Now and again I am surprised by a property. Most often it’s because there are defects with causes which are difficult to determine but, very seldom a property which has all the features which would lead me to believe it is going to have ‘issues’, but the absence of defects. I surveyed such a property a couple of weeks ago in Lochwinnoch, the usual high ground levels, washed out mortar joints at low level, apparently poor airflow below floors, etc. but which was found to have no discernible failures at low level. Maybe the ground is simply well drained so has reduced the amount of groundwater acting on the base of the structure. Internal brick walls, too, were dry. Good news for the householder and confirmation of the importance of controlling groundwater and providing good ventilation. I wonder what a damp ‘specialist’ would have found?