Advice needed from a builder please.

[Gav]

I've just received a preliminary valuation report on a house we're buying. The Surveyor has commented that a fire break wall within the roof space must be built.

I'll be wanting to renogotiate the price of the property with the vendor but I was wondering whether any YD builders could give me a rough ballpark figure of how much a fire break wall might cost to build? I know it's a bit of a vague answer without seeing the property but I have no idea should I be talking a couple of hundred quid or thousands?

Any help appreciated

[finbar.taylor]

I built one when I bought my house and the materials were less than £50.

the space is 6m across the bottom and 8ft high and obviously pointy at the high bit

basicaly it's a timber frame with fire retardant plasterboard on both side with the joints filled with special fire proof glue! - this has since been passed by insurance company as they wanted to inspect it

hope that give you a rough idea of what's involved

[DorsetDiver]

Originally Posted by Gav

I've just received a preliminary valuation report on a house we're buying. The Surveyor has commented that a fire break wall within the roof space must be built.

I can't help with the quote but I can't help feeling that the vendor will take no notice of your surveyor.

[Adrian Kelland]

Originally Posted by DorsetDiver

I can't help with the quote but I can't help feeling that the vendor will take no notice of your surveyor.

Aye, but the vendor might take notice of a buyer pulling out because they can't get the mortgage.

[IanD]

Originally Posted by finbar.taylor

I built one when I bought my house and the materials were less than £50.

the space is 6m across the bottom and 8ft high and obviously pointy at the high bit

basicaly it's a timber frame with fire retardant plasterboard on both side with the joints filled with special fire proof glue! - this has since been passed by insurance company as they wanted to inspect it

hope that give you a rough idea of what's involved

2 men 1 day, worse case £500

[finbar.taylor]

Originally Posted by IanD

2 men 1 day, worse case £500

very much depends on the size of the loft hatch!
I had no celings in place when I built mine so could take whole sheets of plaster board up. if it has to be cut in to thin strips and reassembles could take a lot longer. Mine took a morning but that was only so I could leave to go to cornwall in the afternoon! A builder might not be quite so keen to complete it in record time!

[Gav]

Thanks for the info, gives me a ballpark to negotiate on

[laterontoday]

Unless a retention has been mentioned in the mortgage valuation then it wont affect the purchase. Always good practice to have a fire break wall. If nothing elses it means your roof wont be open to next door and should a nice scally live there he can currently pop up into his roof, across into yours and down into your house whilst your out.

The wall not only provides protection for your house should your neighbour set his house on fire but think of it more as a secuirty feature.

Many ways to complete the wall either :

Build it up with lightweight blocks ( thermalite style)

Build a timber frame and line both sides with plasterbaord - you would need access from your neighbours side to put the p board on that side.

Hang a wired rockwool curtain in the space.

In any event the work falls within the Party Wall Act. You will need to serve notice to the neighbour. PM me for more advice on the PWA. I should be able to direct you to a good local PW surveyor.

As to cost I'd allow £1000. It wont cost this for the build but the Party Wall stuff will costs you a few quid as well.

[RubberD]

This stuff is easier / quicker than building a stud wall with plasterboards etc.
Rockwool Ltd :: Fire Section :: Fire Barrier Sytems
If you only have a small loft hatch plasterboards are a problem. This stuff comes on a roll like loft insulation so can be forced through most loft hatches.

[Okeanos]

Originally Posted by RubberD

This stuff is easier / quicker than building a stud wall with plasterboards etc.
Rockwool Ltd :: Fire Section :: Fire Barrier Sytems
If you only have a small loft hatch plasterboards are a problem. This stuff comes on a roll like loft insulation so can be forced through most loft hatches.

We sell loads of that for industrial jobs, insurance companies prefer to see a rigid structure like a stud wall. All though 1 layer of fire resistant plasterboard each side will probably not reach the required specifications, most inspectors won't know that.