Informational guides to help buyers understand common property defects in Irish second-hand homes.
Damp is one of the most common defects found in second-hand Irish homes, and one of the most commonly concealed. Ireland's wet climate, combined with the age profile of much of the housing stock, creates conditions where damp problems develop frequently and can be difficult to detect without the right equipment.
Rising damp occurs when moisture from the ground travels upward through the masonry of external walls. It is typically visible as a tide mark on internal walls, salt crystallisation on plaster surfaces, and deterioration of skirting boards at ground level. In properties built before the 1960s, damp-proof courses were often absent or have since failed.
The challenge for buyers is that rising damp is straightforward to conceal temporarily. A fresh coat of paint, new skirting boards, or a layer of waterproof render on the internal wall face can hide the visible signs for several months — long enough to complete a sale. A moisture meter reading will detect elevated moisture levels even through fresh decoration.
Penetrating damp enters through the external envelope — through failed pointing, cracked render, defective flashings, or poorly maintained guttering. It typically presents as patches of damp that correlate with rainfall and are found on upper sections of walls or around window reveals.
Condensation is the most common form of moisture problem in Irish homes and is often confused with rising or penetrating damp. It occurs when warm, humid internal air meets a cold surface. It is most visible in poorly ventilated bathrooms and kitchens, and in cold corners of bedrooms. It does not indicate a structural problem but can cause mould growth and damage to finishes over time.
Cracks in the walls of older Irish homes are common and not always a cause for concern. The key is understanding which cracks are cosmetic and which indicate a problem that warrants further investigation.
Hairline cracks in plaster, typically less than 1mm wide and running in a straight or slightly diagonal line, are a normal feature of older properties. They occur as plaster dries and the building settles over time. They do not indicate structural movement and are straightforward to repair.
Stair-step cracking in blockwork or brickwork — where the crack follows the mortar joints in a diagonal pattern — can indicate differential settlement or subsidence. Horizontal cracking in external walls, particularly in older cavity wall construction, can indicate wall tie failure. Cracks that are wider at one end than the other suggest ongoing movement rather than historic settlement.
Diagonal cracks emanating from the corners of window or door openings are common in Irish homes and often result from lintel deflection or minor settlement. They should be assessed in context — a single small crack of this type in an otherwise sound building is different from multiple such cracks throughout the property.
The roof is the most expensive single element of a house to repair or replace, and it is the one that estate agent photographs are least likely to show in any meaningful detail. A wide-angle shot of the front elevation may include the roof in the background, but it will not show you the condition of the flashings, the state of the ridge tiles, or whether the guttering is discharging correctly.
Irish homes built before 1980 are typically roofed with natural slate. Natural slate has a long lifespan but individual slates can crack, slip or be displaced by wind. The fixings — typically copper or galvanised nails — can also corrode over time, causing slates to slide out of position. A roof with a significant proportion of slipped or missing slates will allow water ingress and should be assessed by a roofer.
Ridge tiles are bedded in mortar at the apex of the roof. Mortar deteriorates over time and ridge tiles can become loose or displaced. This is a common maintenance issue in older Irish homes and is relatively straightforward to address, but it does allow water and wind-driven rain to enter the roof space if left unattended.
Flashings seal the junction between the roof covering and vertical surfaces — chimney stacks, dormer walls, and parapet walls. They are typically lead or mortar-based. Failed flashings are a common cause of water ingress at chimney breasts and are frequently missed on a casual viewing.
The electrical installation in an older Irish home is one of the elements that buyers most commonly overlook and one of the most important to understand before purchase. Outdated wiring and consumer units can have implications for safety and for home insurance.
Older properties may still have the original fuse board installed at the time of construction. Boards with rewirable fuse wire rather than modern circuit breakers and RCDs (residual current devices) are considered outdated. The presence of a fuse wire board does not necessarily mean the installation is unsafe, but it does indicate that the electrical system has not been updated and warrants assessment by a registered electrician.
Rubber-insulated wiring, used in Irish homes up to approximately the 1960s, has a finite lifespan and the insulation can become brittle and crack over time. Aluminium wiring, used in some properties in the 1970s, requires specific connections and fittings. Both indicate that the wiring installation should be assessed by a registered electrician before purchase.
Adequate earthing and cross-bonding of metallic services (water and gas pipes) is a safety requirement. Older properties may not have been updated to current standards. This is not always visible during a visual survey but the condition of the consumer unit and visible wiring provides indicators.
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