What to expect during a Structural Survey
A Structural Survey is vital to home ownership and purchasing in some circumstances. They’ll find all sorts of issues that other surveys might not pick up on.
A structural survey involves an inspection for common problems with a particular focus on a building’s structural integrity.
A chartered surveyor conducts one after the homeowner or buyer contacts them.
Here’s what to expect from your surveyor and survey.
RICS Structural Survey overview
So, you’re considering getting a RICS Structural Survey for your home?
A Structural Survey (or Building Survey) is a framework for a residential survey set out by RICS. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors is the UK’s governing body in this field.
Recently, the guidelines were updated, ensuring RICS’s services were clearer to customers, clients and other stakeholders. As a result, we now refer to the Structural Survey as a Home Survey Level 3.
There are two levels below it: a Home Survey Level 2 (formerly known as a Homebuyer Survey) and a Home Survey Level 1 (which isn’t much different from a standard RICS Valuation).
A Structural Survey can be for any home. If you suspect your property may suffer from a structural issue (such as subsidence), get one instructed. The sooner you do this, the better, as problems are much easier (and cheaper) to handle when caught early.
If you own or hope to buy any of the following, we recommend a Structural Survey (Level 3) over any of the lower inspections.
- Historic property
- Old stone cottages
- Barn conversions
- Homes with significant extensions
- Evidence of questionable DIY work in your viewing
- Walls (or lack thereof) that don’t match the plans
- If you’re in a mining area
What areas and systems does a Structural Survey cover?
A Structural Survey covers anything structurally integral in the home. In short, you might narrow this down to the foundation, external walls, supporting walls, floors/ceilings and roof.
As well as everything included in a Home Survey Level 2, a Structural Survey hones in on the structural strength and integrity of the building.
Here are a few things they might pick up on:
- Subsidence – when the ground underneath the property shifts or sinks, causing it to drop slightly and putting unnecessary strain on the joints and walls. This often presents itself in cracks through the brickworkand/or plasterboard.
- Wet rot or dry rot – rot is technically fungal growth. As it grows, it consumes the moisture and cellulose within the timbers. This weakens the structure and, given a few years, could be extremely dangerous to the occupants. You might find rot in roof trusses, floor joists or anything wooden and exposed to water.
- Woodworm – this form of beetle larvae is born and grows in timbers. They burrow through it, creating narrow channels a few millimetres across. In severe cases, they’ll undermine the structural integrity of the wood. Woodworm is particularly dangerous in roofs and floors and is likely to spread.
The Structural Survey will also highlight how much of a risk each problem is. Most issues are manageable with a little investment (either from you or the current owner if you’re buying).
How long does a RICS Structural Survey take?
Unfortunately, there’s no clear-cut answer here. It depends. On average, we’d expect to spend three to five hours at a property while conducting a Structural Survey.
A few factors affect how long a Structural Survey takes:
- The size of the home– the greater the square footage, the more there is to check.
- The condition – the worse the state, the more the surveyor will have to note down and analyse.
- How easy some areas are to access – for example, the loft is sometimes packed full of old boxes, slowing the inspection speed.
Once the inspection is completed, you should receive your report within two weeks. This gives the chartered surveyor plenty of time to write up their findings, analyse the risk, and (if applicable) source repair cost quotes.
Ask us about a Structural Survey
GB Home Surveys regularly conducts Structural Surveys on behalf of our clients. We know the importance of locating any issues as soon as possible.
If you suspect you might have a structural issue, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re always happy to offer our advice, and we’ll never sell you something you don’t need.
Our local offices are in the South-West, South Wales, and the West Midlands. We can’t wait to hear from you.
