There are several reasons why a mortgage surveyor may require you to have a specialist structural survey undertaken; if there are large trees close to the property, if the ground is known to have large salt or clay content; if neighbouring properties have had remedial structural work; or if damage is visible.

 

Cracks in masonry, and steps forming along your pointing, cause palpitations, but in many cases can be remedied. New damage noted on your property may be covered by insurance, so check your policy before instructing a contractor. If you are hoping to buy a property with structural damage, why not ask if the current owners can claim for repairs through their policy? Your mortgage provider should be happy with this as long as recognised guarantees are issued.

 

 

Stepped cracking above windows often occurs when replacement windows are fitted, only to realise several years later that the old timber frames were adding structural strength to the property, which the new lightweight frames are incapable of. Sometimes the first indication is that the top opening panels become stiff to open, as the new frame becomes compressed. This can be followed by an inverted ‘V’ on the brickwork above the frame, as the brick panel above settles downwards.

 

 

 

Lintols support the masonry above windows and doors, and can be made of timber (usually in very old buildings), steel or reinforced concrete.

 

Lintol replacement requires temporary support of the masonry whilst the damaged or inadequate lintol is removed, and then repair of the brickwork and re-pointing after the new lintol is positioned.

 

Techniques to preserve as much of the existent masonry include positioning bars (rebar, or helical wires) horizontally within the joints above the door or window. These bars, when correctly calculated by a building engineer, can be strong enough to support the masonry above, and installation is much quicker than replacement, and needs only to renew the pointing to make an ‘invisible’ repair.

 

Whichever repair is chosen, if it is important to you that the pointing mortar matches the existing, make sure your contractor knows this, to include a mortar match in with the cost of the works.

 

 

If the outside corner of the property appears to have dropped, check if there is, in the vicinity, a downpipe leading to a drain. If the drain has cracked below the ground, or a water pipe is leaking, the ‘fines’ (tiny connecting molecules in the soil) can be washed away, causing the soil to lose cohesion, and shrink. Repair of the drain or pipe will halt the progress of the soil erosion, but additional stabilisation will be needed.

 

 

Excessive drying of the soil causes shrinkage, which reduces its ability to support foundations. In this country it is generally accepted that a high level of rainwater will fall, and prolonged drought conditions affect the moisture equilibrium of our soils. Clay soil can be affected by drought more severely that larger-particled soil.

 

 

 

Trees near homes cause some worries, but in many cases an old tree has its roots so firmly entangled with the foundations that they are inseparable! Problems can arise if the tree is felled or becomes diseased. If the tree goes, the remaining roots, which can have spread for hundreds of feet, die and dry out, causing empty pockets in the soil, which drops. Supported masonry then drops too, resulting in damage ranging from small cracks to collapse.

 

Thus, great care should be taken when removing any trees near buildings; if in doubt call a tree surgeon, they will know the extent of root growth, and can advise if total removal is safe.

 

Known as underpinning to most, it brings with it images of vast amounts of digging out around the properties perimeter to expose foundations, and tonnes of concrete poured in to add stability and support. And in many cases his is the best way, and can be extremely effective.

 

But new methods are developing al of the time. One such is a driven pile which can be