Independent survey of cracked wall - who and cost?

kenville

Hi

We have some cracked bricks (zig-zag through the mortar, not through the bricks themselves) in a couple of areas of our house - one by the door and another round the side near the corner. We're an end terrace house.

Is this the sort of thing that is wise to get a surveyor to look at first of all to diagnose the problem rather than getting a tradesman who has a vested interest in doing the work?

It could be something minor or more serious. A neighbouring garden has trees close to our house and we're on shrinkable clay. So just looking for answer on most likely cause of the problem.

How much would a surveyor cost for this sort of thing?

stator

Yes, get a RICS registered surveyor to do a specific structural survey. Should cost a bit less than £500. Or you can get a full building survey for £500-£800 if you want a complete report on the condition of your house, they might pick up other issues that you haven't spotted.

kenville

Thanks Stator.

£500 seems a lot. I paid about £500 for the HomeBuyers report when i bought the house years ago and I don't think we need something that extensive? Is this not something someone can look at to form a view on without going into extensive detail of a full HB report?

MisterBaxter

I would personally go with someone who specialises as a structural engineer rather than a general RICS building surveyor, something is moving somewhere an a structural engineer will be able to diagnose the fault and recommend solutions.

I would have thought no more than £200 for an initial survey but don't be surprised if they recommend monitoring over a period of time and expect to pay each time they visit to check the monitoring studs/tags. It will depend on what they think is the cause of the cracking. Something as simple as lintles will be easy to pick up and wouldn't need monitoring, ground movement is something different and often does need monitoring over a period to measure the impact of changing moisture content in the ground.

kenville

Thanks MisterBaxter

Furts

kenville wrote: »

Thanks Stator.

£500 seems a lot. I paid about £500 for the HomeBuyers report when i bought the house years ago and I don't think we need something that extensive? Is this not something someone can look at to form a view on without going into extensive detail of a full HB report?

A Homebuyers report covers nothing particularly specialised nor requires much expertise. As an example, a neighbouring home has just had one produced- there would be more common sense in a trained monkey than in the gentleman who came to write the report.

I had a report written on an issue - this was £400 to visit the home and do an investigation on just one item. So £500 mentioned here sounds right to me.

stator

If you contact a structural engineer they will call it a "Specific structural report" or similar and it will cost about £300 - £500 depending on area and experience of surveyor. It will only cover the problem that you ask them to investigate.

Twiggy_34

I've got some property queries I would like guidance on and have found an online Ask A Surveyor company which says it provides feedback from a chartered surveyor who is a member of RICS. NB: this is not a recommendation, as I've yet to receive a response to my own query, so much as a suggestion that there may be an alternative to help you decide what route to pursue.

It may not be appropriate but basically this company promises to advise you based on information and photographs you provide relevant to the problem. If they aren't able to provide you with an answer, they say they will not charge, but if they do provide you with an answer the fee is £40.

It's too late for me as I've already submitted my query, but if anyone else has any insight to this company it would be good to know!

MisterBaxter

Twiggy_34 wrote: »

I've got some property queries I would like guidance on and have found an online Ask A Surveyor company which says it provides feedback from a chartered surveyor who is a member of RICS. NB: this is not a recommendation, as I've yet to receive a response to my own query, so much as a suggestion that there may be an alternative to help you decide what route to pursue.

It may not be appropriate but basically this company promises to advise you based on information and photographs you provide relevant to the problem. If they aren't able to provide you with an answer, they say they will not charge, but if they do provide you with an answer the fee is £40.

It's too late for me as I've already submitted my query, but if anyone else has any insight to this company it would be good to know!

I'm not sure I'd put much faith in advice given by someone who hasn't even seen the property. I can't believe that the RICS would support this sort of service or that any advice given would be covered by professional indemnity insurance. Photographs won't necessarily provide information on the underlying issues or potential causes. Surveyors when they visit will look at the symptom and then seek the cause; the links may not be obvious.