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What exactly is a Structural Survey?
Structural surveyors assess the condition of buildings and offer advice about their defects and the risks of not remedying them. Unlike the common visits undertaken for most real estate transactions, which are performed by estate agents, structural surveys are carried out by professional surveyors and are much more detailed and impartial.
Structural surveys are conducted by either licensed professional engineers or very senior building officials such as chartered building surveyors, who are regulated by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) or other accreditation bodies like the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) or Residential Property Surveyors Association (RPSA).
Professional engineers and building surveyors carry structural survey work to much more of a standardised level, which is beneficial to the public. Canterbury structural surveyors serve the public in respect of both residential and commercial properties.
Structural Surveyors in Canterbury
If you’re looking to purchase a property and want to ascertain whether it has any structural issues, you should think seriously about hiring a structural surveyor.
A residential structural survey will pinpoint any obvious structural problems present at the time of inspection. It can be performed before or after (but usually before) a property changes ownership.
The survey of the property covers its exterior and interior. It looks for defects and conditions affecting the residence’s structure. Basic structural inspections look for the presence and condition of the following:
- fundamental structural components (e.g. foundation, exterior walls, interior load-bearing walls, and roof);
- structural defects (e.g. improper framing, cracked foundation, etc.);
- safety (e.g. presence and proper egress, other safety aspects, etc.)
- serviceability (e.g. leaking plumbing, inadequate heating, etc.);
- any conditions that may require significant (and potentially expensive) repairs in the near future.
What used to be called a full structural survey is now known as a level 3 building survey, according to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. Thus, the terms Building Survey and Full Structural Survey carry the same meaning. Both types of survey provide a detailed examination of the property, but which one you get depends on the kind of property.
A Full Building Survey is what is recommended for a standard, older, larger, or dilapidated property. A Homebuyer Report is what you want as a minimum for a standard property in good condition. Once you have one of these two types of survey reports, you can use the information to negotiate on the purchase price while also knowing what repairs you will have to make.
Is a Structural Survey needed?
Absolutely. Ensure your new property is what you think it is by having a Structural Survey performed. You should contract a Building Surveyor to inspect the premises you’re about to buy. This should be done no matter what type of building you are purchasing, but it is especially critical when you’re buying a house. You will be better off with a RICS Level 2 Survey (at the very least), and the property you buy will be better maintained if you follow through with the recommendations.z
If you’re considering a purchase of an older or more expensive building that has undergone extensive modifications or if you plan on making major changes yourself, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) recommends a full building survey. The report is highly detailed and breaks the property down into its component parts. It provides thorough coverage of the property’s history, current condition, and any observed defects, along with advice about repairs and maintenance. It also gives the property a clean bill of health if it has no observed issues.
The HomeBuyer Report: an Alternative to Structural Survey
If you are purchasing a property in Canterbury that is relatively new or conventional, built around or after 1960, and constructed using common materials and methods, you might get by with an RICS HomeBuyer Report.
A CIOB, RPSA or RICS Chartered surveyor will conduct a visual examination of the property and report any problems that are found. A HomeBuyer report uses traffic light ratings (red, amber, green) to communicate the severity and urgency of issues found. A new build should always be inspected as these also carry defect.
Using a qualified/experienced building surveyor to carry out a Homebuyer Survey Level 2 or, preferably, a Full Building Survey Level 3, this will ensure that any works which are outstanding are recorded.
The latest Building Surveying Technology
What is now the most sophisticated and thorough of all condition surveys is the Full Building Survey. It provides an in-depth level of detail and using equipment that would be hard to match. The Full Building Survey is unique and includes photographs, using advanced equipment which will assess the following:
- Structural Condition of the Building
- Roof Structure
- External Walls
- Doors
- Windows
- Timber Rot
- Dampness
- Movement
- Insulation
- Condensation
- Services (drainage, gas, electricity, water, heating, etc.)
How long does it take to carry out a Building Survey?
Ordinarily 2-4 hours. This depends on several factors, prominent among them the type of property, its dimensions, and the intricate nature of any problems under consideration. For routine surveys, the “rule of thumb” is that it takes about an hour for each storey of the building. For more surveys, when there are many more things to look at, the surveyor can easily take a long day to get it done.
Do you need a drone survey conducted in Canterbury?
It is helpful to have roof inspections on residential and commercial properties, especially in a city like Canterbury that features diverse roofing types, such as pitched and flat roofs.
Thanks to modern advancements in technology, such as drone surveys and pole cameras, property owners can see their roof areas in a whole new light. Aerial images allow us to better understand the “big picture” of a roof’s condition and to focus on particular problem areas that need attention. Drones allow us to collect this type of information safely and affordably, without necessitating the dangerous work that comes with climbing up on top of a building or installing scaffolding. Your Canterbury drone roof inspection service is performed by experienced professionals.
Reaping the Rewards from the Drone Survey Report
No false insurance claims made here, as the roof survey report is a straightforward and honest appraisal of the damage to the roof and a good estimate of what it will take to repair it despite the insurance company trying to wriggle its way out of compensating you.
The roof survey serves as an excellent roadmap to planned property improvements. The report gives an indication of what planned alterations should cost. Of course, this also means that the necessary work should be done in a timely manner.
