Could the use of engineered wood panels to cover wallpaper in the living room indicate a hidden issue with the property?

LucasSchwartz · Post by **LucasSchwartz** » Mon Mar 06, 2023 12:21 pm

As I am considering purchasing a semi-detached property, the seller has informed me that the living room walls are covered with engineered wood panels for insulation purposes, which were installed over woodchip wallpaper. However, the seller claims that removing the wallpaper in the living room would have been too expensive, with a quote of £2000. I am uncertain about this explanation as it seems peculiar that only the living room would have been treated with panels and not other rooms. Could this potentially mean that the seller has installed the panels to conceal a hidden issue in the property? I am aware that surveys are non-destructive and only visual, which means that the surveyor won't be able to investigate the condition of the wall behind the stud wall.

Could the use of engineered wood panels to cover wallpaper in the living room indicate a hidden issue with the property? If so, what professional should I consult to assess the condition of the wall behind the panels? Can anyone offer any advice or insights into this matter? Additionally, how can I protect myself from an unpleasant surprise that may be hiding behind the stud wall during the purchasing process?

Many thanks,

Lucas

etaf · Post by **etaf** » Mon Mar 06, 2023 12:35 pm

i dont think there is much you can do but i'm not a property developer - and just moved about 8 times and helped family moves... so been involved in a few 'whatifs"

if you do buy and you have documentation that says nothing wrong from seller , then i guess you could goto court , if you strip off and find something substantial

i had an issue with live wires left in walls when they took the wall lights and got compensation through my solicitor from the seller

the seller claims that removing the wallpaper in the living room would have been too expensive, with a quote of £2000

that does not sound right - maybe the quote did not want the job and just overpriced and if got would make a few bob
BUT they may have been the whole job, remove all the wallpaper make good - maybe plaster and repaint or re-hang wallpaper

the living room in a semi - would have 2 outside walls ???? is that the layout - or hallway - so only the 1 outside wall

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Mon Mar 06, 2023 12:48 pm

It does sound b*llocks to be fair and my suspicions would be raised. So let us speculate what might be an issue. I doubt it is damp as you would smell it but it might be possible that there is a wall defect it is covering, which is unlikely for an internal wall. My main thought is it might be a noisy neighbor issue which I think is probably the reason for it. I think you should continue your search as if you have any doubts, walk away.

DWD

LucasSchwartz · Post by **LucasSchwartz** » Mon Mar 06, 2023 1:00 pm

etaf wrote: ↑Mon Mar 06, 2023 12:35 pm the living room in a semi - would have 2 outside walls ???? is that the layout - or hallway - so only the 1 outside wall<div class="open_grepper_editor" title="Edit & Save To Grepper"></div>

Thank you for the response. It is the hallway layout. The property has only one outside wall and two internal walls.

etaf · Post by **etaf** » Mon Mar 06, 2023 1:07 pm

i think DWD may have hit the nail on the head - noise and walk away , if not prepared to take the risk

if covering up something and not prepared to be truthful. who know what else is wrong - but he/she maybe telling the truth.

But i would have said its decoration , why insulation , unless thats for sure and true -

how old is the property ?

what do the other walls look like outside on both houses crackes - and signs of subsidence in other properties in the road/area, built in the mines area ??

and we are thinking (well other half) cladding a wall for decoration , as did my dad in the 70's

one wall does not seem a major insulation issue - but maybe - i had a north facing room, with 2 outside walls and neighbours and had no issues in a 1904 property - no cavity wall ....

problem neighbours need to be declared on the home moving forms

LucasSchwartz · Post by **LucasSchwartz** » Mon Mar 06, 2023 1:17 pm

etaf wrote: ↑Mon Mar 06, 2023 1:07 pm
how old is the property ?

Thank you. The property was built in the 70s.

LucasSchwartz · Post by **LucasSchwartz** » Mon Mar 06, 2023 1:21 pm

etaf wrote: ↑Mon Mar 06, 2023 1:07 pm what do the other walls look like outside on both houses crackes - and signs of subsidence in other properties in the road/area, built in the mines area ??

The adjacent property seems to be in good repair, but I haven't thought about looking out for signs of decay in the wider area. The house was indeed built in the mines area, and has cavity walls.

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Mon Mar 06, 2023 1:25 pm

You do not want to inherit a problem any doubt, leave it out.

DWD

etaf · Post by **etaf** » Mon Mar 06, 2023 1:45 pm

this maynot be helpfull, as from a tv program

The house was indeed built in the mines area,

lots of issues if you watch homes under the hammer , as my other half does all the time - all sorts of surveys show up mines, and issues i think getting subsidence insurance ......

Maybe knock on a neighbour and ask, we did when we had loads of issues with rights of way showing up, various vehicle and pedestrian all showed up - going right through the little cul-de-sac estate and our lounge , dining room, kitchen ,garden etc back in the 80's when a lot of people rewalking those sorts of routes to open them up .....
neighbours either had no idea (which i'm sure they were not pleased we called) or had taken an insurance policy out for

we pulled out , in the end, not worth the hassle and there will always be another house along.... we went through about 4 with gazumping , and also survey issues highlighted , and sellers not willing to negotiate - but the houses are still there and lived in

and has cavity walls.

i would have thought if insulation was the issue - cavity wall insulation would have been a better option for the entire house
when i carried tht out on 2 houses , figures seem to quote about a 1/3rd heat loss - and we noticed a huge differenc eon first house , hence why we did the 2nd house

Someone-Else · Post by **Someone-Else** » Mon Mar 06, 2023 1:53 pm

I would say unless you are 101% sure it is ok, walk away.

You know the saying, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Buying a house is a huge investment, so unless you are into "doing up houses"...........

Grendel · Post by **Grendel** » Mon Mar 06, 2023 5:36 pm

I've just done below dado panelling in a property using mdf . It was a terraced house in the north east built arou nd 1906. There weren't any structural or damp problems . The wallpaper was taking some getting off and the plaster was rough underneath and that was largely due to various chasings and door moving being badly patched in the past. It was skimmed above dado but the customer liked the "classy " look of panelling and it was more decorative than anything else. It wasn't meant to be insulating although the house sorely needed (and got) insulation fitting.
That said the panels in the house you are looking at could be covering so.ething nasty but without investigation it would be impossible to be sure.