Damp staining, blistered finishes and damaged plaster are often the first visible signs of water ingress. But the place where the damage appears is not always where the problem begins. Water can travel through walls, floors, service routes and concealed voids before...

Construction works to one property can sometimes result in cracking, plaster damage and movement being reported within the neighbouring building. The difficult part is establishing what damage is new, whether it is still moving and what should reasonably be done to...

Cracking inside a property can sometimes be dismissed as routine movement. However, when cracking is accompanied by uneven floors, movement around window bays, debonded finishes and external masonry defects, the issue may be more significant than simple decoration....

A survey can have a significant influence on a property transaction and, in some cases, on the price ultimately agreed between buyer and seller. However, Level 2 and Level 3 Home Survey reports are ultimately professional opinions. Different surveyors can inspect the...

Building works do not always go to plan. A refurbishment may begin with an agreed scope and price, but disputes can arise where works are incomplete, workmanship is questioned, services remain unfinished or the amount paid no longer appears to reflect the work...

Damp is one of those defects that can be easy to see but much harder to diagnose properly. A stained wall, cracked plaster or peeling paint may show where moisture is appearing, but not necessarily where it is coming from. Water can track through masonry, around...

Cracking in a property can be worrying, but it does not automatically mean there is a serious structural problem. Buildings move over time as they respond to changes in temperature, moisture, loading, alterations and ground conditions. The important point is to...

Not all property surveys have the same purpose or level of inspection. A mortgage valuation, home survey, building survey and specialist defect inspection can produce very different conclusions because they are answering different questions. Why can surveys disagree?...

Property disputes can quickly become complicated when each party has a different explanation for what caused the damage. A specialist defect assessment can help separate the observed defect from assumptions about its cause. What does a defect analysis involve? A...