Category: Business. Title: Structural Engineers in Northamptonshire.

Structural Engineers in Northamptonshire

Stephen Bacon Design Structural Engineers explain what is a Structural Survey

There is more than one type of survey which can be carried out on a house or other building. For the uninitiated it can confusing to understand all of the terminology involved.

The most common type of survey is carried out during the purchase of a house and the result of this will be a Homebuyers Report. This will be carried out by a Chartered Surveyor who will be a member of the RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors). The format of this type of survey and report will follow a prescribed format and is licensed by the RICS.

The Homebuyers report will identify any defects in a building and is essential information when negotiating the purchase of a home so that the vendor fully understands the condition of the property being purchased.

A structural survey is quite different from a Homebuyers Report. A structural survey could be commissioned for a number of different reasons, the most common being:-

A building is exhibiting signs of movement or cracking due to an unknown cause.
A building owner wishes to extend or alter a building and needs to understand which walls are load bearing.
At Stephen Bacon Design, we can carry out structural surveys to assess a building which is cracking or which is to be modified.

The reasons for a building moving or cracking can be difficult to determine but are most likely due to one of the following:-

- the effects of mining
- the action of tree roots where the building is built on clay soils
- leaking drains

If a building is to be modified, Stephen Bacon Design can survey load paths through the building and advise a building owner what can and cannot be achieved to realise their dream without the roof literally falling in on their heads!

Date written: Monday 6th of August 2012 05:27:52 PM

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