Inspection Flashcards
What is the four step process of an inspection?
- Consider personal safety – firm’s H&S procedures.
- Inspection of local area.
- External inspection
- Internal inspection
What are the three purposes of an inspection?
Valuation
Property Management
Agency
What should you consider when inspection for valuation purposes?
factors that influence value -
Location
Tenure
Construction
Defects
Current condition
Occupation details.
What should you consider when inspection for agency purposes?
factors that influence marketability:
Current condition
Repair/maintenance issues
Services
Presentation & flexibility
What should you consider when inspection for property management purposes?
policing the lease:
Lease compliance
Statutory compliance
State of building, requirement for repair/decoration
Use & details of occupier
If vacant - any maintenance, safety & security issues.
What should you note on an external inspection?
Method of construction
Repair/condition.
Car parking, access, loading arrangements.
Defects/structural movement
Site boundary
What should you note on an internal inspection?
Layout / specification
Repair and maintenance.
Defects
Services – age & condition
Stat compliance – asbestos, building regs, H&S, Equality Act 2010,fire safety.
Fixtures, fittings & improvements.
Compliance with lease obligations.
What should you note on an inspection of the local area?
Location, aspect, local facilities, public transport.
Contamination, environmental hazards, flooding etc.
Comparable evidence – local market conditions and marketing boards.
What are the four types of foundations?
Trench or strip footings
Raft
Piled
Pad
What is a trench/strip footings foundation?
Residential dwellings, for walls and closely spaced columns.
What is a raft foundation?
Slab foundation are over whole site to spread load for lightweight structures.
What is a piled foundation?
Long and slender reinforced concrete cylinders in the group to deeper strata when less good load-bearing ground conditions.
What is a pad foundation?
slab foundation under individual or groups of columns so load is spread evenly
What is a solid brick wall?
Use of headers, usually at least one brick thick. Bricklaying patterns such as Flemish bond, to tie together the layers of brick.
What is a cavity wall?
Two layers of brickwork are tied together with metal ties and may be filled with insulation. NO HEADERS USED. Cavity tray, air brick or weep holes may be used.
What is a stretcher brick?
Stretcher – laid horizontally – long side exposed.
What is a header brick?
Header – laid flat – short end exposed.
What is efflorescence?
White marks caused by hydroscopic salts in brick work. When water reacts with natural salts.
What is spalling?
Damaged brickwork where the bricks start to crumble because of freeze/thaw.
What is the institutional spec of an industrial unit?
- 8m eaves, 10% roof lights.
- Min 30kn/sq floor loading
- Steel portal frame with insulated steel
cladding walls and roof. - Full height loading doors.
- 3 phase electricity power (415 volts)
- 5-10% office space
- Mains capped off
- 40% site cover
- LED lighting.
What is an inherent defect?
A defect in design / material that has always been present.
What is a latent defect?
Fault to the property that could not have been discovered by a reasonably thorough inspection.
What is snagging?
Process of identifying and rectifying small defects, issues, or imperfections in a new build / refurb.
What are the four steps to take if a defect is identified?
- Take photographs
- Try to establish cause whilst on site
- Inform client
- Recommend advice from a building
surveyor or structural engineer.
What is subsidence?
Vertical downward movement of foundations due to loss of support beneath foundations.
What is heave?
Expansion of ground beneath building. Could be caused by tree removal.
What causes horizontal cracking?
Cavity wall tie failure in a brick wall.
What causes shrinkage cracking?
New plasterwork during drying out process.
What are settlement cracks?
Stairstep cracks can be caused by foundation movements.
What is wet damp?
Occurs when water from the outside environment enters the property through external walls, roofs, or windows.
High damp meter reading, visible fungal growth & musty smell.
What is dry rot?
Caused inside by fungal attack. Strong smell, red spores, cracking paintwork.
What is rising damp?
When moisture from the ground rises through the walls by capillary action.
Stops around 1.5m above ground level.
What are some common defects in industrial buildings?
Roof leaks around roof lights
damaged cladding panels
Cut edge corrosion (rusting on metal cladding)
Blocked valley gutters
Burst pipes
What are the 3 phases of a contamination investigation?
- Review site history with desk top study, site inspection & investigation.
- Identify nature and extent with detailed soil samples.
- Remediation report – options and monitoring standards.
What RICS guidance is there on contamination?
RICS Guidance Note: Contamination, the Environment & Sustainability, 2019 (3rd Edition).
What does the RICS Guidance Note: Contamination, the Environment & Sustainability, 2019 (3rd Edition) note?
- Polluter or landowner pays for remediation.
- Desk top study – previous use of site, local history & planning register.
- Caused by issues such as heavy metals, radon and methane gas and diesel/oil/chemical.
- Signs to look out for – evidence of chemicals, oils, oil drums, subsidence, underground tanks, bare ground.
What is Japanese Knotweed?
- Invasive plant that can damage
foundations and tarmac. - Not easy to control.
- Costly to eradicate – specialist must
remove. - Great concern to lenders.
- Purple/green hollow stemmed with
green leaves. - To be disposed of by using chemical
treatment, digging out and removing it
from site to a licensed landfill.
