The Difference Between Planning Permission & Building Control
Properties are a significant investment – probably the biggest you’ll make. And unlike other investments, they also offer the opportunity to increase their value by improving or expanding them. You can make internal improvements and improve the space. You can transform unused spaces by adding extensions or adjusting the internal layout. But if you don’t […]
What to Do If You Find Asbestos During Renovation (UK Guide)
Let’s say you’re renovating a property. Maybe you own the home, manage the building, or you just bought it to fix it up. You, or a contractor, are ready to work. You pull back a ceiling tile or start stripping out some walls, and you hear a question that no one really wants to hear; […]
What Are Modern Methods of Construction (MMC)?
There’s something that’s been on our mind a lot lately. Why is it that so many industries have been evolving at such a rapid pace, but construction is lagging behind? We’ve gone from landlines to smartphones, post to instant messaging, and taxis to ride sharing. But what about construction? In so many ways, it still […]
Fire Safety in Buildings – A Surveyor’s Perspective
As Chartered Building Surveyors, we often see firsthand just how much fire safety regulations impact homes and businesses, and we want to share that knowledge with you. From the history of fire safety in the UK and recent updates to regulations. As well as what you as a homeowner or a business owner need to […]
What Is Subsidence and How Do You Spot It?
It’s a homeowner’s worst nightmare. You look at your walls one day and see cracks that weren’t there before. You tell yourself it’s the house ‘settling’, but in the back of your mind there’s one word going around – subsidence. But what exactly is subsidence? What causes it, and what should you do if you […]
Getting the Best Construction Costs Through Tendering
If you work in the construction industry, you must understand the tendering process. It’s a critical part of making sure you’re getting the best value for money and securing the best contracts. If you’re doing work on your own property then you need to understand it too, since it will give you the confidence that […]
Your Ultimate Guide to Chimneys
Chimneys come in all shapes and sizes. From simple flues to just get smoke away from log-burning stoves, to beautiful ornate features topping off a roof, and everything in between! Whatever their style or purpose, they all have one thing in common – they all need taking care of. If, after a while, issues can […]
What Are LADs? Liquidated and Ascertained Damages
Let’s face it, the surveying world is full of acronyms, and we absolutely love using them! It’s mostly because a lot of the things in our world have very long, or overly complicated names – sometimes both! So we shorten them down to acronyms so that our conversations don’t last hours. Just one of those […]
CDM Regulations – What you Need to Know
When it comes to construction works, there’s a long list of regulations you need to follow. Honestly, it can get a little confusing trying to keep it all straight! But one of the more important parts of construction is making sure everyone is safe and well, and no injuries happen that could be avoided. In […]
Residential Property Management – What, When and Why
When you’re doing works on your residential property, there are a lot of moving parts in the equation. Many of them are simple tasks that are easy to do yourself, but there are a lot of them, and mixed in with them are a lot of more complicated tasks. This is where residential property management […]