Our RICS Chartered Surveyors inspect a wide variety of residential properties in and around Bath. There is a plethora of listed and premium properties in the city, which require inspection by a surveyor experienced in solid masonry and other traditional construction techniques. Modern properties can harbour different issues, from substandard build quality to amateur renovations and substandard retrofit.
Bath is a beautiful and varied city, and a pleasure to survey. Here our some of our recent Level 3 Building Survey highlights.
This semi-detached three-storey house, with three bedrooms, that was constructed in the early nineteenth century, using solid ashlar stonework and painted render finishes. As with many properties dating from this period, it had a small basement.
Given the height of the property, our Bath surveyor, Philip Holman MRICS, used a drone to thoroughly assess the roof and chimney stacks. This allowed him to get a close look at the condition and structural integrity of the high-level elements.
We later surveyed a similar property, built in the same period but larger and Grade II listed. This impressive property was a mid-terrace house on five levels, with five bedrooms.
This house retained its beautiful, original sash windows. These can be maintained by regular easing, adjusting and regular redecoration. Original fireplaces were also retained, although not recently in use. In such cases, we always recommend that the chimney flue is swept and inspected before recommissioning the fireplace.
In contrast, these two properties were 1960s builds, consisting of cavity masonry with a combination of reconstituted stone effect concrete blockwork and PVCu cladding finishes externally. Surveying these types of property, we are on the lookout for retrospective cavity wall insulation and hazardous materials such as asbestos and wood wool slab. We will also be assessing wear and tear on the roof and rainwater goods, which can lead to damp internally. The condition of elements such as windows is also key, because they may be coming to the end of their serviceable life if they haven’t already been replaced.
This last example was a detached two-storey house with four bedrooms, built using a combination of solid and cavity masonry with a combination of rubble stonework and painted render finishes externally.
The original part of the property was believed to date to the early 19th century. The property has been significantly extended and altered in subsequent years – in such cases, our Bath surveyors are looking at the quality of the works, compliance with building regulations and the introduction of any hazardous materials such as asbestos.
As with many rural properties, this one had a septic tank. We advised the client on current legislation and appropriate investigations and actions that would be required.
Allcott Associates is RICS regulated, with experienced in-house chartered surveyors and structural engineers. If you would like to find out more about our Level 3 surveying services, call our friendly team, or get an instant online quote.