Flat Roofs

[Derek W]

You had to like one of the 'weird' houses in Glasgow didn't you!

I had a look at the schedule and the first thing I did was look on Google Aerial maps followed by the Birdseye on bing so I could get a better idea of the roof. My concern would be, without seeing it under closer inspection, that as the flat roof is over the main roof and not an extension and that it also appears to be flush with the houses either side in the terrace if you plan to do any repairs to the roof over your part the contractor could affect your neighbours house as well. This obviously means the potential for shelling out more than you need to. By all means if you can get a tour, take it, however if it's only virtual just now you won't get the advantage of smelling fresh paint if it's had to be touched up on the off chance that the roof has leaked recently. I would certainly be aware of the property but if you're serious a full survey for the flat roof alone would either put you off or put your mind at rest of you do want to purchase it.

 

[Ahleckz]

You had to like one of the 'weird' houses in Glasgow didn't you!

I had a look at the schedule and the first thing I did was look on Google Aerial maps followed by the Birdseye on bing so I could get a better idea of the roof. My concern would be, without seeing it under closer inspection, that as the flat roof is over the main roof and not an extension and that it also appears to be flush with the houses either side in the terrace if you plan to do any repairs to the roof over your part the contractor could affect your neighbours house as well. This obviously means the potential for shelling out more than you need to. By all means if you can get a tour, take it, however if it's only virtual just now you won't get the advantage of smelling fresh paint if it's had to be touched up on the off chance that the roof has leaked recently. I would certainly be aware of the property but if you're serious a full survey for the flat roof alone would either put you off or put your mind at rest of you do want to purchase it.

Haha, I'm looking forward to standing behind my battlements surveying my land!

I'm really not sure how much I'll be able to tell from a visit, but got it booked so that's a good thing. No idea if there's even access to the roof?

The aerial view is interesting, looks almost like solar panels on the top of one of them? Hard to tell!

 

[Derek W]

Haha, I'm looking forward to standing behind my battlements surveying my land!

I'm really not sure how much I'll be able to tell from a visit, but got it booked so that's a good thing. No idea if there's even access to the roof?

The aerial view is interesting, looks almost like solar panels on the top of one of them? Hard to tell!

Now that I'm home I've had another look at them again. I agree that it does appear to have panels on the roof next door but in my opinion they appear to be facing the wrong way so perhaps its not them after all. I did look back on Streetview to 2009 and the house was rerendered at that time as the scaffolding is up.

The key areas I would look for is a smell of paint as newly decorated walls suggests they may be covering up some stains. On the top floor look around the ceiling between the terraces for any signs of staining / mould and likewise at the first floor bay window. These would be areas where moisture would more than likely ingress should a flat roof be at fault. Also it appears going back on Google at some point between 2012 and 2019 (streetview on the roads eitherside of the property) the chimneys between your house and the one to the north east have been removed so again this is another area where if not repaired properly could show a sign of water ingress.

I can guarantee that there won't be any direct access to the roof without the use of a ladder to see whats up there because with flat roofs the more holes you put in them (access hatch) the more chance they will be a potential point of a leak.

In terms of insulation within that roof I suspect there won't be a huge amount in there but i guess you only know how cool a house is when you're in it and how it compares to where you currently stay. Take a look at it on Friday, go with an open mind but take note of the areas to look at and take it from there really. It'll be worth asking about the flat roof regardless. If the chimneys were removed (and google wasn't hiding them from the street angle!) there's probably a strong chance that the two neighbours clubbed together to get the roof done at once?

 

[Derek W]

Any update from your visit @Ahleckz

 

[Ahleckz]

Aye, viewed it. It’s difficult to know if it’s knackered or not as you can’t actually get to it to view.

However looking at the flashing (is that the right word?) and no obvious signs of concern. Inside looked ok, again no recent paint, no mould, no plaster cracking.

I think it’s ok. Just need to budget for it, and it seems that any remedial work is pretty easily DIYable.

Her dad did suggest it would be great to have a roof terrace but I think his tongue was firmly in his cheek but does make me wonder if you could use it for that haha.

Couldn’t see the others roof to confirm if solar panels were up there but assume not. The seller did say they had the roof checked five years ago when they bought it and some bitumen was redone then.

Just going to mull it over before deciding what we fancy doing next but not overly concerned with the roof.

Are you in the roofing game @Derek W ?

 

[Derek W]

It's good that things seem to be ok.

I would hazard a guess that your missus' dad is correct that a roof terrace would be a pipe dream as the roof was probably designed on the basis of no load so if you stick some furniture up there with some plants, and people you might find yourself at the floor below in next to no time

Not in the roof game, I'm in the drawing houses game

 

[Ahleckz]

Aye, it’ll be fun to have a beer up there just to see the view but I’ll keep the hospitality in the garden!

I suspect we will put a bid in, but the way things are it’s impossible to know what you actually need to bid!

Annoying we want a ‘character’ house. Half tempted to move to an estate! Drawn any nice ones recently?

 

[Derek W]

Aye, it’ll be fun to have a beer up there just to see the view but I’ll keep the hospitality in the garden!

I suspect we will put a bid in, but the way things are it’s impossible to know what you actually need to bid!

Annoying we want a ‘character’ house. Half tempted to move to an estate! Drawn any nice ones recently?

Yeah house prices are daft at the moment in the sense that houses go pretty quickly in certain price bands. Do you know how long the property has been listed for? Or the price of similar properties in the area? Might give you an idea on what to bid. Worst case scenario is that could up your bid depending on what you first offer and how the seller reacts.

 

[Ahleckz]

Yeah house prices are daft at the moment in the sense that houses go pretty quickly in certain price bands. Do you know how long the property has been listed for? Or the price of similar properties in the area? Might give you an idea on what to bid. Worst case scenario is that could up your bid depending on what you first offer and how the seller reacts.

They are all going to closing date, very quickly. we bid on a few around six months ago and they were going for 20-25% over home report and closing with 20+ offers within a week. Can only offer what we think is reasonable and see what happens. Refuse to massively overpay.