A Building Survey is an inspection and examination of a commercial building and services in enough depth so as to allow a qualified surveyor to suggest what effect the state of the building will have on a potential customer/holder. Building Surveys are carried out by private companies who can be hired to undertake surveys on your behalf, or by government bodies like councils and housing inspectors. You will need to provide the addresses of the building and whether or not a building survey is compulsory before any work can begin. There are different types of Building Surveys and you will need to choose one for yourself. A Building Survey Manchester company such as Sam Conveyancing can help advise you on the best survey for your individual needs.
The main types of Building Surveys are: Pre-combination, Non-combination, Voids and Opacity surveys. In a pre-combination building survey the surveyors take the roof and looking down from the ground, they identify any gaps in the roof. If there are any penetrations or cracks, they are noted on the drawing so that if further work is required before they can be identified. If the roof needs fixing they will report this to the owner and arrange it.
In a non-combination building survey the surveyors examine the structure from all angles and from the top to the bottom, looking to identify any defects or signs of distress. If a defect exists, they will record it on the drawing so that when repairs are needed they can identify them and work accordingly. The main difference between a non-combination property survey and a combination survey is that non-combination surveys are usually more detailed, taking longer and covering a larger area. This makes repairs far easier to carry out and also means that defects can be detected and rectified more easily, reducing the cost of repairing the defects.
A common issue with building surveys is the identification of minor defects. One of the reasons for this is that the surveyor may not have the necessary experience or qualifications to pick up these signs. For example, if a drainage hole has been cut through the roof then this will be picked up by a less experienced surveyor. Sometimes buildings just settle down and do not deteriorate until a period known as ‘settling’ occurs. If a building survey identifies such issues before they start to deteriorate then they can make recommendations about how best to deal with them.
As well as noticing any damage to the building from the ground the surveyors also need to know about any alterations they need to carry out to the property. For example a garden or public space can be enlarged and in turn need an inspection survey. Similarly, different types of building structures can be surveyed for ease of use, such as a supermarket or cinema.
A building survey is therefore important for a variety of reasons. Firstly it can indicate to the surveyor whether any part of a building is in a poor condition or not. Secondly it can identify what the cost implications are for improving a part of a building. Thirdly it can identify different types of buildings and how those buildings might benefit from alterations.
