What causes cracking in walls?

Cracking occurs as a result of many things. It can simply be as a result of expansion or contraction of the building materials, in which case, it would usually be viewed as cosmetic in nature and of no structural significance. However, it can also develop due to subsidence, poor design, wall tie failure, alterations to […]

Wall ties, are small steel links between the inner and outer leaves in a cavity wall. They provide strength to the wall. In certain conditions, wall ties within the outer leaf brickwork, can corrode and expand. This expansion will generate regular horizontal cracking to the outer face of the wall. We are experienced in investigating […]

Radon is a colourless, odourless radioactive gas formed by the radioactive decay of small amounts of uranium that occur naturally in all rocks and soils. Every building contains radon, but the levels are usually very low. The chances of a higher level depend on the type of the ground and locality. Our structural engineers can […]

A Damp is commonly found in properties of all ages, styles and stature. Damp can be identified visually by staining and disruption to plaster finishes, salt deposits and mould growth. There are many forms of damp and associated causes, including rising damp, penetrative damp, salt contamination, plumbing leaks and condensation related damp, all of which […]

Occasionally, investigations will conclude that part or all of the foundation is inadequate to support the weight of the building. This might be due to the foundation depth, width or the poor strength of the sub-soils. Underpinning extends the depth of the affected foundation down to a suitable level, to ensure future stability. Traditionally, this […]

Wall distortions are sometimes observed to external walls of a property. A wall will occasionally appear to bulge outward. There are many causes of such distortion, including wall tie failure, foundation movement, inadequate tying of the wall back to the internal floors and walls and poor workmanship. Our experience will pin point the cause and […]

A house roof is usually an internal timber structure, clad with tiles. The structure is supported off the external walls. In certain circumstances, the timber structure will shift outwards at the top of these walls, albeit slowly. This, in turn will cause sagging of the roof slopes and the ridge of the roof. Causes of […]

It is important to know if movement to a property has ceased, or is still active. Monitoring will provide you with that reassurance, or indeed confirm that stabilising works will be required to arrest the movement. A monitoring programme will be managed by a structural engineer, and will usually involve accurate measurement of crack widths […]

Yes. If drains running close to a foundation are defective and water is escaping from the drain, then the strength of the ground supporting the foundation can be impaired. In these situations, we can arrange CCTV surveys of the drainage system to identify the location of any damage, and advise on appropriate repairs, to prevent […]

Yes. In clay soils, trees can be a significant problem to a property, especially if growing in close proximity. Trees will extract water from the clay, which in turn will cause the clay to shrink. Any foundation built on this clay would then move downward. Sudden removal of trees can have the opposite effect, causing […]