What do we look for?

Conducting a high-level survey using a specialist camera is a comprehensive approach to inspecting various components of a property. Here's an overview of what each aspect of the survey may involve:

1. Roof Tiles:
   
   • The specialist camera can capture high-resolution images of the roof tiles, allowing for a detailed inspection of their condition.
   • Identification of damaged, missing, or displaced tiles can be crucial for early maintenance to prevent water ingress.

1. Guttering:
   
   • Inspection of gutters using the specialist camera can help identify blockages, damage, or improper installation.
   • Ensuring proper drainage is essential for preventing water damage to the property and maintaining the integrity of the building structure.

1. Chimneys:
   
   • The camera can be used to assess the condition of the chimney structure, including bricks, mortar, and flashing.
   • Identifying any issues with the chimney, such as cracks or loose bricks, is important for both safety and preventing water penetration.

1. Parapets:
   
   • High-resolution imaging can provide a detailed view of parapet walls, which are low protective walls along the edge of a roof, balcony, or terrace.
   • Issues such as cracks or deteriorating mortar can be identified.

1. Flashings:
   
   • Examination of flashings, which are metal strips used to prevent water penetration around joints and seams, is critical for ensuring waterproofing.
   • The camera can capture images to assess the condition of flashings and identify any signs of incorrect installation or damage.

1. Other Components:
   
   • The survey may extend to other high-level components, such as vents, skylights, or roof penetrations, to ensure their proper installation and condition.

1. Heating System:
   
   • Radiator Installation: The assessment includes checking the installation of radiators, ensuring they are properly positioned, securely attached, and provide effective heating to the designated areas.
   • Thermostatic Valves: Examination of the thermostatic valves to verify their proper functioning and compliance with standards. These valves play a role in temperature control within individual rooms.
   • Hot Water Storage and Controls: Inspection of the hot water storage system, including tanks and controls, to ensure efficient and safe operation.

1. Plumbing:
   
   • Accessible Pipework: Assessment of all visible pipework to confirm proper installation, alignment, and support.
   • Fittings: Checking plumbing fittings, such as joints and connections, to ensure they are secure, leak-free, and meet quality standards.
   • Taps and Shower Valves: Inspection of taps and shower valves to ensure proper installation, functionality, and compliance with relevant standards.

1. Ventilation Systems:
   
   • Extractor Fans: Using flow meters, the performance and compliance of all extractor fans in the property are assessed. This is crucial for maintaining proper ventilation, preventing condensation, and avoiding issues such as black mold growth, which can impact both the property and occupants' health.

Ensuring compliance with these standards for heating, plumbing, and ventilation systems is essential for the overall functionality, safety, and comfort of the property. Adequate heating and ventilation are not only essential for the residents' well-being but also contribute to the long-term durability of the property by preventing issues like dampness and mold growth. Any identified issues during the assessment may need to be addressed to meet the specified standards.

1. Paint Finishes: This involves checking the application of paint on walls and other surfaces, ensuring it meets quality standards and provides a consistent finish.
2. Drylining: Assessment of drylining involves inspecting the installation of plasterboard or other materials to create a smooth and even surface for further finishing.
3. Plastering: The quality of plastering is important for achieving a smooth and uniform appearance on walls and ceilings.
4. Tiling: This includes the installation of tiles in areas such as kitchens and bathrooms. The assessment would consider the precision of the installation and whether it meets specified standards.
5. Flooring: Inspection of the flooring materials and their installation to ensure they meet the required standards in terms of quality and durability.
6. Doors: Assessment of the installation and quality of doors, including proper functioning, finishing, and compliance with safety standards.
7. Architraves: Examination of the decorative moldings around doors, windows, and other openings to ensure they are properly installed and finished.
8. Window Boards: Inspection of the finish and installation of window boards, ensuring they meet the specified standards.
9. Staircases: Evaluation of the construction, finish, and safety aspects of staircases within the property.
10. Walls and Floors Levels: Checking the alignment and levelness of walls and floors to ensure they meet the specified standards and provide a structurally sound environment.

Compliance with these standards is crucial to ensure the quality and durability of the property. If any issues are identified during the assessment, they may need to be addressed to meet NHBC standards and maintain the warranty and insurance coverage for the property.

The inspection of external walls and related components is a comprehensive process that ensures the quality, compliance, and functionality of key elements in the building. Here's a breakdown of the aspects covered in this part of the inspection:

1. External Walls:
   
   • Quality of Workmanship: Inspection involves assessing the overall quality of the workmanship in constructing external walls. This includes checking for proper alignment, finishing, and structural integrity.
   • Building Regulation Compliance: Verification of compliance with building regulations ensures that the external walls meet the required standards for safety, insulation, and durability.
   • Levels: Checking the levels of external walls ensures that they are even and properly aligned, contributing to the structural integrity of the building.

1. Weep Vents:
   
   • Functionality: Assessment of weep vents involves ensuring that these small openings in the external walls are clear and functioning properly. Weep vents allow for the drainage of water from within the wall cavity.

1. Damp Proof Course (DPC):
   
   • Presence and Integrity: The inspection includes checking for the presence of a damp proof course and verifying its integrity. The DPC is a barrier that prevents the upward movement of moisture from the ground into the walls.

1. Void Ventilation:
   
   • Air Circulation: Ensuring proper void ventilation is crucial for preventing issues such as condensation and dampness within the building's cavity walls. Inspection involves checking that ventilation openings are clear and unobstructed.

1. External Doors and Windows:
   
   • Operation: Checking the correct operation of external doors and windows involves assessing whether they open, close, and lock properly.
   • Damage: Inspection covers identifying any damage to doors and windows, ensuring that they are in good condition for security, insulation, and aesthetic reasons.

1. External Drainage:
   
   • Compliance: Inspection of external drainage ensures that the drainage systems are installed in accordance with regulations and standards.
   • Levels: Checking drainage levels helps verify that water flows away from the property effectively, preventing issues such as water pooling or flooding.

1. Garden Topsoil:
   
   • Depth and Quality: Assessing the depth and quality of garden topsoil is important for landscaping and plant health. Adequate topsoil depth and quality support healthy plant growth.

This thorough inspection process contributes to the overall quality, safety, and functionality of the external components of the property. Any identified issues can be addressed to ensure compliance with standards and regulations, promoting the long-term durability and sustainability of the building.

1. Heat Loss Assessment:
   
   • Missing Insulation: Thermal imaging cameras can identify areas where insulation may be inadequate or missing. This is crucial for maintaining a consistent and efficient temperature within the home.
   • Cold Bridging: The cameras can highlight areas where there is a direct transfer of heat between the inside and outside, known as cold bridging. Addressing these areas is important for preventing energy wastage and maintaining thermal comfort.
   • Draughty Doors and Windows: Thermal imaging helps identify gaps or poorly sealed areas around doors and windows that may be causing drafts. Proper sealing is essential for energy efficiency and comfort.

1. Radiator Efficiency Check:
   
   • The thermal imaging cameras can be used to check the efficiency of radiators. This involves assessing whether the radiators are distributing heat evenly and effectively throughout the designated areas.

1. Benefits of Thermal Imaging:
   
   • Early Detection: Thermal imaging allows for early detection of potential issues, enabling prompt corrective actions before they become more significant problems.
   • Energy Efficiency: By identifying and addressing areas of heat loss, the inspection contributes to improved energy efficiency in the home, potentially leading to reduced energy bills for the residents.
   • Comfort: Ensuring that the heating system operates efficiently and that there are no significant heat losses contributes to a more comfortable living environment.

1. Correction of Identified Issues:
   
   • Based on the findings of the thermal imaging inspection, necessary corrective measures can be taken. This may include adding insulation, improving sealing around doors and windows, or optimizing the heating system for better efficiency.

Overall, the use of thermal imaging technology in this context is a proactive approach to ensuring that the new home meets energy efficiency standards, providing a comfortable and sustainable living space for its occupants.

The emphasis on fire stopping in new builds is crucial for ensuring the safety of occupants in the event of a fire. Your assessment process includes several important aspects related to fire safety:

1. Fire Door Installations:
   
   • Inspection of all accessible fire door installations involves verifying that fire doors are correctly installed, including proper framing, seals, and hardware.
   • Ensuring that fire doors meet specified standards is essential for compartmentalizing fire and preventing its rapid spread.

1. Fire Breaks:
   
   • Assessment of fire breaks involves checking for the presence and effectiveness of fire-resistant barriers within the building structure.
   • Properly implemented fire breaks help contain the spread of fire, protecting different sections of the building and allowing occupants more time to evacuate safely.

1. Access Panels:
   
   • Inspection of access panels ensures that fire-rated panels, when present, are correctly installed and do not compromise the fire resistance of walls or ceilings.
   • Access panels are designed to maintain the integrity of fire-rated barriers while providing necessary access for maintenance or inspection purposes.

1. Smoke and Heat Alarms:
   
   • Verification of the correct placement of smoke and heat alarms is essential for early fire detection and timely evacuation.
   • Confirming that these alarms operate correctly throughout the property ensures that residents receive timely warnings in case of a fire emergency.