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Any builders/chippies in northern PPB?

Posted: 22 Apr 2018, 20:01
by Reeling
Hi guys,

Went to view a weatherboard house for sale on saturday that has had original owners from the 50's. needless to say that it needs updating and would need a wall or two to be knocked down, then a new kitchen and bathroom.

The roof is still the original asbestos by the looks. I know I'd be wise to get a structural survey, but thought I'd ask if anyone here was a qualified person to potentially view it with me (& SWMBO) to gauge the work involved.

ANy assistance - house is in Altona ;)

Re: Any builders/chippies in northern PPB?

Posted: 23 Apr 2018, 20:05
by laneends
Having reno'd an old weather board I can tell you its a job that grows, and grows. If its from the 50's it might not be as bad as older ones. Defo get someone who has dealt with these before to have a look and advise potential areas to think about that may need work

Re: Any builders/chippies in northern PPB?

Posted: 23 Apr 2018, 20:57
by Reeling
Cheers Keith. Got second viewing tomorrow evening after work.
Really torn as whether to put in offer. We like the idea of what it can turn out to be but not sure about living through it while it gets there. The house/plot has great potential... Don't they all

Re: Any builders/chippies in northern PPB?

Posted: 23 Apr 2018, 23:44
by peatop
I have to agree with Keith, some of the older houses (especially given the asbestos roof) can be a can of worms, however if you intend doing most of the work yourself and you get it at the rite price, they can be big money spinners, another thing to think about is the block size, if it's on one of those large blocks a developer might be interested.

Re: Any builders/chippies in northern PPB?

Posted: 24 Apr 2018, 07:46
by Reeling
Thanks Pete. That's why I was hoping to find a builder that could view it with me to gauge the work involved. I have a 2nd viewing this evening.

It on a great plot for the area - 615sqm. The only reason its not had developers drooling all over it is that there is a covenant on the original Title of the plot stating that you can only put one dwelling on the plot. Otherwise it would have been twice the price and snapped up by a developer to put 2-3 units/houses on

Re: Any builders/chippies in northern PPB?

Posted: 24 Apr 2018, 08:48
by laneends
Reeling wrote: Otherwise it would have been twice the price and snapped up by a developer to put 2-3 units/houses on
Is it likely you will have to contend with someone wanting it to put a mansion on there?

The most important question how far to launch spot?

Re: Any builders/chippies in northern PPB?

Posted: 24 Apr 2018, 09:11
by Reeling
I'll answer in order of importance ;)

<2.0km from Apex Launch
<2.5km from Millers Road Launch

Yes you are right, but my guess is the fact that its asbestos roof and quite a "mature" garden with trees etc would add additional cost of removal of the current house.

Re: Any builders/chippies in northern PPB?

Posted: 24 Apr 2018, 13:27
by peatop
Asbestos can be removed safely by wetting prior to removal, however i think i would prefer having it done professionally, there used to be roof repair mobs that sealed asbestos roofs, other major cost would be wiring, plumbing, stumps, is there white ant damage. With the removal of walls, this is somewhat easy, the roof is held up by a supported ridge and sometimes jack rafters, these supports in turn are supported of walls (load bearing walls) older houses have a hallway running fron to back or part thereof, one or both these hall walls are usually load bearing, if there are jack rafters they will also be bearing a load on a wall, usually to a beam that runs over mutiple walls at right angle to the hall walls, or supported just of one wall, hope this is not tmi ;) you cannot remove a load bearing wall unless you can and do replace it with a structure designed to carry and spread the load, however you can modify it eg: make an opening for most of the lenth of a given room by adding a support beam that carries the load from one side of the opening to the other.

Non load bearing walls can be totally removed/modified as you wish. So decide what walls you want to remove/modify then take a look in the ceiling cavity (wear a well fitting dust mask)if you intend entering wear a disposable overall and throw it away appon leaving, there will most likely be asbestos dust in the ceiling keep this in your mind wash hands, arms and so on that are exposed use disposable safety equipment whenever exposed to asbestos.