Question about masonry indoors and outdoors

Hello!

We visited an unrenovated house from 1968 and really like the location.
We are unsettled by a wall (South side) that is blackened on the outside and looks like it has water damage and possibly a ventilation problem on the inside.

Do you think it’s worth bringing in an expert? Or does it look like a serious problem?

The attic also doesn’t look good but appeared dry. The insulation is partly hanging down & is black.

We would expect a full renovation costing over €300,000 (heating, electrical, bathrooms, roof, external insulation). But having to replace the masonry would be too much.

Thanks!!
Marie

At first glance, I don't see anything in a 1960s house that I find surprising or critical. Why would you have to replace the wall there? Pictures 1 and 2, are those shadows/reflections on the ceiling, or is it really discolored like that? If that's a concrete ceiling, it doesn't matter; same with wooden beams, as long as it hasn't been wet for a long time (years). The interior wall is quite normal. Old house with poor thermal insulation, so over the decades there are always some damp spots at ceiling junctions and in the corners and then corresponding discolorations. With external insulation, that's history. The insulation is gray/black from decades of dust, that's not mold or anything like that. Find a knowledgeable energy consultant from the area for your planning. Not because you can't figure out with common sense and maybe forum help which measures make sense, but for construction supervision (acceptance of contractor services) and advice on possible grants from KfW and Bafa.

Hi Marie,

the pictures show typical signs of aging in an unsanitary house from ’68, but nothing that immediately sets off alarm bells. The black discolorations on the ceiling and interior walls initially look like cold corners, possibly previous moisture problems or poor insulation. The exterior facade appears uniformly discolored, which could simply be algae growth or moisture caused by thermal bridges. The attic just looks old, the insulation is crumbling. This was to be expected, but it’s not automatically a disaster.

Still: Yes, get an expert appraisal. Not because it necessarily looks bad, but because with a 300k renovation budget it really makes sense to go in with a clear picture. That way you can recognize in time if, for example, hidden moisture, hollow spots in the masonry, damage to the roof structure, or energy renovation possibilities are coming up that go beyond what you have already planned.

Conclusion: The house looks in need of renovation in the pictures, but not totally off. An expert appraisal is a sensible investment in a project like this to avoid nasty surprises later on.

Best regards