Inspection COPY Flashcards
What are the purposes of inspection? What do you look for during each?
1) Valuation
- Factors impacting value = location, tenure, aspect, form of construction, defects, condition, lease terms
2) Property management
- Lease compliance, statutory compliance, requirement for repairs, tenant matches lease
If unoccupied -> need for repair, risk of vandalism, landscaping
3) Agency
- Current condition, repair, maintenance issues, presentation, marketability
Which foundations are used for Residential dwellings?
Trench/strip footings (houses)
Piled (developments)
What are the 4 types of foundation
Trench
Slap
Pile
Pad
How can you identify a cavity wall? What is it? Why is it used?
two brick walls tied together with insulation in between, no ‘headers’
Can reduce damp,
Has bricks with holes in to vent
What are the white marks on brickwork called? What causes them?
Efflorescence, caused by natural salts in brick
What are the types of defect?
Inherent defect = one there since construction (not deterioration or damage)
Latent defect = fault that could not have reasonably been found on inspection
What do you do if you find a defect on site?
1) Take photos
2) Try to establish cause
3) Inform client of your findings
4) Recommend specialist advice from a building surveyor (or structural engineer if movement)
What are the most common defects?
Movement
Water/damp
Deterioration of building materials
What is snagging? Why is it done?
Final checks of a property
Ensure contractual compliance
H&S of occupier
Get contractor to remedy then and there
What are the three types of damp?
Rising
Penetrative
Condensation
What causes rising damp? How can you identify it?
Causes: ‘free’ water in soil, broken pipes, underground watercourse
Usually stops 1.5m up walls and doesn’t cause mould
What causes penetrative damp, how can you identify it?
Caused by rain, plumbing leaks, other above ground sources
Common issue is plumbing (e.g. long term leaking of cistern overflows)
Identified by wet brickwork, large internal water damage
What causes condensation? When does it normally occur?
Surface temperature is below the dew point
Lack of heating often connect to poor insulation, poor ventilation, lifestyle (drying laundry over radiators, cooking)
September - May is ‘condensation season’
What are the types of condensation? How can you identify them?
1) Surface (most common) -> moistens corners where mould can grow
2) Interstitial condensation -> within walls/floors
3) Reverse condensation -> outside, wet wall exposed to sun drives water vapour into the brick
4) Radiation condensation -> rapid cooling of atmosphere at night = condensation inside roof sheeting
What else do you need to be aware of if you notice damp?
There can be a link between damp sources e.g. penetrative damp soaks thermal insulation, reduces heat retention making condensation more likely