House move: Trades/Craftsmen recommendations, Lincoln area

Terry Casey · 2016-04-06T18:24:02+00:00

We are hoping to buy a 2 bedroomed bungalow on the outskirts of Lincoln and are looking for recommendations for trades/craftsmen in the local area to carry out detailed inspections and provide quotations for all essential works. We need someone to carry out an inspection of the electrical system. I had assumed that the CU was an old Wylex or similar unit fitted with cartridge fuse-holders but the surveyor says they are rewire-able! It is unlikely to have an up to date electrical safety certificate! Similarly the gas and central heating systems required detailed inspection. The central heating boiler is an ageing Glow Worm wall mounted unit, vented through the roof. The surveyor noted that "the boiler was in operation on the day of inspection (and) it was noted that there were high volumes of water running through into the expansion tank." We also need estimates from roofing contractors to address the following: "The undersides of the roof is lined with a working felt of Hessian reinforced bitumen type. Over the years this has decayed where it is dressed out under the bottom roof edges into the gutters. Water that is running down the top of the felt (which has been driven through the roof coverings) is dropping onto the roof edge timbers and causing consequential decay. Remedial work is needed splicing in new sections of underfelt and possibly new timbers." Living in an area where most buildings have suspended floors and noting the large number where the air bricks are wholly or partially obstructed where gardens have been replaced by concrete, I must really kick myself for not spotting this - the presence of a solid floor in this bungalow must have given me a false sense of security! The tarmac surround is less than 150mm below the damp course - from photographs, it appears to be only one brick course below: (it would be a 300 mile round trip to 'pop round for a quick look'!) The garage is at the rear of and to the side of the property...