BUILDING - SURVEY ORDER (INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR)

Exterior

Estate and garden:

* Location and establishment of boundaries
* Fences, gates and hedges - material, condition and suitability
* Trees - type and height, proximity to building
* Pathways and drives - material and condition
* Outbuildings - garages, sheds, greenhouses, barns, etc.
* Proximity of water courses

Roof:

* Tile type, treatment at ridge, hips, verge and valleys
* Age of covering, repairs, replacements, renewals, general condition, defects and growths
* Eaves finish, type and condition
* Gutters - material, size, condition, evidence of leakage
* Rainwater downpipes as above
* Chimney - dpcs, flashings, flaunching, pointing, signs of movement
* Flat roofs - materials, repairs, abutments, flashings and drainage

Walls:

* Materials - type of brick, rendering, cladding, etc., condition and evidence of repairs
* Solid or cavity construction, if cavity extent of insulation and type
* Pointing of masonry, painting of rendering and cladding
* Air brick location, function and suitability
* Dpc, material and condition, position relative to ground level
* Windows and doors, material, signs of rot or damage, original or replacement, frame seal
* Settlement - signs of cracking, distortion of window and door frames - specialist report

Drainage:

Abuilding surveyormay provide a general report on the condition of the drainage and sanitation installation. However, a full test for leakage and determination of self-cleansing and flow conditions to include fibre-optic scope examination is undertaken as a specialist survey.

Interior

Roof space:

* Access to all parts, construction type - traditional or trussed
* Evidence of moisture due to condensation - ventilation at eaves, ridge, etc.
* Evidence of water penetration - chimney flashings, abutments and valleys
* Insulation - type and quantity
* Party wall in semi-detached and terraced dwellings - suitability as fire barrier
* Plumbing - adequacy of storage cistern, insulation, overflow function

Floors:

* Construction - timber, pre-cast or cast in-situ concrete? Finish condition?
* Timber ground floor - evidence of dampness, rot, woodworm, ventilation, dpcs
* Timber upper floor stability, ie. wall fixing, strutting, joist size, woodworm, span and loading Stairs:
* Type of construction and method of fixing - built in-situ or preformed
* Soffit, re. fire protection (plasterboard?)
* Balustrading - suitability and stability
* Safety - adequate screening, balusters, handrail, pitch angle, open tread, tread wear

Finishes:

* General de ' cor, i.e. paint and wallpaper condition - damaged, faded
* Woodwork/joinery - condition, defects, damage, paintwork
* Plaster - ceiling (plasterboard or lath and plaster?) - condition and stability
* Plaster - walls - render and plaster or plasterboard, damage and quality of finish
* Staining - plumbing leaks (ceiling), moisture penetration (wall openings), rising damp
* Fittings and ironmongery - adequacy and function, weather exclusion and security