I may have a rammed (dirt) house

**Dirthouse** · 05-19-2011, 10:25 PM

I purchased a house in Portland Oregon about 1 yearago. The inspector said that the housewas cinder block construction. I was notthrilled about it but figured at least there would be no termite damage. The house is a 1950’s ranch in SWPortland. The walls are about 18 inchesthick. The interior walls are cinderblock.

After starting to do some work on the house, I noticed thatthe exterior walls were dirt under the plaster. I drilled some small test holes on the outside of the house through the stuccoand dirt was all that the drill found. Ibelieve now that the house is actually rammed earth construction.

My question is, is this house sellable. If I try to sell and a competent inspectortells the buyer that the walls are rammed earth, will the sale even have achance of going through? Would buyersrun for the hills when they find out the walls are dirt?

I know I would have not purchased the house if I had had anaccurate inspection. Do I have anyrecourse????

Thank you.