A crack in a wall, a door that has started to stick, a floor that slopes, or a line in a homebuyer’s report saying “refer to a structural engineer”. Any of these can be worrying, and most are less serious than they first look. The point of a structural survey is to find out which is which.
What we look at
We inspect the visible structure and the evidence around it: the pattern, width and direction of cracks, whether movement looks historic or ongoing, the ground conditions, nearby trees and drains, and any past alterations. Where the cause is not clear from one visit, we say so and recommend the simplest way to find out, whether that is crack monitoring, a trial pit or a drainage survey.
What you receive
A written report in plain English. It explains what we found, the likely cause, whether it is structurally significant, and what, if anything, needs doing. Reports can be written for mortgage lenders and insurers where required.
When people call us
- Before buying, when a survey has flagged cracking, movement or an old alteration.
- After a surveyor’s recommendation for a specialist structural inspection.
- When cracks appear, especially after a dry summer, building work next door or a leak. See trees and subsidence.
- For insurance or mortgage purposes where a lender asks for an engineer’s opinion.
What a structural survey is not
Our assessment focuses on the structure. It is not a replacement for a RICS Home Survey, which covers the wider condition of a property. The two work well together. Not sure which you need? Read structural survey or structural appraisal.
We cover Peterborough, Cambridgeshire and the East of England from our Peterborough office, and Greater London, Hertfordshire and the South East from London. Tell us what you have noticed.