Victorian and Edwardian properties
The Victorian era was from the mid-1880's to the start of the 1900's, with the Edwardian incorporating the first few decades of the 19th Century. We feel it is more accurate to give general dates, as, unlike the reigning monarchies in question, the style of construction didn't instantly stop on their death or abdication.
Key features of Victorian property
The Victorian property architecture tended to be quite pointy, with steep roofs with relatively thin, in width, windows (particularly compared with the Georgian and Regency eras). They are more of a tall, thin property and more square looking than Georgian and Regency properties. There can be ornate elements, such as to the fascia board, which can be ornate in itself, it was only generally on the best quality property (middle class and upper class properties). You would also get some decoration to the slate or tiled roofs, on a decorative banding a cut tile would be used.
Equally you would get a similar sort of decorative banding to the brickwork or stonework, often using a brick board at the windows and at high level near the fascia board using a string of brickwork, sometimes known as a corbelling or dogs teeth brickwork.
The bays to the front of the property, on the better quality properties, would be single storey or two storey and tend to be splayed bays.
Edwardian bays tended to have a more square shaped bay rather than rectangular, which was more decorative.
What do Victorian properties look like?
Very broadly speaking, the south areas of England were brick built with a slate roof and brick chimneys, with timber sliding sash windows. In the north of England there would usually be a stone chimney with a slate roof, stone walls and timber sliding sash windows. We would add, of course, that in Wales and Scotland there is a mixture of both and there are some areas of stone, for example in Cambridge and in Oxford, where there are a number of Victorian/Edwardian properties.
External
Typical problems at high level to the chimneys, flashings, roof verges and roof ridges
High level problems
High level problems mean that scaffolding is likely to be required or some form of access platform, be it from a cherry picker or hoist. This can often be where the main costs are when carrying out a project, as health and safety on a building project is of the upmost importance.
Chimney problems
Weathering of the pointing to the chimneys and ridge tiles and to the perimeter.
Flashing problems
Flashings often replaced with a cement wedge. Again, unless it has the original lead.
Roof problems
Nail sickness, which is the corrosion of nails that hold the slates on. Sometimes the slates have been replaced with concrete tiles. Its additional weight can cause roof spread, if the roof structure isn't suitable for it to support the additional weight.
Roof junction problems
Where the main roof meets extensions there can be defective flashings and also overloading of guttering and downpipes.
Bay roof problems
Some of these are flat and some are pitched. On flat roofs the internal downpipe tends to become blocked.
Roof structure problems
Cut timber roofs were used, which were designed in situ (on site) specifically for the property) and the configurations used and the type of timbers were based upon knowledge and experience. During the Victorian era they started to move towards engineered roof trusses. We sometimes find woodworm in these. However, we have never, in over 20 years, found enough woodworm to cause a structural problem. We have, however, come across people who have spent many, many thousands of pounds on treating woodworm problems that don't really exist.
Gutters and downpipes
Gutters and downpipes would be cast iron or box timber and lead lined.
Fascias and soffits
Generally timber. As they are high level they tend to get overlooked. We often find they could benefit from redecoration. They also give a good indication if roofs and gutters are leaking!
Flemish Bond Brickwork
Wall problems
Typically, the walls of a Victorian or Edwardian property would be Flemish bond.
Bay problems
Movement to the bays of the property often indicates there is little, or no, foundations under these.
Re-painting and re-pointing problems
Re-painting and re-pointing work may have caused the walls to stop being able to breathe and this can lead to the spalling of the brickwork and the stonework.
Wall tie corrosion problems
Wall tie corrosion. Most of the walls were solid construction but, in some areas, particularly to the north of England, early cavity construction has been experimented with and examples of wall tie corrosion have been found.
Weathering of the pointing, movement around windows, particularly where larger window openings are, from the early Victorian era.
Spalling brickwork
The softer red brickwork can spall quite badly, with frost attack or defective gutters and downpipes, for example, the cast iron gutters cracking and rusting.
Snapped header problems
Snapped headers were sometimes used to replicate the Flemish bond pattern of the brickwork that was originally used in this age of construction. This does mean that the front wall can move away from the rear wall, even though there is no bonding between them.
Damp proof course
From the 1770's onwards damp proof courses officially had to be added. In some areas this was taking place before and in some areas this wasn't taking place until much later. Interestingly enough, we are still not certain, although it is only in recent history that damp proof courses were added. There has been much speculation that they were added to stop the sewerage rising up the walls, as the people of the 1770's, when damp proof courses first started to be added, were literally throwing their sewerage into the street.
Windows
Sliding sash or replacement window problems
Rot to sliding sash windows, or replacement with a plastic non-structural window, can lead to movement in the property, particularly to bay windows.
Roof lights problems
Early roof lights tend to leak, as do modern roof lights that are incorrectly fitted! Single glazed roof lights are prone to condensation.
Floors, foundations and underground
Cellar foundation problems
The foundations tend to be shallow; around 300mm to 400mm deep. Cellar foundations can lead to movement, such as settlement and heave in clay areas and settlement in peat areas.
Suspended timber floor problems
Changes in ground level construction and general blocking of airbricks can affect the airflow under a suspended timber floor, which in turn can cause rot.
Drainage problems
Early drains were sometimes butt-jointed and have generally leaked over the years. These leaks can, in turn, cause subsidence, particularly in clay area and, as most of London is built on clay, as is most of Bedfordshire, there can be big problems.
Leaking water pipes
An amazing number of problems with leaking water pipes. Often diagnosed as rising damp.
Internal
Lath and plaster ceilings
Predominantly lath and plaster will have been originally used, there may be some boarding. Today, most modern refurbished sections will have been replaced with plasterboard. The use of these different materials can lead to cracking, though of course it can be much worse if it structural cracking. This needs to be correctly diagnosed.
Victorian terraces
The end terraces sometimes have problems caused by the domino effect, where the other properties lean on it. We have come across properties where the gable wall has had to be rebuilt.
A mixture of various styles
Whilst the property may predominantly be one style, usually extensions and alterations have occurred over the years in different styles. Fairly typically, is a rear extension, or the adding of a bathroom, or the conversion of the old coal shed, which can sometimes cause problems as it is a single skin brick. With the modern extension it can result in a very shallow pitched roof, which can cause problems.
This combination of different properties is where the real skill of building surveying comes in, to establish whether they work well together, or, it is probably more correct to say, if they work acceptably together. Many times with older properties we find the original construction is good and sound, assuming it has been well maintained, it is the additions that have been added over the years that are the problem and no doubt we are still making mistakes on properties today.
Places we know and love that are Victorian or Edwardian
Manchester
Wolverton
