Rotting of house stumps

House stumps rotting and problems they cause.

Rotting of house stumps, previously inspected by an engineer carrying out a building inspection that concluded them acceptable and structurally sound!

Accepting the report with its considerable understatment could have proved costly for the buyer. Peter Weddell produced a more accurate report on the true condition and saved the buyer money. QBIS.

This is a timber stumps that was considered in the engineers report to be in structurally sound condition.

Make your own judgement. How could anyone in their right frame of mind consider these stumps to be structurally sound, unless of course they get referrals from the selling agent for producing favourable reports!

What you need to know when having old stumps replaced.

All stumps must be replaced at the same time to avoid serious problems occurring from further rot and movement of remaining stumps, otherwise the building will continue to move, unevenly. Nothing can be done to the house with risk of further movement created by partial replacement of stumps.

What cannot be done to a house before replacing all stumps at the same time.

Repainting exterior and interior of house.
Extensions.
Alterations.
Renovations.
Replace roof gutters (future movement will alter their fall).

This means you cannot paint the building let alone consider alterations, without expecting further movement causing damage to any new work. Doing something twice is costly!

Problems caused by stump movement.

Joints of wall linings to open up or crack.
Cracked paint.
Cracking of floor and wall tiles.
Uneven and sloping floor.
Openings and walls to move and lean.
Door alignment.

Although floor levels can be brought back within reason, deviation and leaning of walls cannot be straightened without a lot of work and considerable expense.