other parts of the house. It is often necessary to analyze various samples to determine whether rot or fungus is present. In some cases, the cost of testing is covered by the insurance company.

If rot and fungus are detected during construction, the subsequent treatment and repair of the damage will delay the construction, pushing back the timetable, which will have to be revised. How long depends on the extent and nature of the damage. In very severe cases, the whole situation may have to be reassessed and construction may have to be suspended.

Installations

Much of the damage that occurs to installations is due to the materials wearing out after a certain age.

For example, it may be hidden electrical wires covered with fabric or placed in iron pipes, or it may be older concrete wells that typically have a lifespan of about 50 years. Old sewer pipes may be made of clay, which cracks easily and causes leaking joints. Today, pipes and wells are made of plastic, which is supposed to last longer. Water and heating pipes may also be uninsulated, leading to condensation and rust, with the risk of frost cracking.

All older houses have the risk of outdated and worn-out installations, which in that case need to be replaced with new ones. It can be difficult to determine in advance whether installations need to be replaced. There is therefore a risk that the timetable may be disrupted and extra work may be required.

For this reason, the insurance conditions for plugs, hidden pipes, cables, etc. should also be checked for installations.