Are you a structural engineer?

No. Andrew Parker AssocRICS MCIOB is a surveyor, not a structural engineer. He can assess visible structural defects and give a view on their likely cause, how serious they appear and what should happen next. Where calculations, repair design or an engineer's report is needed, we will tell you.

Is the crack in my wall serious?

Many cracks are cosmetic, caused by shrinkage or small seasonal movement, but some point to ongoing movement. The width, shape, position and age of a crack all matter. The inspection looks at these and at the likely cause, and says whether repair, monitoring or further investigation is needed.

What is crack monitoring?

Monitoring means measuring a crack at intervals, usually over several months, to find out whether it is still moving. It helps tell old, stable movement from movement that is continuing. We recommend it where a single visit cannot answer that question.

Should I book a Level 3 survey instead?

If you are buying and want to know about the whole property, a Level 3 survey covers the structure along with everything else. A specific structural inspection suits one concern, such as a crack you want explained or a question raised by a lender or an earlier survey.

Specific structural inspection

Who it's for

A specific structural inspection looks at one problem in detail. It suits:

owners worried about a crack, a door that has started to stick or a floor that has begun to slope
buyers whose survey or mortgage valuation has flagged a specific structural concern
sellers who want to understand a known issue before they put the home on the market
buyers whose lender has asked for a structural report, where the lender accepts a report from a surveyor (see below)

Typical concerns include:

cracking in walls, inside or out
signs of movement, such as distorted door and window openings or sloping floors
bulging or leaning walls
a chimney breast that has been removed
a sagging or spreading roof
sagging or cracked lintels over windows and doors

A surveyor, not a structural engineer

The inspection is carried out by Andrew Parker AssocRICS MCIOB, who is a surveyor, not a structural engineer. He looks at the problem and the parts of the building around it, and gives you a view on the likely cause, how serious it appears and what should happen next.

We will recommend a structural engineer where:

calculations are needed, for example to check a beam or the support for a removed chimney breast
repairs need to be designed, such as underpinning or new support to a wall or roof
movement appears significant or is continuing
your lender, insurer or building control asks for an engineer

We will recommend monitoring where a single visit cannot show whether movement has stopped. Monitoring means measuring cracks at intervals, usually over several months. We may also recommend other investigations, such as a drain survey where leaking drains could be affecting the ground, or trial holes to expose the foundations. If subsidence is suspected, you may also need to involve your buildings insurer.

Lender requests

Mortgage lenders sometimes ask for a structural report before they confirm an offer. Check the wording. Some lenders accept a report from a surveyor; others ask specifically for a structural engineer. Send us the wording before you book and we will tell you whether our report is suitable. If the lender needs an engineer, you can instruct one directly and avoid paying for two reports.

Common concerns

Cracking and movement. Many cracks are cosmetic, caused by shrinkage, temperature changes or small seasonal movement. Others point to movement in the foundations or the structure above. We record the position, width, shape and pattern of cracks and look for the likely cause, such as nearby trees, leaking drains, failed lintels or past alterations.

Bulging or leaning walls. A wall can bulge or lean where it is not properly tied to the floors or roof, where the roof is pushing it outwards, or where the inner and outer parts of an old solid wall are separating.

Removed chimney breasts. Where a chimney breast has been removed, the chimney above must still be properly supported. We look for signs of distress and at how the chimney is supported, as far as we can see. Ask the seller, through your solicitor, for evidence that the work was approved under the building regulations.

Sagging or spreading roofs. A roof can sag where the timbers are undersized or overloaded, for example after heavier tiles replaced the original slates, or where structural timbers have been cut or removed, sometimes during a loft conversion. A roof that spreads can push the tops of the walls outwards.

What you get

A written report on the concern, with photographs. It sets out what we saw, the likely cause, how serious it appears and what to do next, whether that is repair, monitoring, further investigation or an engineer's input.

The report is typically issued within 5 working days of the inspection, or within 2 working days with the paid express option. Once it is issued, we offer you a call to talk it through.

What it does not cover

the rest of the property. For the whole building, see our general structural inspection or our Level 3 survey
structural calculations, the design of repairs, or an engineer's certificate
opening up the structure, digging trial holes or lifting floors
confirming that past work had building regulations approval
a valuation, or a report for an insurance claim

Prices

A specific structural inspection costs from £360, including VAT. After a short call about the problem, we confirm a fixed fee before you book. Drone images can be added where flight is permitted, and a travel supplement applies beyond about 25 miles of Hemel Hempstead.