Thatch and chimneys
When carrying out a Level 3 Building Survey at a Listed thatched house in Chardstock our surveyor was concerned about the height of the chimney in relation to the thatch. The top of the chimney pot must be at least…
Japanese Knotweed claims up
It is reported by Environet UK that legal claims against vendors over Japanese Knotweed have risen sharply over the last year, due in part to buyers and sellers rushing transactions to win stamp duty holiday savings. Environet UK says there…
Thatched roofs under threat
In the next 20 years thatched roofs in rural England could disappear, Historic England warned recently. Traditional thatching material is a straw made from long-stemmed winter wheat grown in the UK but harvests in 2019 and 2020 were poor, creating…
When does a leaning chimney become a problem?
Our surveyor was called out to look at a chimney on a house that is part of a row of old coastguard cottages in Dorset. The chimney was leaning which was causing concern to the owner but was it a…
The rush to buy a new home in the country
Ever since Lockdown 1 was eased in June 2020 there has been a mad rush to leave the City and buy into the rural idyl of the South West, but will this last or will it all come crashing down…
Room hanging in mid-air!
On a recent Level 3 Building Survey in Lyme Regis the surveyor discovered that the bathroom was suspended over the river at the back of the building! He said “The external main walling to the rear extension comprises timber clad…
Condensation in the roof void
Now that winter is here and temperatures are dropping, it is important to check your roof void for condensation. On a recent home survey at a relatively modern semi-detached house our surveyor found evidence of condensation to the underside of…
Could dogs be the future of Japanese knotweed detection?
The RFA who specialises in security, explosive detection and search dog training has successfully trained two dogs that can detect Japanese knotweed. These dogs have been provided to a UK company that specialises in the detection of Japanese knotweed and…
Finlock Gutters
Finlock gutters were commonly used during the 1960s and are very much of their time and in most cases are now past their time as well. The gutter system was intended to be a combined cavity closer, lintel and gutter…
Japanese Knotweed
Whilst doing a survey of a property in Yeovil our surveyor noted that there was an established growth of injurious weeds, in particular Japanese knotweed. Japanese knotweed has become a significant issue and in some cases affects saleability and value…