The Schindler House

The Schindler house, also known as the AW Hawksley SGS, is a historically significant post-war system-built property type in the UK. Built between 1949 and 1954, these homes were designed by G. Schindler and manufactured by Hawksley Construction as part of the response to the housing shortage that followed the Second World War.

Approximately 1,400 units were constructed. These properties are predominantly found as two-storey semi-detached and terraced houses, and they form part of the wider group of non-traditional housing developed to provide rapid and cost-effective accommodation.

The Schindler house was constructed using the Schindler-Gohner System (SGS), a method intended to emphasise speed and efficiency. Understanding the way these houses were built is essential when assessing their condition, defects, and repair requirements.

A Schindler house showing the typical two-storey post-war form, brick external walls, and medium pitch gable roof associated with the AW Hawksley SGS system.

Schindler houses are usually straightforward to recognise. They are generally two-storey semi-detached or terraced houses with a medium pitch gable roof covered with concrete tiles. The external walls are brick throughout, which gives them a more traditional appearance than some other post-war system-built properties.

The substructure consists of concrete strip footings with a brick under-building. A concrete slab extends to form a plinth, and a damp-proof course is incorporated to help resist moisture ingress at low level.

The frame is formed with 5" x 4 5/8" reinforced concrete corner columns and intermediate columns. These include starter bars at ground floor level and continuity bars at the column heads. Reinforced concrete ring beams are present at first-floor and eaves level, providing continuity and structural support across the building.

Externally, 4 1/2" brickwork is tied to the frame with galvanised steel wires. A 5" cavity is present, and storey-height timber framing is fixed to the column and beam formwork. Internally, the walls are lined with bituminous paper and two layers of plasterboard.

The separating wall includes reinforced concrete corner columns, ring beams, and concrete intermediate columns. A timber-frame cavity wall is lined with bituminous paper and two layers of plasterboard, with a 2" cavity. In the roof space, 4" precast concrete blocks are used.

Internal partitions are formed with plaster panels. The ground floor is concrete, while the first floor is formed with timber boarding laid over timber joists. Roof construction is by timber trusses built in two halves and joined together, with concrete tiles forming the roof covering.

There are recorded variants. In some cases, the inner leaf of the external wall may consist of 1 3/4" foamed plaster bonded to a 3/4" layer of fibre-reinforced plaster cast into aluminium edge strips. Another variation involves asbestos cement sheets infilled with 4" mica concrete in the separating wall at roof level. Some examples may also have roofs formed with RSA trusses.

The principal defects associated with Schindler houses are well established. One of the main concerns is minimal or absent concrete cover to steel reinforcement within the structural frame. This can allow corrosion to develop, and once reinforcement starts to oxidise, the resulting expansion can damage the surrounding concrete. This was identified historically as a significant weakness in this construction type.

A further concern is corrosion of the galvanised steel wire wall ties that connect the brickwork to the reinforced concrete columns. Where these ties deteriorate, the bond between the outer brick skin and the frame becomes less reliable. In practice, this is one of the more important issues to assess because outward signs can remain limited until deterioration is already established.

The brick outer walls should also be checked for movement and cracking. During inspection, attention should be given to whether cracking is localised, whether it relates to openings or column positions, and whether there is any indication that the brickwork is no longer performing as intended in conjunction with the frame.

Moisture remains a secondary but important management issue. The plinth and damp-proof course should be assessed for signs of moisture ingress, and the internal wall linings should be checked for deterioration, staining, or softness. This is particularly relevant where bituminous paper and plasterboard linings conceal the structure behind.

Separating walls and roof-space details also require careful review. Timber framing within cavity construction can be vulnerable where long-term dampness has occurred, and roof-space construction using precast concrete blocks or asbestos cement sheet variants needs to be identified accurately. The presence of asbestos cement does not in itself confirm immediate danger, but it does affect repair, alteration, and maintenance strategy.

Floors and roofs should not be overlooked. The concrete ground floor should be inspected for cracks or unevenness, while first-floor timber joists and boarding should be checked for wear or damage. Roof trusses and concrete tiles need to be reviewed for deterioration, leaks, and any signs that water penetration has affected associated structural timbers.

Schindler houses are designated as defective under the Defective Premises Act. That classification underlines the need for a careful inspection and a clear understanding of whether any remedial work has been carried out, what form it took, and whether the present condition reflects ongoing deterioration or past repair.

This house type is likely to be better suited to a purchaser who understands non-traditional post-war construction and is prepared to consider the property on the basis of its individual condition rather than its outward appearance alone.

A Schindler house with a clear maintenance history and evidence of appropriate repair may perform very differently from one that appears similar externally but has unresolved issues within the frame or wall-tie system. This is a common issue in properties of this type, and it is why inspection findings carry more weight than assumptions based on age or style.

Before committing to purchase, the key point is to establish whether there is evidence of corrosion, movement, moisture ingress, or hazardous materials affecting the way the building should be managed.

Mortgage lending and future resale can be influenced by the fact that this is a designated defective non-traditional house type. Much will depend on the property’s current condition, the nature of any previous remedial works, and the clarity of the supporting inspection evidence.

Where there is visible cracking, suspected reinforcement corrosion, defective wall ties, or uncertainty over structural performance, further investigation is often needed before risk can be assessed properly. Lenders and future purchasers tend to look closely at whether known construction-related defects have been identified clearly and whether they have been addressed in a satisfactory and documented way.

Equally, where the building has been maintained properly and its condition is understood, uncertainty is reduced. In practice, that clarity is often what matters most in bringing a transaction to a more reliable footing.

A building survey provides an informed assessment of the visible condition and construction of a Schindler house. Inspections are non-intrusive and limited to areas that are accessible at the time of inspection.

• Identify visible cracking to reinforced concrete elements, brickwork, and associated structural areas
• Assess signs of moisture ingress around the plinth, damp-proof course, wall linings, and roof structure
• Comment on the condition of visible reinforced concrete columns, ring beams, roof coverings, floors, and external walls
• Review the general condition of accessible timber floors, partitions, roof trusses, and separating wall details
• Highlight visible evidence of corrosion, movement, material deterioration, or defects requiring repair or further investigation

However, there are limitations to what a survey can determine without intrusive investigation.

• Confirm the full condition of concealed steel reinforcement within reinforced concrete columns and beams
• Assess hidden wall ties, concealed cavities, or structural details behind internal linings and finishes
• Determine the full extent of corrosion, concrete deterioration, or hidden timber decay where elements are covered
• Inspect inaccessible roof voids, enclosed structural junctions, or concealed areas containing asbestos cement components

Where higher-risk indicators are identified, further specialist or intrusive investigation may be recommended.

For a thorough building survey in Greater London, an instant quotation can be obtained through the online survey calculator.