Survey, sulphate movement under floor ???

[markwm]

We're selling an old house that is in need of complete renovation. The ground floor is yorkshire stone laid on soil with laminate over the top.

Just looking at it you can see it's like the waves of the ocean. It needs a new concrete floor no 2 ways about it.

Got a buyer who had a structural survey. The surveyor has recommended the buyer has a "sulphate test" for movement under the floor and now the mortgage company for the buyer will not lend unless one is done.

The buyer wants us to pay for it!! Gotta be the most ridiculous waste of money I can think of. Paying someone to tell you need a new floor.

What exactly is a "sulphate test"....? Aren't salts always in the ground? There's no signs of movement anywhere else in the house or neighbouring houses(we own them). It's just a badly laid floor. The laminate hasn't even been taken up but now the estate agents says we must get this survey done which involves digging a big hole in the floor.

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

Some details here on it;
http://www.nce.co.uk/assessment-of-...lisation-for-built-development/744870.article

 

[noseall]

Sulfate attack, resulting in ground heave has been a problem particularly in coal mining districts for years.

If you do live in an old mining area then it does require consideration.

 

[stuart45]

If the flags are laid directly on the soil without a cement bed, I doubt it's a sulphate attack, as these normally affect concrete floors. It's usually the flags sinking in the ground in places.

 

[IJWS15]

How old is the house, flags on soil implies very old.

Are they trying to tell you that after many many years of nothing happening you are going to experience sulphate a sudden sulphate attack now?

Why now and not years ago - after all the ground under the house and the flags have not been changed have they?

 

[alittlerespect]

Hi

What the surveyor is concerned about is damage to the concrete base that you want to put down, due to the sulphates in the ground leaching into the concrete base and degrading the cement content. It has nothing to do with the existing floor or ground movement.
There must be some history of sulphate attack around your area otherwise the surveyor would not have made the recommendation.

Assuming there are sulphates in the ground the easy solution would be to use sulphate resisting cement in the concrete mix!

Regards

 

[markwm]

There is no history of sulphate. We own the neighbouring houses and no such issues. Houses are pre 1900 terrace.

It seems the mortgage lender is demanding this survey because of the initial surveyors reports, end of story, it must be done.

Just one big long money making scheme.

 

[stuart45]

The surveyor has thought it was possibly a suphate attack because it looks uneven, but I would definately argue about that if the floor is flags straight on to the earth.
A new floor wouldn't have that problem anyway as the DPM would prevent any salts in the ground getting in to the concrete.
Sulphate attacks in floors are normally caused by the wrong types of hardcore being used.

 

[IJWS15]

|Try a different lender.