Home Buyers Survey in Garndolbenmaen

Is it best to choose a HomeBuyer Report, Full Structural Survey or Building Survey on a house in Garndolbenmaen and which would be the cheapest?

The Full Structural Survey has a new name called a Building Survey and is effectively the same.

If the Garndolbenmaen property is a flat, or is over 100 years old, or has been extended or modified, or is of non standard construction, RICS advise the cheaper HomeBuyer Report.

If you intend to make any alterations, RICS recommend you commission a Building Survey. This option is not as cheap as a HomeBuyer Report however it does give you an in-depth analysis of the Garndolbenmaen property's condition along with advice on structural defects , repairs as well as maintenance options .

For more detailed advice why not obtain an instant Garndolbenmaen House Survey Quote online or call us 0800 038 6667 to speak to one of our advisers.

We are buying a property with Forest of Dean stone walls. Are there any major related issues that we should be aware of?

Britain's varied geology has encouraged the use of many varieties of stone, from Stainton Sandstone to Portland Roach Limestone. Buyers should also be aware that the potential severity of issues like salt contamination of will vary with the particular type of stone.

Regular stone walls are built with prepared or cut stone, called ashlar, and are often easier to maintain than irregularly built walls as stones are less likely to come loose or the mortar to decay. Ashlar courses are often used to finish more irregular stone walls, with a brick or rubble wall beneath. This can give rise to maintenance issues if either element of the wall has been treated with a non-breathable material. Maintenance tips include repointing mortar with a suitable material.

Ask your surveyor for clarification if you are in doubt as to likely maintenance, particularly if the house in question is listed or located in a conservation area.

The handmade bricks on this Edwardian property appears to have several cracks - what should we do?

Brick-walled Garndolbenmaen homes can show signs of a range of defects. One serious matter is thermal or other movement. Often vertical cracks appear above the level of the DPC, running the full height of the wall, where this seasonal expansion and contraction occurs. For more information, contact a local builder, ArchBrickwork of 33 Merivale Road, Harrow, HA1 4BJ on 020 8423 3435.

For buyers with an eye for detail, less used styles of brick course include basket weave bonds, with alternating groups of vertically and horizontally arranged bricks. It may be appropriate to renegotiate the price of a property if a survey reveals even superficial brick wall problems.

What is subsidence? Is this a serious danger, and what options are to available to resolve this?

Subsidence is movement in a home's foundations. Fortunately, subsidence can be set right. Generally, a builder will return to a new home after six months so that they can make minor repairs caused by the settlement.

Superficial cracks not caused by subsidence may be filled in and repainted. A severe change in humidity or ambient temperature can also impact a house susceptible to further settlement, either as a result of poor construction, materials or existing damage.

Identifying what has caused the subsidence is a necessary first step. Removing or even pruning the tree(s) causing subsidence may be enough to halt any further movement. You may need to monitor (and measure) the cracks for as much as a year before the picture becomes entirely clear.