During a survey, we often ‘follow the trail’ when it comes to things such as damp, cracking to walls or any other potential defect, in a bid to understand, the source, nature and hopefully, the solution to the problem.
This often involves understanding the property holistically. As surveyors, we spend a huge amount of time before, during, and after a property inspection asking ourselves, when was it built? How was it built? How is it set within its environment (orientation, exposure to elements etc.)? What has changed? Have there been extensions or any other alterations? Could these be the culprits of some of the defects we come across?
Often we find instances where unnecessary remedial works have been carried out that have either been ineffective and unsuitable for the property and defect in question, or in some cases, have made an existing problem a lot worse, when in reality the solution to a problem could be very straightforward.
Whilst I could talk all day long about the cause, nature and severity of dampness or structural movement to a building (watch out for future blogs), sometimes the most vital thing is to take a step back, look at the property and ‘follow the trail’.
Damp and staining to a bedroom wall? What is above a bedroom wall? Hopefully a gutter although in this case not….
Cracking to external walls and uneven floors or paths? What type of sub soil is in that area? Are there any drains or large trees nearby? Could these be causing the issue?
These are just a few examples of the sort of things we see during the different surveys we carry out on a daily basis.
On one occasion, I asked the owner of a property whether any timber treatment had been carried out in the property, to which they responded ‘No! never any need’. Thirty minutes later, and a quick peak in the garage and staring right back at me? a tin of ‘Woodworm Killer!’ It suddenly all made sense when I experienced a slightly ‘springy floor’ in the living room….
Often the solution can be straight forward, sometimes it isn’t. The important thing is to understand the property in question, take time to carry out a thorough inspection of every nook and cranny and finally ‘follow the trail’.
Kempston Parkes Surveyors offer a full range of property inspections & surveys, from Valuation Surveys right through to full building surveys, Party Wall Agreements, snagging surveys (for new-build properties) and everything else property-related. They understand that buying a property is a big emotional and financial commitment, so ensuring that your purchase is backed by the very best advice and guidance from an experienced and personable Chartered Surveyor, is vital to making an informed choice.
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