Frequently Asked

There are two main reasons. 1. Builders do not have the spare time to spend a day going over a property and analysing it before suggesting which works are necessary. By economic necessity they need to make a snap judgement after looking at a property for a short period. 2. Tradespeople have an unconscious bias towards their specialisms. Ask a lime mason, and they are likely to specify lime finishes and miss roofing details. Ask a roofer and the reverse will happen. My surveys are independent of bias, and I am able to take the time needed to obtain a clear picture of any given building.

You will receive a PDF report of approximately 4000 words. This is available as a hard copy for a small extra cost. Within the report will be a breakdown of the elements of the property requiring remedial works. Explanations are given in layman's terms for the reasons for the recommendations. A photo appendix is included to help highlight and explain the issues that have been identified and a suggested priority order is given at the end of the report.

I operate primarily in Cornwall, but am happy to travel further afield. Unfortunately this does incur extra expense.

Our surveys are individually tailored to suit each client. Before visiting, I will discuss what you would like to gain from the survey and adjust my priorities accordingly. In some cases after I have visited, I may recommend further investigation of a particular issue by myself or by a third party specialist.

Homebuyer reports are usually brief. They do not analyse the property, and often fail to provide the new owner with enough information to protect their property from developing issues that will prove expensive in the long term. Muddy Mortars building surveys will equip you with the facts needed to protect your investment into the future.

Absolutely not. Although they are commonly used by surveyors, damp meters are ineffective for measuring moisture levels in a wall. They measure electrical resistance on the surface of the wall; this reading is not reliable and gives no indication of sub surface moisture levels. I observe the symptoms holistically, relying on my senses and experience of working with old buildings.

I have fifteen years of first-hand experience of carrying out repairs to old buildings and observing the results. I am also an enthusiast in historic buildings with five years experience of carrying out survey work. This gives me a unique perspective on the functioning of old buildings and of the best way to implement remedial works.

The survey identifies any factors contributing to damp and condensation in the property as well as any weak points in the fabric of the building that are likely to lead to damp or condensation issues in the medium term. The report outlines how any flagged issues should be dealt with and gives a suggested priority order for scheduling remedial works. Please see our Terms and Conditions for more information.

The standard survey is non-invasive, meaning that the fabric of the property is not disturbed. I do my best to make a complete report of issues affecting the property, but problems that do not present symptoms which are possible to identify visually or through sensory contact may not be identified. Please see our Terms and Conditions for more information.

The benefits of knowing your building far outweigh the cost of having a survey conducted. If issues with your property are identified and dealt with promptly, you will save thousands of pounds in the long term. A survey helps to protect your property by giving you the information required to commission remedial works that will make a real difference.

I am qualified by experience and by independent learning. I have fifteen years experience of working on old buildings and have backed this up with independent study. I am an enthusiast in caring for old and listed buildings and care about their health and longevity.

I can focus more attention on a specific issue, but always recommend that a full survey is carried out. A localised symptom of damp within an old building may be caused by issues which are not necessarily located near the symptom. Additionally, a survey is likely to highlight developing issues which will cost much more if not identified and dealt with promptly.

In order to remain unbiased, I do not recommend specific contractors. I can provide you with a list of people operating in your area and give you guidance on vetting a contractor. I can provide you with specifications to make it easier to obtain comparable quotes, and I can assist you with interpreting quotes when you do receive them.

Surveying a building demands complete concentration. I am able to be more thorough and productive if I can carry out the survey without distraction. To get a proper understanding of the building I first need to review my notes and photos from the survey. For this reason I prefer to discuss the results after I have written the report. I offer a free telephone consultation to review the report, and for a more in depth discussion can make a second visit to the property for an additional charge.

This depends on the size of the property and the complexity and number of issues affecting it. I generally spend two to four hours on site and a further five to eight hours writing the report. Please see our Terms and Conditions for a more detailed explanation of how many hours are included in our standard package.

My lead time is generally two weeks, though it may be shorter or longer depending on my current workload.

This depends on the size of the property, the number and complexity of the issues affecting it, and on the level of detail that you wish me to go into. Before carrying out a survey I will discuss the available packages and set a maximum budget for time to be spent.