Single defect reports look at a particular problem on a property, how it has been caused and how to resolve it. We have a few articles that cover these including problems with windows, cracks on walls and roof defects. Often, maintenance is key to preventing problems - read these articles and they may help you to prevent problems on your own property.
How often have you considered the staircase in your home? Or if you’re looking to buy, do you really take note of the condition of the stairs?
Unless you own, or wish to buy a bungalow, the stairs are in fact one of the most crucial things to look at. There are so many things to consider – their placement, how steep they are, whether they have banisters, what material they are, if they have carpet, do they have a … Read more...
Poorly installed cavity wall insulation can cause problems. In July 2020 the Chancellor announced a Green Homes Grant to give up to £5,000 in vouchers for insulation (BBC News, July 2020)
A few years ago, we wrote this article about the problems (usually damp) associated with cavity wall insulation. At the time it was thought the issue could be widespread as numerous news articles demonstrated. One newspaper reported: : “1.5 million homes are blighted by damp after cowboy … Read more...
Yes. Government guidelines permit surveyors to carry on surveying and inspecting houses during the COVID-19 crisis.
The guidance advises surveyors should not expect to carry out non-urgent surveys in homes where people are in residence, and no inspections should take place if any person in the property is showing symptoms, self-isolating or being shielded.
They say it may … Read more...
When was the last time you checked your garden walls or if you are buying had a look to see what the walls are like? The cost of repair or replacement of brick and masonry garden walls can be considerable – the most recent wall reconstruction that we managed on behalf of a client cost over £10,000 for a 14m run of brick and block retaining wall on new footings and it wasn’t that high! Sometimes the cost of repair … Read more...
Here’s a garden retaining wall that garden wall we found on a single defect survey. A retaining wall is intended to hold back ground on one side of it that is higher than the ground on the other, the load of that supported land can be considerable and retaining walls do need careful design and construction. In this case the garden wall was apparently a well-built retaining structure, but on further examination we found it wasn’t quite as good … Read more...
Do surveyors inspect the loft? It’s a question we are often asked and yes, we do for both building surveys and homebuyer reports. But, what are we looking for in a loft survey and what should you expect to see? This post is primarily relevant to older buildings – say late Victorian to mid-60s – earlier than this and all sorts of interesting timbers are often added and after this roofs are very often of prefabricated timber trusses. (Oh, … Read more...
As surveyors providing expert witness advice in housing disrepair cases, we are often asked to advise on condensation issues.
We recently helped a client who was having problems with a tenant complaining of condensation with damp walls and mould growth. Our client, the landlord, thought this was unusual as his previous tenants had not complained and there was no sign of condensation when the previous tenants moved out and the new ones moved in. He asked us to investigate and … Read more...
Not all surveyors are equal – anyone can call themselves a surveyor. It’s not a protected title like architect or solicitor. And because anyone can call themselves a surveyor they can do so with no training at all, that means they may know nothing, something or everything about their specialist field but you won’t know that when you commission them.
The chap who measures for your double glazing – the window company’s “surveyor” – probably can use a tape measure, … Read more...
That pesky missing gutter end cap, you know the 79p part that push fits onto the gutter if only you could be bothered to go up the ladder. The one you remember every time it rains and the gutter just cascades. Hardly worth it really is it?
Well, this is what we found on a house we looked at last week with a missing end cap. The gutter water had dripped down the front elevation where it then landed on … Read more...