Typical and common foundation subsidence in a Victorian terrace outrigger. What is subsidence? Subsidence is when the soil below and around the foundation is compromised causing the foundation to drop/rotate/fail. Typically this will result in diagonal cracks through masonry/render. If you stand outside looking at the building and draw an imaginary arrow down through the […]

We are delighted to announce that today we achieved job instruction no. 1000, a residential valuation kindly referred by MSB Solicitors. Glad MSB Solicitors could help you reach your 1000th instruction! You’re highly recommended as always. Sarah McGuinness, Senior Conveyancing Solicitor Job no.1 was back in April 2007. 95% of our jobs are house surveys

Our MD Jon Battle investigates Timber and Damp Surveys and asks if they are really worth undertaking. Mortgage Valuation surveyors visit a property on behalf of the bank, not the buyer. They regularly recommend that the buyer pays for a ‘Timber and Damp Survey’ as a condition of obtaining the mortgage. Why are they doing

What is the cause? This Victorian terraced property has solid brick walls. It has severe damp at ground floor level, but no issues on the first floor. The difference is that the external ground floor is painted. This traps moisture which then evaporates inwards due to warmer internal temperatures. In addition, gypsum plaster has been

This modern plastic coupling was allowed to leak for a few years. The constant trickle of water from the gutters in the same spot eventually eroded the paintwork, and then the mortar-pointing. Over time the heat inside the building will suck the moisture inwards due to evaporation. The wall is solid brick (230mm) without a cavity

Why retrospective cavity wall insulation can be a bad idea Lots of people have had cavity wall insulation done. Some will never be affected but others are and will be. Retrospective cavity insulation is when insulation (usually wool-fibres or polystyrene beads) is injected under pressure through drill-holes with the intention of completely filling the cavity

Roof Mortar Torching – an explanation This is the huge loft-space of a 1930s semi-detached house we recently surveyed. You’ll notice the white material that appears between the timber battens. This is a mixture of lime mortar and horsehair. This is what is known as roof mortar torching and was packed in between roof tiles

1930’s Concrete Floor Slab explained This is the floor of a house that was built in the late 1930’s. The concrete floor-slab is around 120mm thick and was cast directly over levelled and compacted ground soil. Back then there was no damp-proof membrane between the slab and the ground to prevent damp rising up through

How to identify cavity wall tie defects. Since the late 1920’s houses in England started to be built with cavity walls. This is when two leaves of masonry are tied together with metal wall-ties to form the external walls. Since the 1950’s cavity walls have become the standard form of construction for houses. How do

Sometimes, we do more than survey buildings! Jon designed and managed this back garden overhaul which was like a landfill tip before we started: The transformation begins. Prepping the space: Constructing the large decking area: Laying the lawn and transforming the borders: The finished result – a large, practical and beautiful family garden. And a