November

The house is cross-built construction. Meaning the cross walls running front to back (the gable end, and the partition wall with next door) are the main, load bearing walls.  In this case they’re twin brick or block walls with a cavity between.  The front and rear walls are more lightweight construction – windows & panel, or clad with tiles and timber.

After the 2nd World War various new construction methods were tried in order to save on materials.  There are some houses of rather unconventional construction around Manchester, including a couple we didn’t buy that turned out to be rare examples of a steel frame construction, and most wierdly, diatomite.  Cross-built is fairly common though.

So, I had assumed the front and rear walls would be timber frame, with the cladding attached on the outside, and plaster board on the inside.

But we (myself and a couple of surveyors) were pretty surprised to discover masonory in the front and rear walls, even upstairs.

We’ll add insulation to all the walls.  Front & rear I’m going insulate internally with woodfibre boards.

In preparation for internal wall insulation, we’re removing the existing plaster, taking the walls back to brick or block.

Also related to construction, we’re planning new windows, including the very wide front upstairs windows.  In the case of some neighbours the window fitters have simply removed the centre mullion.

But when I checked, I discovered this post continues above the window, so may well be providing structural support to a long lintel above, and possibly part of the roof.  I ran it past a mate who is rather conveniently a structural engineer.  He does not advocate its removal.

So on reflection, I think I might leave it in place.  We’ll have new windows fitted either side of it, and I’ll insulate the post.