THE BUILDING SURVEY
The alternative to the Home Purchase form of survey is the detailed Building Survey, formerly called the Structural Survey but in the last few years given a change of name – for a reason which escapes us. Just as the Home Purchase form of survey is deemed most suitable for the smaller, perhaps more modern type of building, so the Building Survey is deemed appropriate for the larger, older type of property. This property would probably have structural movement, timber infestation, some dampness and possibly dated or defective services. This would require detailed analysis by the Surveyor resulting in a report that is more detailed, discussive and analytical. The report is usually 15-20 pages of type, invariably with illustrative photographs bound into the document. The inspection takes a little longer as we make more detailed sketches of elevations, patterns of cracking, floor plans and roof layouts etc.
 to prevent dampness wicking up the render and by-passing the damp couse in the walling',450,350))
Taking the chimney stack description set out in the section on the Home Purchase type of survey into the Building Survey "mode", our comments would be something more like. "There is a c2m high brick chimney stack to the centre part of the main roof exhibiting no undue leaning, distortion or bulging, and no evidence of collapse. Open mortar joints require raking out and re-pointing to prevent damp penetration and further deterioration. Several decayed bricks should be replaced. The mortar flashings at the roof/stack junction should be replaced in lead to achieve a long-term watertight finish. Ideally, the redundant flues should be capped and ventilated externally at stack level and also ventilated internally at the former fireplace level to prevent damp penetration and condensation forming within the flues."
So, this survey would certainly be the better option for period houses, Listed buildings perhaps in a Conservation Area, Architect-designed modern houses perhaps of slightly unusual construction or design, or particularly large buildings.
We at McDonald & Chivers actually prefer to carry out Building Surveys on most buildings as they allow us to be more expressive, discussive and analytical, putting the defect in context and surveying "from the guts."
