Level 1

Question 1

What are the four types of foundations?

Answer 1

1. trench or strip footings - usually for Residential, for walls and closely spaced columns.
2. Raft - this is a slab foundation over the whole site to spread the load for lightweight structures such as for made up/remediated land and sandy soil conditions. Think when dad builds a shed.
3. Piled - long and slender reinforced concrete cylinders (piles) in the ground to deeper strata when less good load-bearing ground conditions/high loads (example being the industrial jetties).
4. Pad - slab foundation system under individual or groups of columns so that the column load is spread evenly.

Question 2

What should you take on inspection?

Answer 2

Mobile phone, camera, tape measure of a laser distometer, file plans and other supporting documentation, PPE relevant to the site inspection. Pen and paper. Check the weather and bring clothing suitable to the weather.

Question 3

What steps do you take to arrange access to the property?

Answer 3

I will make sure that I have the full and correct address, If the property is occupied, I will liaise with the occupant to confirm with them the date, time and purpose of the inspection. If it is not occupied, I will ensure that I have keys collected, or an alternative means of access such as a coded pad lock.

Question 4

What are the various purposes of inspection?

Answer 4

1. Valuation Purposes
2. Property Management (policing the lease)
3. Agency for marketability issues.

Question 5

What are the 2 different types of brickwork?

Answer 5

1. Solid wall Construction - simplest type of wall which is constructed in solid brickwork with headers. Normally at least one brick thick. There are different laying patterns incorporating headers, which as Flemish bond to tie together the bricks. (Flemish is the traditional brick laying that you say where they are laid width and then length ways)
2. Cavity Wall Construction - in a cavity wall, there are two layers of brickwork which are tied together with metal ties. This forms a cavity between them which is filled with insulation.

Question 6

How would you identify brickwork as cavity wall?

Answer 6

usually there is evidence of a cavity tray, air brick or weep holes which can be seen.

Question 7

What are the two ways you can lay bricks in a formation?

Answer 7

Stretcher - laid horizontally with the length of the brick showing on the outer surface. (think stretching out which is longer)

Header - a brick laid flat with the short width end showing on the outer surface. (think butting heads so heads are short so width side).

Question 8

What is a hygrometer?

Answer 8

A hygrometer is used to measure the amount of humidity in the air and to diagnose condensation.

An electrical resistance meter provides the temperature and relative humidity.

Question 9

What is efflorescence?

Answer 9

white marks caused by hydroscopic salts in the brickwork. it is formed when water reacts with the natural salts through a chemical reaction.

The water absorbs the salt which is then carried out and deposited onto the surface of the natural evaporation that occurs when the air meets the surface of the wall.

Question 10

What is spalling?

Answer 10

damaged brickwork where the surface of the bricks starts to crumble because of freeze/thaw action, after it becomes saturated in the winter months.

Question 11

What do you need to consider before going to site to carry out an inspection?

Answer 11

1. Am I competent?
2. Am I properly insured?
3. Has an agreement been signed?
4. What are the risks involved?
5. What kind of survey it is
6. Review all relevant existing building info, leases.
7. What equipment will be required to carry out the survey?

Question 12

How do you undertake an inspection?

Answer 12

Personally, I would prefer to undertake an inspection of a building from the top down.

I would normally walk around the building externally a couple of times to get my bearings and get an initial understanding of the indication of age, form of construction and any external defects.

I would then start to undertake an external inspection to examine the repair and condition of the exterior
Car parking access, and loading rights
Any defects or structural movement
Check the site boundaries

after this, i would ten typically move inside and inspect and note the layout and specification, repair and maintenance, any defects. i may possibly inspect any services and note down where possible the age and condition. i would review fixtures and fittings and improvements. I would then review compliance with lease obligations.

Question 13

What kind of risks should you consider when inspecting?

Answer 13

Lone working
Asbestos
Accessing roofs and roof spaces at height
Hazards associated with derelict/empty properties
Confined spaces

Question 14

What is Cluttons’ lone working policy?

Answer 14

1. Check with line manager to assess if it is safe to attend it alone.
2. When you attend site alone, you send a diary entry to your line manager with full details.
3. Use stay safe app for regular check-ins.
4. You must have a fully charged phone.

Question 15

Why is it important to take photos on site?

Answer 15

1. good reference when working on the instruction.
2. ensure records are kept and identify the specification and any defects.
3. to help when peer reviewing work.

Question 16

what is wet rot?

Answer 16

is caused by damp and timber decay.
signs include wet and soft timber
high dam meter reading
visible fungal growth and musty smell

Question 17

what is dry rot?

Answer 17

caused inside by fungal attack.
signs include fungus which spreads across the wood in fine and fluffy white strands and large, often orange mushroom-like fruiting bodies, a strong smell and red spores, cracking paintwork and cuboidal cracking, crumbling of dry timber.

Question 18

How do you identify rising damp?

Answer 18

rising damp usually stops at around 1.5m above ground level.

Question 19

What can cause condensation?

Answer 19

Condensation can be caused by lack of ventilation and background heating. Signs include mould and streaming water on the inside of windows and walls.