On 11/01/11 13:52, Andrew Mawson wrote:

"Gill wrote in message
o.uk...
bought a 1950's ex-council house

it's just about liveable-in

so, where to start?

central heating, electrics, or the damp patches I just noticed at
the base
of the sitting room walls

--
http://www.gillsmith999.plus.com/



The absolutely FIRST thing is to check the condition of the roof and
gutters. Until they are sound anything else is potentially wasted.
Good tight roof over your head and everything else can be done at
leisure, but when water drips through ......well you see the point I'm
sure.

AWEM

and the drainage, is there water from outside flowing under the house,
i had flower beds too high and drining IN through the ventilation grills.
Go out in the rain and see where the water's going.

Can you wait a few months whilst you check it in various weather conditions?

get a good book on insulation like
http://www.amazon.com/Insulate-Weath.../dp/1561585548

there are often insulation gaps between floors etc

[g]