Consider having a survey done on the property if you are buying a home and have some worries about the structure’s health because you have noticed a strange-looking crack or what appears to be a wet spot on the ceiling. This is an excellent chance to have an experienced licensed surveyor make sure there are no problems that might come back to bite you later. Even though you might be concerned about a particular matter, there’s a good chance the licensed surveyor will find something that neither you nor the homeowner knew about. These are a few of the most typical problems that are discovered when inspecting a home.
Damp:
One of the most frequent flaws that licensed surveyors discover is dampness, which can appear in a variety of ways, including condensation in places with inadequate ventilation, rising dampness up the walls, or penetrating dampness from a leak or structural problem. If the flaw is left untreated, the effects of various types of moisture in your home can range from mould growth and an unpleasant stench to expensive structural problems. Fortunately, if dampness has been detected in your home, there are several ways to address it. Dehumidifiers and ventilation can assist with condensation problems, and keeping your home’s temperature at a steady low or medium level can also stop dampness from developing.
A damp-proof course, which is a material put into the wall with a membrane that prevents the water from climbing up through your walls, may need to be placed if you have rising dampness. If the damp problem is caused by a leaky pipe or a fracture in your roof, you might need to hire a certified expert to thoroughly inspect and repair the issue.
Woodworm Infestations:
A very common issue found in properties is an infestation of woodworm beetles, which lay eggs An infestation of woodworm beetles, which deposit their eggs in timber and burrow there to feed on the cellulose in the woodwork, is a very common problem observed in properties. Little holes in the woodwork that are bordered by fine dust, or “frass,” that the beetle leaves behind during its burrowing are indicative of an infestation. Your flooring, skirting, or any other wooden component of your house could sustain damage from this flaw, which could be expensive to fix and spread throughout the entire house, resulting in serious harm. Fortunately, most infestations are treatable by a trained specialist using a method that will eradicate the existing infestation and stop any further recurrences.
Roof Defects:
Roof problems identified by a survey can range from minor problems such as a few broken or missing tiles or a damaged gutter to more serious problems that may need replacing the entire roof. If your roof problem is not fixed, it may result in larger structural problems or penetrating dampness, depending on how serious it is. The cost of fixing the problem and the kind of expertise needed varies based on how serious it is, but bear in mind that fixing the problem now could end up being considerably less expensive than dealing with the fallout later on.
Defective Pointing:
Another frequent problem discovered during a survey is a failure of the pointing on the external walls, particularly on older structures. Inadequate pointing can result in both “spalling,” or flaking or cracking of the brickwork and damp problems in your house. This is frequently brought on by moisture seeping into the bricks, which expands as the temperature drops quickly and damages the brick. Enhancing the drainage around the walls and making sure there are no leaks allowing rainwater to seep into the brickwork will stop this. Brickwork may require repointing if the damage is not too severe, but complete brick replacement may be necessary if the damage is more substantial.
Poor Quality of Service:
Lastly, the licensed surveyor will inspect the portions of the gas/oil, water, heating, drainage, and other utilities that are visible to them during the survey. While some aspects of these services might not be visible at the time, the licensed surveyor will look for flaws whenever they can to make sure everything is in functioning order and there’s no chance of damage or legal issues. To make sure there are no flaws, a licensed surveyor would probably advise consulting with an expert. If neglected, defective drainage systems or boilers might result in significant expenses for homeowners in the future. Problems with services typically need to be fixed by a licensed surveyor, like an electrician or plumber.
After these issues have been pointed out, then it is time to take quick action. The licensed surveyor will even talk about the solution, hence the time for further research is saved. Time and effort are the next to invest in. After all, the home is an investment and no one would like to witness its perishing, especially when steps could have been taken to save the structure.
Australian Business Network 