am thinking of buying a heritage house, but the basement is old, looks like stone walls, and looks like dirt?

Question

Has anyone ever bought something like this. and what could there be a problem with, any thing to remedy the issue, thanks,

Answer 1

I wouldn't brag to much about these homes, they're not built all that good.

Get someone that's very familiar with home inspections and let him go over the entire home, everything.

Answer 2

I'm not sure what you mean by a heritage house, but most basements tend to look old after awhile.

If the walls are stone, I definitely would not paint them. A good cleaning with a disinfecting soap would go a long way to freshen the look and a stone walled basement can be quite pretty. If there is a problem with mold, fill a spray bottle with chlorox and spray the mold. The mold dies so quickly you can watch it die.

If the walls are cement block, you can paint them with a basement paint that prevents the water from coming in. The walls absorb the paint quite quickly so you would need a lot of paint. If the basement floor looks bad, you can also paint the basement floor with a basement floor paint. Both paints are available at any hardware store.

The most common problem with basements is mold from water leaking in through cracks, and most of the cracks can usually be fixed fairly. The problem is to locate them.

If water is coming in because the house is located in a floodplain, the easiest solution is a sump pump.

If water is coming in through cracks in the walls, the easiest way to locate them is to get down on your knees and simply look for cracks. Many cracks can also be seen in the foundation from the basement. If there is a crack in the basement the odds are it extends to the outside. Simple cement that you would use to repair bricks works pretty well. Notice is rainwater forms a puddle and dig around near the foundation to see if the water is draining into the basement. If the water puddles you can prevent the water from getting to the basement by building gardens around the area and lining the gardens with bricks. The bricks prevent the water from getting to the foundation and you are left with a pretty garden.

Most people don't realize that water can get into the basement by cracks in the roof. Roof leaks are also usually pretty easy to fix but again the problem is to locate them.The easiest way to locate these is to hose the roof down with water on a dry day. Hose only a portion of the roof at one time, and wait to see if the water gets through.

If it's an old house, you may have a former fireplace in the chimney, especially if you have a fireplace on the main floor. Look for a sealed up portion of the chimney in the basement, and two flues on your roof. Before breaking it open, it would be wise to consult with a local chimney cleaning service to confirm its an old fireplace. A fireplace in the basement would be a very nice touch for any home.

Answer 3

I've lived in a 200 year old farmhouse for six years now and the basement walls are made of stone slabs about 1x1ft each, with a little dirt showing/spilled into the actual basement itself.
The only time we have problems is when we get so much rain that it floods. Even then, just a little water from the dirt drips in.

Answer 4

We bought a house that was built in 1940 in a historic district. If you are not prepared to spend tons of money, buy something newer. Old houses are a money pit. I love the house, but they are not insulated properly and last year our highest power bill in the winter was $496.00. for one month of heating. Now, we can't sell the house because the market is so depressed.

It may be stone walls and dirt. Get a general contractor out there to give you an idea of what is going on before you buy. You will probably be happy you did.

One last thing-these old houses are haunted. Not to frighten you, but be prepared to deal with it.

Answer 5

That house will probably still be standing long after you are gone.

Believe it or not, piled stone foundations are very common, and unexpectedly reliable.

The foundation and floor can be updated, but at a high price.

The best bet is to get it inspected.

You might also want to consult a contractor(like myself) to see if there are any structural issues or required repairs.

But like I said, that house will last longer than you.

Just as a side note, the pyramids are nothing more than piled stone, as are 90% of houses on the US Historical Registry.

Answer 6

I bought a 300 year old farmhouse in Normandy in France, the agent said "This is winter it is not damp inside, why are you concerned about damp,?, also the woodworm have been dead almost 300 years .. is that a problem?"

So look get an inspector if you need one, check for damp, dry rot and wetrot, if it is old and the basement is dry now, it aint gonna get damp in a week
But as always Caveat Emptor

Answer 7

research the history of that property too. You want to go into a house that will fall apart or might be scaring you at night.

Answer 8

Yes, but get a home inspection before buying Good luck!!!

Answer 9

pay for a house inspector to look at it. well worth the fee.