Many of our London streets are characterised by terraces of Victorian houses featuring bay windows. Whilst inspecting these properties, we will often find defects to the bay structures. As such, we thought it may be useful to share a few of the more common issues identified, some possible causes and ideas on how to prevent these from occurring (where possible).

As we launch our new service, we have been considering how often we let small issues go unnoticed in our homes. Perhaps a stained area of brickwork, a bit of plant growth, an area of tired decorations, a slightly leaky gutter only observed in heavy rainfall but ignored during the drier months… we don’t necessarily think of the potential larger issues which may result from leaving maintenance to a later time.

During the colder months of the year and with rising energy prices, we all seek to eliminate draughts for home comfort and to reduce expenses. It is, however, also important to consider the ventilation of your property during this time.

Most of the properties in our part of London are over 100 years old. Older properties are at greater risk of damp penetration and damage during the colder and wetter winter months. You may notice as the seasons change that there is an increase in condensation internally, dark patches to external walls and signs of damage to brickwork, which can, in turn, lead to internal damage to decorations and damage to the timber structures of these types of building.

Calsurv completed just under 400 surveys last year! And over the last few years, we have been lucky enough to inspect a range of property types and constructions. We have enjoyed surveying everything from Victorian terraces to pre-fabricated structures, concrete framed buildings and commercial premises. On our travels, we have seen some excellent practice and we thought that it was about time to share some of what we’ve observed. Read on to learn more about what we like and how investment in property detailing, may just pay off later down the line…

At Calsurv, we often receive calls from potential purchasers asking to talk through the findings of a recent building survey that they have had carried out. We thought it would, therefore, be useful to put together a guide for how to tackle any issues that might come up as a result of a building survey. In this blog, read about the most common defects and how to remedy them…

For a business owner, taking on a commercial property can be the start of an exciting new chapter, or perhaps an opportunity for expansion. Finding the right premises is the first step, the next is ensuring that you mitigate the risks associated with entering a new commercial lease. Read on to find out how to overcome any obstacles you may encounter and enjoy this exciting new chapter…

Often branded as a more cost-effective, less disruptive way to add space to a home and with moving costs so high, many are turning to loft conversions in the hunt for that extra bedroom or two. With some estimating that loft conversions can add up to 30% to the value of a home they certainly can provide an attractive return on investment. Below is a how-to guide to carry out a converstion of your own, considering important elements such as building regulations, planning, party wall matters, the design and some other top tips we have picked up along the way…

One of the most commonly asked questions when clients are completing works is how much they should budget for a party wall award, and if one is really needed. The simple answer is this: if you are carrying out works to a shared, party wall, then you are legally obliged to serve notice on your neighbour. Notice is also required to be served if excavations are taking place within 3m or 6m (depending on the depth of the new foundations) of the neighbouring property.

Following requests from clients, we have put together a simple, back to basics guide to building jargon. Hopefully, the below will help you differentiate your Building Control from Planning Permission and Permitted Development from Lawful Development…

Over the years, we have picked up a few top tips from clients and professionals on how to save the pounds here and there. We thought it would be useful to share our Top 10 ideas here: