An owner occupier of a surgery contacted SERL based on recommendations from their solicitor. They had endorsed us due to our well-known expertise and independence.
The client required our specialised knowledge in structural engineering reports, particularly for the Ealing area in West London. They needed an evaluation to address concerns about structural issues, specifically the cracking observed in the stairwell extending the full height of the building.
In response to the client’s requirements our qualified Chartered Structural Engineer recommended a Specific Structural Inspection report.
SERL offers two types of structural reports:
1) A localised, specific, and limited Specific Structural Inspection (SSI) report or a Structural Engineers Defect Report.
2) A broader General Structural Inspection Report (GSI) or Structural Engineers General Movement Report which focuses only on matters of cracking and movement.
Externally, the property showed no indications of settlement or subsidence.
Internally, however, there was a crack that extended to the full-height of the stairwell, occurring between the external wall and the staircase, and between the external wall and the adjacent spine walls.
Following our comprehensive inspection, we considered the 2 mm or 3 mm cracks to be only minor to moderate in significance. We recommended installing a series of lateral restraint straps between the external wall and the floor plates immediately adjacent to the staircase.
Our report assured the client that the necessary expenditure would remain relatively modest, at just a few thousand pounds, rather than several tens of thousands.