DIY building surveys
We recommend that you get a professional survey carried out on your building every five years. In between, take a proper look at the building yourself using this guide. If you cannot get owners to take your building's condition seriously, it might also be worth carrying out your own survey and discussing your findings with your neighbours.
Get prepared
You need to communicate what you've found to your co-owners, so get set up at the start:
- get copies of plans and elevations of your building if you have them
- or take photographs and print them up black and white, so you can write on them
- download the survey form and check it covers all the features of your building
- print off extra sheets if you can, so you have enough to cover all the windows
On your plans and photos, number the chimneys, windows, dormers, and anything else you have more than one of, so you can keep track of what you've found.
It may be more pleasant to carry out a survey on a dry day, but wet days can reveal overflowing gutters and drips where it should be dry.
Safe access for checking your building
- get as much height as you can to check the roof - maybe a neighbour across the road will let you look out of their top flat window
- if you need to look from the road, get someone to help keep an eye open for traffic
- can you get safe access to your loft? - you might need someone to hold a ladder, and use crawl boards to avoid putting your foot through a ceiling
- you may be able to access the roof through a hatch
- don't go out on the roof unless you are experienced and have a harness and a sound fixing point for the harness
- grab a torch, binoculars, camera, clipboard, hard hat, and tough boots
What to check
DRAINAGE
Gutters and downpipes
Check every 6 months. Look for:
Drains and ground levels
ROOF LEVEL
Check every 6 months. Look for:
- problems with gutters
- plant growth, algae and moss anywhere on building
- monitor bird activity and clean gutters more frequently if extensive
Central valleys and 'secret' parapet gutters
Check every 6 months. Look for:
Roof finish
Check every year. Look for:
Flat roof
Check every year. Look for:
Chimneys
Check every year. Look for:
- copings and pots - wallhead chimneys
- copings and pots - mutual chimneys
- pointing and render (look for any cracks appearing)
- damage from aerial fixings
Flashings
Check every year. Look at:
Dormers
Check every year. Look for:
INSIDE THE LOFT
Check every year. Look for:
EXTERNAL FEATURES
Perimeter fences and railings
Check every year. Look for:
WALLS
Front stonework (ashlar)
Check every two years. Look for:
- failing surface repairs
- stones adjacent to previous surface repairs
- cills, canopies, hoods, and string courses
- mullions
- pointing
- cracks
- bulges
Rear and gable stonework (rougher undressed stones)
Check every two years. Look for:
Oriels and bays
Check every two years. Look for:
INSIDE THE CLOSE
Close wall plasterwork and ceilings
Check every year. Look for:
The close stairs
Check every two years. Look for:
Close floor and landings
Check every two years. Look for:
Close tiles
Check every five years. Look for:
Close paintwork
Check every five years. Look for:
Close windows (sash and case)
Check every five years. Look for:
- can close windows open?
- condition of paintwork, mastic, and cills
External features
- gaps, cracks, and wear in external stairs
- steel supports to external stairs
- bulges in retaining walls
WINDOWS
Check every five years. Look for:
- paint condition (normally individual responsibility)
- lintels
- mastic failure
- condition of cills