Chartered Building Surveyors and Valuers
Chartered Surveyors MRICS not Associates AssocRICS serving the local area for over 15 years.
Please telephone 07979 472264 for a free friendly consultation.
Our services as specialist structural Chartered Building Surveyors and Registered Valuers include:
- Residential Building Surveys
- Red Book Valuations
- Commercial Valuations
- Residential Valuations
- Probate Valuations
- Damp Surveys
- Structural Surveys and subsidence issues
- Retaining Wall Inspections
- Commercial Building Surveys – structure orientated including damp
- House Valuations – Probate, Matrimonial, Insurance, Acquisition
- Historic Building Consultancy
- Listed Buildings surveys
- Party Wall Notices and advice
- RICS Valuers register Info
- Expert Witness
- Structural reports
- Lease Extensions
- Rent Reviews
- Schedules of Dilapidations & Schedules of Condition
- Party Wall Notices & Awards
- House Surveys
- Wall tie advice
- Reinstatement Valuations and Insurance claims
- Builder Disputes
- Crack Analysis and Structural Surveys
- Boundary Disputes Info
- Freehold Enfranchisement (Right to buy Residential Freehold)
- Damp Diagnosis
- Building Pathology
- Party Wall Surveyors
- RICS Red Book Valuations
- Chartered Building Surveyors
- Access Agreements
- Valuers
- Boundary disputes.
We have worked this area for 15 plus years and if we do not have the definitive solution to your problem or question we will thoroughly research the matter for you.
A Chartered Building Surveyor is a specialist qualification within this surveying profession, qualified and regulated by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). They focus on the design, construction, maintenance, and repair of buildings, offering expert advice throughout a property’s life cycle. Their work includes carrying out detailed building surveys, diagnosing defects, advising on refurbishment or restoration projects, and ensuring compliance with building regulations and safety standards.
Chartered Building Surveyors also manage construction projects, prepare schedules of condition, and provide expert witness reports. Their technical expertise helps property owners, developers, and investors make informed decisions about building performance, sustainability, and long-term value.
A Registered RICS Valuer is a property professional officially recognised by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) to provide independent and credible valuations. They have met rigorous qualifications, training, and ethical standards, ensuring competence in assessing land, buildings, and other assets. Registered RICS Valuers produce reports in accordance with the RICS Red Book, which guarantees consistency, transparency, and adherence to professional guidelines. Their valuations are trusted for a variety of purposes, including sales, purchases, mortgages, taxation, and investment decisions. Being RICS-registered demonstrates expertise, professionalism, and accountability, giving clients confidence in the accuracy, impartiality, and reliability of the valuation.
Damp in buildings occurs when unwanted moisture enters or accumulates within walls, floors, or ceilings, leading to deterioration and health problems. Common types include rising damp, caused by moisture moving upward from the ground; penetrating damp, resulting from leaks or defective materials; and condensation, formed by humid air meeting cold surfaces. Damp can damage plaster, timber, and finishes, promoting mould growth and reducing indoor air quality. Identifying the source is essential before treatment, which may involve repairing leaks, improving ventilation, or installing damp-proof courses. Effective management prevents structural decay, protects occupants’ health, and preserves the building’s long-term integrity.
Structural movement in buildings refers to the shifting or deformation of a structure over time due to various forces or conditions. Common causes include foundation settlement, soil shrinkage or expansion, thermal changes, moisture variation, and vibration from nearby construction or traffic. Movement can manifest as cracks in walls, uneven floors, sticking doors or windows, and distorted structural elements. While minor movement is often normal, significant or progressive movement may indicate structural problems requiring investigation. Chartered surveyors assess the type, cause, and severity of movement, recommending repairs or monitoring strategies to ensure safety, maintain building integrity, and prevent long-term damage.
Wood Rot
Dry rot is a type of fungal decay caused by Serpula lacrymans in damp UK buildings. It can spread through walls, floors, and timber, often even in areas not directly wet, by transporting moisture. It breaks down cellulose in wood, making it dry, brittle, and crumbly, posing serious structural risks. Wet rot, caused by fungi such as Coniophora puteana, develops in timber constantly exposed to moisture. Unlike dry rot, it does not spread far beyond damp areas and usually affects only directly wet wood. Both require moisture control, but dry rot is more aggressive and damaging.
Woodworm – In the UK, beetles are the primary insects causing timber damage in properties. The Common Furniture beetle (Anobium punctatum) is the most widespread, attacking seasoned softwood, especially in floors, joists, and roof timbers. Infested wood shows tiny round exit holes and fine powdery frass, with damage often unnoticed until structural weakening occurs. The House Longhorn beetle (Hylotrupes bajulus) targets larger, older softwood, particularly in roof beams, and can cause severe structural damage if untreated. Deathwatch beetles (Xestobium rufovillosum) prefer damp, decaying oak, often in historic buildings, tunneling into wood and producing a characteristic ticking sound. These beetles thrive in poorly ventilated, humid conditions, with infestations spreading slowly over years. Detection is challenging, requiring careful inspection of timber surfaces, joints, and beams. Prevention and treatment include improving ventilation, reducing dampness, applying timber preservatives, and, in severe cases, professional insecticidal treatment or timber replacement. Regular monitoring is essential to protect structural integrity and preserve the longevity of UK properties.
RICS Red Book valuations are professional property valuations conducted in compliance with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors’ standards, known as the “Red Book.” These valuations provide transparent, consistent, and reliable advice on the market value, investment potential, or worth of land, buildings, and development projects. They are used for a wide range of purposes, including sales, purchases, mortgage lending, taxation, and accounting. Red Book valuations require Chartered Surveyors to follow strict ethical, technical, and reporting guidelines, ensuring accuracy and impartiality. Adherence to the Red Book gives clients confidence in the credibility, professionalism, and legal defensibility of the valuation report.