Engineer report results

canireally

Hi, purchasing a house built in Galway in 1998, and the engineer report has come back and said it's in good nick with a few recommendations.

Minor levels of damp in chimney stack, recommend to be inspected at roof level and water tested.

Weepholes should be installed to external walls

Investigate previous leak in kitchen floor

Investigate water tight capabilities to cold water storage tanks.

Are these things you would typically expect from a 21 year old house, or should I go and investigate further before signing? Thee were a few other bits and pieces around insulation and decorations etc but these were the main ones that I'm wondering about the severity of them

riclad

A survey should give the cost of repairs roughly,
but you would need to employ a plumber to inspect the pipes going to the kitchen and the water tank.
if someone goe,s away in winter ,theres no heat on at all,
if water in a pipe freeze,s ,it expands , this can cause a small leak.
Weepholes to be put in is not a big job, maybe a few 100 euro .
i would simply go ahead with the house purchase .
i see no major expenses in the possible faults noted in the survey .



https://www.highschimney.com/reasons-chimney-leaks/

if you look at anyone modern house or building they are visible, usually placed between bricks , maybe a quarter inch wide .

the chimney needs to examined outside, above the roof,
inside and in the attic,
if it goes though the attic .

https://www.familyhandyman.com/masonry/how-to-stop-chimney-water-leaks/
you,d need an expert to examine the chimney .
cracks may be visible above roof level, cracks in bricks or cement
between bricks might be cracked .

https://www.concreteconstruction.net/how-to/adding-weep-holes_o




https://www.doityourself.com/forum/bricks-masonry-cinder-block-paving-walking-stones-asphalt-concrete/342068-weep-hole-installation.html



quote from the website above.:

I always call out missing weeps, but drilling holes to create them is NOT a good idea as you have to be very careful not to drill through the flashing behind the bricks, you will then have a direct path past the flashing and water resistant barrier material (WRB, such as housewrap) and into the interior of the wall.

In cases where incorrect drainage at the base of a wall or above a window, door or other opening can be demonstrated to be causing water intrusion the only really effective next step is to remove brick and discover what’s going on behind it. The problem could be missing or obstructed drain holes, mortar fallen and packed into the space between the brick and the flashing/WRB, insufficient clearance between the veneer and the flashing/WRB, the WRB installed behind the flashing, missing flashing or WRB (or both), corroded or damaged flashing and/or WRB or some combination of the above – you really have to open up the wall and take a look.




https://www.google.ie/search?q=weephole+image+uk&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwim2pug-YTkAhUSQxUIHftOCq4Q_AUIESgB&biw=1680&bih=939#imgrc=pyIQ0U1Mt49MMM:


see image under retaining wall section.

http://www.pavingexpert.com/featur03.htm

weepholes should be put into all external wall s at the time of construction .
to allow water to leak out ,
water may penetrate brick walls from outside or from condensation inside the walls .

canireally

Thanks a mill for that that is so helpful. Yeah I don't think it's anything huge so I'll go ahead with it. Thanks for your help.

riclad

If you choose to put in weepholes in the external wall,s
,its important that if pipes are put in in such away that they do not damage the flashing, and insulation material and water barrier inside the walls .

https://inspectapedia.com/structure/Brick_Wall_Weep_Hole_Location.php