Structural condition surveys
Cracks appearing? Doors sticking? Signs of settlement? One of our structural engineers will visit your home, assess the likely cause, and give you a clear written report, with recommendations for any remedial work needed.
Most cracks are harmless, but some aren't, and living with the uncertainty is stressful. A structural condition survey replaces worry with facts: a qualified engineer looks at the defect, works out what is likely causing it, and tells you plainly whether it matters and what to do about it. No alarmism, and no repair work sold on the back of it.
- Cracks in internal or external walls: especially if new, widening or stepped through brickwork
- Signs of settlement or subsidence: sloping floors, gaps at skirtings, cracking near foundations
- Doors and windows that have started sticking or no longer fit their frames
- Bulging or leaning walls, sagging floors or roof lines
- Movement noticed after nearby building work, tree removal or drainage problems
- A site visit and inspection by a structural engineer, not a salesperson
- An assessment of the likely cause of the defect
- A written report summarising the findings in plain English
- Clear recommendations for any remedial work, or confirmation that none is needed
Three simple steps
Site visit
A structural engineer visits your home at a time that suits you and inspects the defect and the surrounding structure, inside and out.
Assessment
We identify the likely cause, settlement, thermal movement, failed lintels, drainage, alterations or something else, and judge how significant it is.
Report & recommendations
You receive a written report summarising the findings, with clear recommendations for any remedial works, and, if repairs need designing, we can take that on as a follow-on stage with our in-house structural team.
A plain-English report you can act on, share with your builder, or simply file for peace of mind.
Frequently asked
Are cracks in my walls serious?
Often not: many cracks are cosmetic, caused by normal seasonal movement or shrinkage in plaster and mortar. But some patterns do matter: cracks that are widening, stepped cracking in brickwork, cracks around openings, or cracking alongside sticking doors and sloping floors. A structural engineer can tell the difference, which is exactly what the survey is for.
What does the survey involve?
A structural engineer visits your home and inspects the defect and the areas around it, inside and out. We assess the likely cause, then set out our findings and recommendations in a clear written report. If the cause cannot be confirmed from a visual inspection, we say so plainly and recommend monitoring or further investigation rather than guessing.
What happens after the report?
The report gives you clear recommendations for any remedial work needed. Because our structural engineers and architectural designers are in the same office, we can also design the repair, calculations and drawings a builder can price and work from, as a follow-on stage if you want it. Many surveys conclude that no structural work is needed at all.
Which areas do you cover?
Structural condition surveys are carried out by our engineers across the North East: County Durham, Newcastle and Tyneside, Sunderland and Wearside, Darlington and Teesside.
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Worried about a crack or movement in your home?
Tell us what you've noticed and where you are, we'll let you know whether a survey is the right step and arrange a visit from one of our engineers.