It was built using stone and brick with curved railway sleepers (what else?) forming the roof structure, which was covered in corrugated iron sheets. It has since suffered localised failures in the structure, and the decision was made to remove it rather than repair it, the thought being that the cost of its replacement is less than the possible disruption caused by a temporary blockage.

The drone video is wonderful, a piece of art created by the contrasting colours – not by any artistic ability of its operator. Here are a few screenshots.

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Recent surveys in the surrounding area have seen us surveying the B-listed Elvingston House (John Tait, 1837) near Gladsmuir, as well as large farmhouses and small cottages – really, we have no upper or lower limit.  We survey 1-bed tenement flats and were recently surveying at the Tower of London for Historic Royal Palaces, so you have an idea of the range of surveys we do.

If you want to discuss a survey of a property in or around the Scottish Borders, please give us a call on 07944 611844 or email john@durieheritage.co.uk or alison@durieheritage.co.uk for a chat or more information.

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I always read the ‘About Us’ pages of websites offering surveys.  Sometimes it gives you a reassuring insight into the person(s) you are considering trusting to correctly guide you in the most expensive purchase you will ever make, but most of the time it tells you nothing, not even a name.  Reviews such as on Trustpilot can be bought.  We are emailed constantly from companies that offer just that.  Considering what is happening in the world today especially regarding trying to identify truth from fake news, it is difficult to negotiate through it all.

I received a call from a lady today where an RICS ‘surveyor’ (no idea what type of surveyor) spent 6 hours in her 2-bed house then declared it had rising damp and to get a damp proofing “specialist” to actually diagnose the cause and remedy.  Well, if you have read through this site, you will realise how that will turn out.  If you put your trust in a ‘professional’ who should be working in their clients best interests, you expect to obtain the correct information.  This is not the case.  Not only do trades colleges not teach about traditional materials, universities seldom teach surveyors – even building surveyors – about traditional materials.  This is despite around 40% of the built environment in the UK having been built with traditional materials so requiring the same materials for their repair.

I do feel partly responsible for the fact that you now have to pay for a timber and damp survey from a damp proofing company since when they were free,  they were always sure of getting the work.  With damp proofing being promoted less, some damp proofing companies now charging for surveys but it is the same rubbish you are getting.

Please read the ‘About Us’ pages and see who you are giving your hard earned money to.

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The arches were infilled during the time of the Duke of Wellington‘s term as Prime Minister but would have been well ventilated and vapour permeable, and also likely damp, since then.

These repairs all responded to the symptoms and never actually examined the sources of water ingress.  Following survey of the road surface on St Katherine’s Way, road dranage gulleys and details around the bridge parapet, numerous vulnerable areas were identified, all of which will be contributing to the effects internally.

Alison testing areas of loose mortar.

Mortar reacting to test so indicating lime mortar is present.  Other areas were found to have cement-rich mortar

Long term water ingress causing calcium build up on the brick vaulted ceilings

A stainless steel tray previously installed to catch water passing through around the drainage gulley indicates an issue with the gulley…

The moat vaults below St Katerine’s Way at the north approach to Tower Bridge.

Road drainage gulley are partially blocked so will cause localised flooding which will saturate the surrounding ground and seep through to the vaults below.

Very minor but, nonetheless, open joints.  Damop soil had displaced mortar

Vegetation show moisture and soil is in what should be mortar joints.

As above

Vegetation has displaced mortar and is allowing water ingress below.

Voided joint and vegetation growth.

The entrance to The Reveller is now internal but shows saklt damage to the stonework where water percolation from above continues.

Glazed brick to The Reveller also has a stainless steel tray to catch water ingress.  These walls have previously been coated with waterproofing render but this was always going to fail.  The glazed bricks are now permanently damaged.

John preparing the thermal imaging camera – inside number 9!

Thermal imaging showing saturated area as colder than surrounding brickwork so one of the sources of water ingress.

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Deep void in stone joint will allow water ingress deeper into the wall fabric

One short period of just over a week saw us use 4 tanks of fuel to travel to survey a croft, a tenement flat, a country house, and a terraced house.  All of these are very different properties, all with subtly different issues but all built in the same manner using the same basic materials.

Brick visibly damp below original damp proof course, dry above

Accumulated debris eventually caused decay to the joist and sole plate. Dampness is caused by high ground levels outside

We specialise in determining the causes of these issues and in providing excellent advice.

We want to remain busy as we know more of our clients will receive the best possible information.

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From 1908, almost the last hurrah for stately homes, Shennanton was designed by Glasgow architect Henry Edward Clifford in a style seldom-seen in Scotland, English Tudor Gothic.  The exterior is mostly polygonal granite, quarried locally, and interiors appear to be a rebellion against the high Victorian in their absolute simplicity with minimal plasterwork but meticulous, and equally simple,  joinerywork.

With added help from our drone, we managed to complete a detailed and exhaustive inspection of chimneys, leadwork, roofs, walls,

roof structure, interiors and cellars including drainage.  Writing it all out in plain English was a challenge in the limited timescale, which included an equally detailed building survey of the two storey detached lodge house, but the report was completed and emailed to our clients on time.

This is one of the largest properties we have surveyd to date but we can do it and can produce detailed and comprehensive reports within limited timescales so, if you have a mansion you need surveyed, please get in touch.

View of billiards room in Bladnoch, part of Shennanton House

Underside of roof of Shennanton House billiards room

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Image of Dji Mavic Zoom 2 drone

The drone allowed us to get in close to hidden valleys and survey behind parapets and over high chimney stacks, the detail able to be captured being extremely high quality allowing stills to be captured and examined in detail.

The drone also adds value to our surveys – at no additional cost – but can be restricted by the position of the property and the prevailing weather.

Vegetation growing in high-level roof valley hidden from sight

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Their solution?

Tank the inside of the property with a thick plastic membrane and replaster.

Dry rot returns despite damp treatment

You don’t need to be well-versed in construction to realise that the solution they offer isn’t actually dealing with the myriad defects that could be causing the dampness, penetrating or otherwise.  Their ‘ 5 Year Penetrating Damp Treatment Guarantee’ is their estimation of the time it takes for the continuing penetrating damp (which is only getting worse in the meantime) to fully saturate the property and appear internally.

Think about the possible problems that not repairing the defects will cause.  What will happen to the wet timber joists below this wet wall?  They will rot.  The risk is that it will create dry rot, which is insidious, or wet rot, both requiring additional disruption and cost.

Loss of lime mortar

Reading the small print, you must employ a surveyor or tradesman who can identify and rectify the real causes of penetrating damp for the treatment guarantee to remain valid over the 5 year period.

If that is not a money making scam, I don’t know what is.

Please repair the causes, don’t cover the symptoms.

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Just a quick note to let you know that I eventually got XXXXXXXX to accepted your survey report. It initially took them 4 week to respond. The initial response from their own surveyor was that the report went into great detail however he still wanted a PCA report and all their recommendations performed. Anyway after a few calls and my flat refusal to accept their surveyors request, pointing them to numerous sources supporting the approach I’d taken along with the threat of going to another lender, they did a 180 degree turn around and approved the mortgage with zero retention within 24 hours

A good result but they are few and far between as, like most large companies and corporations, they want to limit any risk of claims so either pass on liability to a 3rd party – damp proofers – or demand abortive and unecessary work gets done because some MRICS surveyors do not understand why your building is damp.  They should understand why, they have had 3 or 4 years to learn about it at university.

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I have just completed and submitted my dissertation entitled ‘Breaking through the conservation barrier’ for my MSc in ‘Conservation of Historic Buildings’.   I have named it that because I have found there is a distinct and definite barrier to the ordinary person, we who live in one of the 99.3% of old houses that aren’t protected by statutory listing.  It is difficult for us to then access the relevant information as it is ‘protected’ by these ‘conservation’ terms such as ‘heritage’, ‘historic’ or ‘listed’.  If you search on these terms, a whole new world of information open up for you.

South Wales miners terraced houses

I am sure I wasn’t the most popular student to ever attend that course because I railed against the apparent elitism that prevents you from getting the right information so you are better informed about how to maintain and repair your buildings.  The information is there, just hidden and protected by these terms.  A new document written for and published by Historic England is Conserving Georgian and Victorian terraced housing is a worthy document, well written and reserached, but it is not about the terraces that most people live in, not the Welsh miner’s cottages or the industrial back-to-back terraces of Liverpool and across the Midlands, or stone terraces across Yorkshire, not even the well-to-do sandstone terraces in Glasgow.  The simple use of the word ‘Conserving’ has immediately limited its range and audience even though some of it will be useful.  This goes for most of the guidance available.

Do some research beyond the first few pages of Google, then you’ll find some interesting stuff.

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