What is a building surveyor and why do you need one?  Well, it is a moot point as the term ‘surveyor’ is not protected and it appears that anyone can now offer to carry out a ‘building survey‘.  Damp proofing companies are now saying that there is no such thing as rising damp – funny, that, since that is how they previously made their money.  Damp proofing compenies now offer building surveys but conceal any qualifications, most stating they have XX years building experience.  Well, since the construction industry stopped training in traditional materials in the 1920’s – 40’s, that experience counts for very little.  I have spoken to retired builders who know nothing about lime or its properties.

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.

Covid has shown those able to work from home that it can work.  However, when people are at home more, those little annoyances that they can get away from for the 9-10 hours they are at work, they end up staring at all day.  Others, like a guy working for a company in London, bought a flat in Glasgow…so location is not as vital as it once was, helped by good wifi and an appropriately flexible job of course.  We also work from home, mostly other peoples.

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.

Heritage & Design building surveyors are delighted to announce that we are now licenced by the Civil Aviation Authority to operate our Dji Mavic drone for roof and high-level surveys.  We have already completed several roof surveys including a detailed inspection of a very large and complicated roof at Nazareth House in Cardiff which would […]

I’m currently sitting here in my office at 9pm, not having had dinner yet, writing my master’s dissertation about the plight of people who, like us, live in a stone-built terraced house in South Wales who don’t know where to find the right information about the care and maintenance of their house.

While listed, historic, heritage and conservation assets have apparently endless access to appropriate information, where do we get ours?  The answer is simple, it’s the very same information.  Penetrate through all the jargon and phrases about ‘non-designated heritage assets’ and ‘conservation of historic buildings’ and you will discover that the advice is there already.

Historic Environment Scotland (HES) and through their training centre in Stirling, the Engine Shed, have produced Technical Advice Notes (TANs) that are freely available and relevant to anyone whether you live in a castle, an 1890 pennant stone terrace in Eatontown or a 1910 brick terrace in Uplands.  The information is the same and remains relevant as long as your property is solid-walled.

The problems found in South Wales, which has a high percentage of concrete ground floors and cement mortar pointing, is the level of poor advice being provided so, if you search for Historic Environment Scotland (I know,the  but CADW website is rubbish) or www.thengineshed.scot, then you will get access to enough information to allow you to at least challenge your contractor about what they should be doing to your terraced house.  Sadly, some of the most appropriate work is still considered specialist as there is a process to go through when, for example, preparing stonework for repointing, caring for it during the curing process (you can’t just walk away) and finishing it off, which all needs understanding and time.

Unfortunately time is money so the most appropriate work can be more expensive depending on what it is but it is necessary and will solve issues such as dampness which plagues terraced houses throughout South Wales.  I try to do my bit to educate and provide great information on my website but I am a lone building suveyors voice amongst lots of contractors who think they know better.  They may in some cases but I know old buildings!

The photographs are mine.  1820 terrace, previously made damp by cement mortar, now dry thanks to lime mortar and Covid-19 which allowed me some time to do it.