We have wide experience in surveying all types of buildings and structures including houses, commercial premises, agricultural buildings, roads, drains and underground structures.
We provide a specialist service for historic and listed buildings, having particular expertise in ancient building methods and materials. These include stone masonry, cob (mud walls), thatch, and timber frames.
Our service covers the whole spectrum from a simple structural inspection through a major defects survey, to a full structural survey.
A structural inspection will report on a limited number of defects (frequently just one) which has been found - often during the process of buying and selling a house. Discovery of such defects can crop up at the very last minute and create problems in getting the mortgage company or insurers to sign up.
A major defects survey will report on all the structural elements of a building where defects exist. Parts which are either non-structural, clear of defect, or exhibit only minor, obvious defects (which normal maintenance will deal with) are not mentioned in the report. This will give you the confidence of knowing the extent of any problem, but without spending large sums of money.
A full structural survey will give details of every structural element and every defect in a building. It will explain the reasons for and the effects of the defects and give background information on the forms of construction employed in the building. If there are options for repair it will discuss these and will differentiate between urgent repairs and maintenance items which can be deferred. It will also advise upon whether permissions (for example, Listed Building Consent, Building Regulations, Party Wall Agreements) will be required.
All reports always give clear and concise recommendations for remedial works, or if none is required, we will say so. Budget costings for remedial works can also be provided.
Survey reports can also be extended to include discussion of the feasibility of proposed alterations to a building.