Most appropriate professional?

Jhoney_2

My relative has some brickwork bowing to an area of the rear upstairs wall. In the full structural survey she had before buying (several years ago), it says:-

'this is the 'normal and classic sign of slow deterioration due to prevailing wind and rainfall acting on the original lime hair mortar and London brickwork causing expansion and gradual horizontal movement of the brickwork in an outward direction. This bowing will continue over time and require this panel approx 12sm2 to be rebuilt at some stage. I estimate that it will be fine for at least the next 5-7 years, but needs to be checked annually for any untoward forward movement'

There are no subsidence or roof issues noted.

She is happy to do the work - presumably it is not covered by the buildings insurance?, but has not had the best experience of tradesmen on the whole.

Her intention was to extend, so it would have been knocked down at that point anyway hence the delay.

Who should she get in to see how things stand several years on? Building surveyor, residential surveyor or other?

The idea then, is to employ someone to do whatever comes out of that report as the extension is currently on hold.

Any information welcome,

Thanks

Jhoney_2

:wave::idea:

Bump

dimbo61

You know the brickwork is bowing out and more damage is happening due to water getting into the old mortar and blowing the bricks.
Can you ask family and friends if they know a good builder !
Get some quotes and if possible check and see work they have already done.

Jhoney_2

Thanks Dimbo61,

Not sure how much change has occurred in the intervening years, so someone neutral who can say confidently that x is happening and you now need e.g 24sqm2 replaced would reassure her prior to engaging a builder, I think.


None else to ask unfortunately and she is a bit reluctant to go via recommendation/builder until 'someone else' has looked at it.

xylophone

She could obtain a fresh structural survey and ask the surveyor to recommend what action needs to be taken - he might be in a position to suggest some local builders from whom she could obtain quotes?

Jhoney_2

Thanks xylophone. Those were my thoughts too.

So a full structural survey by whom? a building surveyor or the usual type of residential surveyor?

That's what I don't understand, but want to get a clear idea and pass on as many facts as much as I can. She will then by able to interact with more confidence.

Jhoney_2

Is there somewhere central I can check a workman's liability insurance like e.g RICS or gas safe?

TIA

Doozergirl

She needs a structural engineer.

You check a tradesman's insurance by asking for proof of it. People ask us all the time. It's part of the job.

LittleMax

I would contact insurance company and see if she could make a claim on buildings insurance.

G_M

Jhoney wrote: »

So a full structural survey by whom? a building surveyor or the usual type of residential surveyor?

.

a) no idea what you mean by 'building' Vs 'residential' surveyor. You are talking about an RICS surveyor

b) 'full structural survey'? Why? It is only that particular wall that needs assessing. Get a quote just for assessing that wall.

c) Might do better to get a structural engineer though.

Ring a coupe of surveyors & couple of engineers, explain your requirements, and ask a) what they can offer to do and b) at what price.

Jhoney_2

Doozergirl wrote: »

She needs a structural engineer.

You check a tradesman's insurance by asking for proof of it. People ask us all the time. It's part of the job.

So confusing. When I went onto the RICS website, they asked for a postcode obviously and also what type of surveyor and there was a drop down list and lots of different types? Structural, building, residential etc etc.

In the end, I suggested she get 3 builder's quotes and I would try to find out more on the surveyor side...

That's how things stand currently.

The one quote in so far has said he has full liability insurance so I will tell her to ask to see it. Seems self employed - nothing wrong with that - and address on the quote is a house (I googled it).

She said he seems ok and that his quote £1400 ish includes scaffold tower, aquasomething or other props for the window he needs to work around, lime mortar and london stock bricks for an area the size of 1.5m width and the whole first floor bedroom to the roof.

I have no idea if it is a fair price but it's London, 2 days work and a 2 man team.