A potential buyer reached out to SERL upon an estate agent’s recommendation. The agent advocated for us because of our reputable independence and notable expertise in structural engineers’ reports, particularly in North London, with a focus on period properties.
The client required a structural engineer’s report to address concerns raised by their surveyor regarding substandard foundation brickwork in the basement or undercroft.
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.
This mid-Victorian, three-storey townhouse is a traditional mid-terrace construction dating back to around 1860.
The property featured solid brick external walls with suspended timber floors and roof framing.
It included a basement or undercroft situated beneath the hallway and front reception room, primarily used for storage. Like much of North London, the property is built on London Clay.
After our inspection we found that the line and level of the house remained sound. The brickwork within the undercroft was, however, in poor condition with fairly significant damage from long-term water penetration, with very soft brickwork used in contact with the ground.
There were a couple of central brick pillars, approximately two bricks square, where the bottom four brick courses had deteriorated to such an extent that they would warrant careful replacement, brick by brick.
We confirmed that the house was structurally sound, but recommended that the two brick pillars undergo local repair or replacement. This can be achieved by carefully removing each brick over the four lowest courses one at a time, ensuring the structure remains supported.
These repairs are straightforward for an experienced contractor and could be completed in a couple of days. We estimated the cost to be between £2,000 and £3,000, as smaller projects may not attract competitive pricing from some firms.
The client was willing to proceed with these repairs, understanding that the costs were modest compared to the property’s value and their overall refurbishment budget.