Common construction problems with Victorian houses (2024)

FAQs

What are the problems with Victorian architecture? ›

Victorian homes are mostly constructed with solid masonry walls that are prone to rainwater penetration. The damp could eventually penetrate through to internal surfaces, causing plaster to crumble and paper to bubble.

It is fair to say, any domestic property could be subject to subsidence, given the right conditions, but Victorian properties in particular are more likely to suffer with lack of lateral restraint, roof spread, lintel failure and differential movement (particularly in bay windows).

Exploding sweets, radioactive ornaments and poisonous medicine were just some of the potentially deadly dangers lurking in Victorian and Edwardian homes. These health hazards were often found in everyday, apparently innocuous objects. Some of these items have - safely - gone on display in a Leeds museum.

In general, Victorian houses built before the late 19th century are more likely to have solid walls, while those built after are more likely to have cavity walls.

Built to last: Most Victorian homes are around 150 years old, and they are usually as sturdy as they were when they were first made. Any house that has lasted that long with no major issues is definitely worth investing in.

Designed and built using different methods to those we use now, old properties have a tendency to experience issues with damp and condensation. With over 4 million properties in the UK from the Victorian and Edwardian period alone, it is also a fairly common problem. The situation is however rarely as bad as it seems.

“Recognizable characteristics are steep, tiled roofs, painted brick, bay windows, and asymmetrical design,” Dadswell says. “Wooden floorboards, plaster cornicing, sweeping staircases, wooden sash windows, and tiled entrance hallways would have been incorporated into most Victorian homes.”

In the U.S., it costs, on average, $350,000 to build a Victorian-style house. Typically, most homeowners spend between $250,000 and $600,000. The average cost per square foot to build a Victorian-style home is $100 to $200.

This is because, during the Victorian era, the use of slate and tile for roofing became more widespread, which allowed for steeper roof pitches. Additionally, the steep roof allowed for more living space in the attic, which was especially useful when homes were getting smaller.

What were the joists in Victorian houses? ›

At the end of the 19th century a typical well-built terraced house would have an upper floor constructed from 8" by 2" (200 x 50mm) softwood floor joists fixed at 12" to 16" centres (300 to 400)mm. The joists were usually built in to the walls although occasionally wrought iron or brick corbels were used.

Very little cement was used in the 19th century for ordinary domestic housing, but note that there was quite a lot of weakly hydraulic lime about. Much of Victorian London was built with the equivalent of NHL about 1.

As the Arts and Crafts Movement began to hit America, critics accused the Victorians of needless complexity and clutter, advocating a more streamlined, handcrafted home. The style fell out of fashion, but is still very prevalent in historic communities around the country.

But people of that era didn't know that the sour smell radiating from their cups meant that their drink was ruined, let alone that spoiled milk contained tons of harmful bacteria. Instead, they used Boracic acid to cover up the stench.

The most familiar images of Victorian life are bleak indeed: impoverished children working long hours in factories and mines; blankets of smog suspended above overcrowded cities; frightening workhouses run by cruel governors; violent criminals lurking in the shadows.

On the other hand, there were negative aspects, like the overcrowding of cities, the exploitation of women and children (because they work more and cost less), the building of Workhouses and the growth of slums.

As the Arts and Crafts Movement began to hit America, critics accused the Victorians of needless complexity and clutter, advocating a more streamlined, handcrafted home. The style fell out of fashion, but is still very prevalent in historic communities around the country.

Poor structural integrity

Cracks in walls, uneven plaster and loose bricks can all be warning signs. As with any older property, subsidence can also be a concern. Checking that doors close properly, windows open, and that window sills aren't sagging is a good first move.

The houses were cheap, most had between two and four rooms – one or two rooms downstairs, and one or two rooms upstairs, but Victorian families were big with perhaps four or five children. There was no water, and no toilet. A whole street (sometimes more) would have to share a couple of toilets and a pump.