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!