It is important for any building to have a suitable damp proof course (dpc) at the base of the main walls. This should ideally be place 150mm above external ground levels. Where a dpc is deemed to be ineffective this may result in a specialist damp company fitting a new chemical dpc which is inserted by way of drill holes as shown in the photographs. However, in many cases the new dpc’s are fitted at ridiculous heights and it is questionable if they will be of any use. The example shown will be of no use. These photos were taken in Reigate, Surrey.

For more on our services and how we can help, do not hesitate to get in touch with us today. Call us on 01737 245947 or use the form on this page to get a free quotation.

We have recently inspected a property in Reigate, a wing of a large Victorian mansion. When inspecting in the cellar and shining a torch through into the underfloor void areas, we noted old heating pipes which clearly have the remains of asbestos on them. Therefore, there will be a considerable amount of decontamination work to be undertaken over and above the removal of the asbestos. Asbestos will have fallen onto the soil beneath the floor and opening up and removal of brickwork will be required. All asbestos will need to be removed in accordance with Health & Safety Legislation by a specialist company.

Apart from applied asbestos to pipes, we noted damaged asbestos sheeting board which had been used as a fire resistant board above a boiler. Within the cellar we noted an old tin which contained a powder to be mixed with water to allow screws to be fixed into walls – the forerunner of rawl plugs. This box was not opened as we are aware that these old products contain asbestos and this tin would need to be carefully disposed of by a specialist company, or taken to a licensed tip because of the hazardous material contained within. We do still tend to find asbestos in residential buildings on a regular basis, so Surveys and inspections are strongly advised. Even if no asbestos is noted, care should always be taken on opening up as it may be in concealed areas.

At Brian Gale we have over 25 years’ experience providing Full Building Surveys and Property Valuations as well as a full range of surveying services. Call us today on 01737 245947 or fill out our contact form for a free quote.

Shrinkage cracking is very common defect. During a recent Market Valuation in Croydon, cracking was noted to the side wall of the garage. Movement is not always the result of ground movement or failure of the foundations. The cracks shown are from shrinkage and are of not of structural significance.

Brian Gale Surveyors are experts at finding and identifying a number of residential property issues when carrying out surveys and other services. Get in touch with us today for a free quote and to see how we can help.

Structural issues and dampness can be caused by overgrown vegetation on the side of buildings. This was evident whilst we undertook a Full Building Survey recently in Wallington, SM6. It is always advisable to make sure that especially roofs, gutters, down pipes and chimneys are kept clear to reduce the risk of damage to the property.

With over 25 years’s experience carrying out Full Building Surveys and other surveying services, you can count on Brian Gale Surveyors to provide a friendly and professional service. Contact us today for a free quote and to see how we can help.

The increased use of Solar Panels is becoming more and more evident. A Structural Survey may be required to make sure that the added weight of the Solar Panels is not causing any damage to the roof structure or roof coverings.  The photograph above was taken in Tooting, SW17.

If you are looking for a Structural Survey or another property surveying service, do not hesitate to get in touch with us today. Call us on 01737 245947 or fill out the contact form on this page for a free quote. A member of our friendly team will be in touch with you as soon as possible.

During a recent Limited Building Survey on a property in Capel we found evidence of the lead flashing to a chimney breast having been chewed by vermin – squirrels or rats. Although vermin usually chew through rotten soffits, lifted or slipped tiles and damaged eaves, they can often chew through leadwork in order to gain access into a roof void where they will then nest. Once vermin have infested the roof space they can then cause further damage by gnawing through electrical cables and timbers. It is important to note that rainwater will now penetrate into the roof space which could cause further damage internally and the lead flashing may lift further in high winds. It is therefore, extremely important that the correct pest control measures are taken, especially to properties which are in rural areas as this can prove more cost effective than expensive leadwork repairs.

Over the last couple of weeks we have inspected properties and undertaken Defect Analysis Report to properties where due to detective rainwater goods blocked hoppers and downpipes together with defective parapets a considerable amount of water is penetrating into buildings resulting in us discovering both wet and dry rot.

Rainwater goods require regular checking as if they leak this will allow water to saturate through the walls, vegetation growth and also rot effecting joinery, plaster and causing major disruption to property when stripping out needs to be undertaken. With any property regular and ongoing maintenance inspections should always be undertaken, both residential and commercial.

Many properties still have the older style cotton cased / covered glass fibre pipe insulation. We have noted on a number of occasions that when the pipework was originally installed, plumbers in the 1950’s and 60’s and up to the early 70’s sometimes used asbestos to conceal insulation ends and provide a joint where the cotton cased insulation meets. When carrying out a Full Building Survey on a property in Chilham near Canterbury, Kent noted asbestos to the pipe casings within the roof void.

This asbestos based product is a severe health hazard and in order to rectify the problem a specialist asbestos removal company will need to strip out all pipework from the roof void before any other work can be carried out to the property.

At times when surveying, it is very difficult to inspect all areas where plumbing is concealed but occasionally it is possible to remove a bath panel. We recently inspected a property in Worplesdon near Guildford in order to carry out a Full Building Survey. The house had been converted and finished over 12 months ago but the en-suite bathroom had never been used. The standard of plumbing installation was untidy and was a disaster waiting to happen as the waste pipes had not been connected and the first person to use the bathroom would have flooded the floors and caused damage to the accommodation beneath.

In this survey recommendation was made for a plumber to check every pipe in the property before any of the plumbing was used.

Japanese Knotweed is a very invasive species of plant and spreads extremely quickly.  Via its roots / rhizomes Japanese Knotweed can cause damage to buildings, foundations, concrete and tarmac.

Landowners are not legally obliged to remove Japanese Knotweed unless it is causing a nuisance to neighbouring property however it is an offence to plant or to cause Japanese Knotweed to grow in the wild.  Interestingly, we noted a recent BBC News article that highlighted the fact that “People who fail to control the spread of invasive non-native plants such as Japanese Knotweed could be fined or receive anti-social behaviour orders (Asbos), the government says”. Should the new rules become effective, it would mean that people could face fines of up to £2,500 for failing to control Japanese Knotweed and businesses who do not comply could face fines of up to £20,000.

Japanese Knotweed has a stem which is bamboo-like in appearance and it produces white flowers in September / October.  It can grow by up to 10cm per day and reach heights of over 3m.

Whilst carrying out a Valuation of a flat in Wimbledon recently, Japense Knotweed was noted near to the boundary of the property.

We would always recommend that the eradication of Japanese Knotweed is undertaken by a specialist company who provides a warranty. All parts of the plants and any soil contaminated with it are classed as Controlled Waste and if it is to be removed, this can only be undertaken with a Registered Waste carrier.  Removal takes time and persistence is required to prevent it from coming back.  The stems and rhizomes are resistant to many weed killers and it needs to be treated with a Glyphosphate – “The most effective method of eradicating it is by using herbicides in the late summer or autumn, when it is close to its flowering stage.”

It is also worthwhile to note that some Mortgage Companies / Lenders will not advance mortgage monies against a property if there is evidence of Japanese Knotweed unless it is eradicated / a programme of eradication has been put in place.

The BBC News article can be found by clicking on the below link:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-30110858

Here at Brian Gale Surveyors we inspect gardens and adjacent areas within a reasonable distance from the building which we are surveying in order to alert our Clients of potential liabilities that may arise due to the presence of Japanese Knotweed.