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Single Fault Defect Diagnosis

Building Surveys and Building Pathology for Defects in Bath

Leading certified architecture, engineering and surveying services in the South West. Contact our experts to discuss your options today.

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RICS & CABE Single Fault Assessment & Surveys

Diagnosis of Cracked, Mouldy, Leaking and Sick Buildings

property management, defects surveys, bath, Bristol,

Defect analysis for buildings in Bath, Bristol & beyond

Do you have a problem with your property? Western Building Consultants are RICS & CABE approved surveyors and engineers that are building fabric experts, who can successfully diagnose the issues with your property. We use our Chartered Surveyors and Chartered Building Engineers to examine sick buildings helping you to repair and restore your buildings to their former glory.

How does single fault diagnosis differ from a full building survey?

Single fault diagnosis looks specifically at a defined issue where a building is failing and uses building pathology techniques to determine the cause of the defects and the appropriate remediation techniques to restore it to working order. Building surveys tend to look at the whole of a building give a snapshot of the overall condition and likely issues at hand before purchasing it. Single fault diagnosis is usually used where the owner or occupier of the building wants specific advice about how to maintain or repair a certain area of the building.

The RICS defines building pathology “how the structure and materials of a building relate to its environment, its occupants and the way the building is used, so as to develop a better understanding of building failures.”

How do we appoint you to carry out a single fault defect diagnosis survey?

Please call one of our offices to book in a survey, our staff will ask you a few questions about the issues at hand and will arrange for the surveyor to visit your property. Unlike building surveys, a single fault defect analysis will be charged at an hourly rate due to the fact that some defects are easy to diagnose and other may take several visits and intrusive inspections.

Why is it a good idea to commission a defect report and analysis?

Quite simply defects including damp are very often misdiagnosed, this can result in you carrying out expensive remedial work for the issue to return. It is really important to make sure the defect is understood holistically, and the works being specified do not just cover up an underlying issue. Western Building Consultants can add value by ensuring that the cause and defect are properly addressed.

I’m nervous about instructing a contractor to carry out the work – can you help?

We certainly can, we can carry out the tendering process for you and appoint a contractor under a JCT minor works contract, managing all the process of appointment and inspection of the works for you, including sign-off of staged payments giving you protection from rogue traders.

An expert has looked at the defect issues and specified their products to be used should I be worried?

Unfortunately, the defect remedy market such as damp proofing contractors and other specialist repair companies are littered with bad advice. The advice given is usually not independent and is aimed at you taking up their product or service. The advice you receive from a Western Building Consultants Chartered Surveyor or Building Engineer will be neutral and will seek to tackle the cause and not just the symptoms of the problem. It can even save you money where expensive rectification measures such as dampproof courses can be avoided in some cases, with proper prevention measures. It is important to remember that many defects are often caused by more than one issue combining to create an issue and that covering them up will only result in further issues later.

Call Western Building Consultants today on 01225 789307 to arrange a site visit and expert defect analysis.

Contact one of our team

Tom Traves BSc (Hons) MSc

T. 01225 789307
E. hello@wbc.group

Why us

Ethically Minded

Ethically Minded

Being socially responsible and promoting excellent ethics is at the forefront of our business. Our staff are happy and content and this is shown through our positive approach to your project. We work to the highest professional standards as required by both the RICS and CIAT. You can rest assured that when you employ WBC you will be supporting an organisation that champions local, national and international projects through schemes such as FairTrade, Mentoring Plus and the Bath percent club. This is backed up by a rigorous Corporate Social Responsibility Policy. We sponsor many grass roots sports clubs such as Combe Down Rugby Club, Frome Park Bowls Club & Cardiff Harlequins.

Realistic Timescales

Realistic Timescales

We are realistic with timescales and honest about what you will receive. Most people underestimate the time involved with a building project, but we are upfront about what is involved and will be clear about how long a project might take. Throughout the project we will continue to update you about progress and will advise you if there will be a disruption in the timetable.

Varied Architectural Style and Building Types

Varied Architectural Style and Building Types

We have vast planning experience and are adaptable to most architectural styles and ages of buildings. We are perfectly able to adapt to the style of your property from contemporary to traditional, urban to rural. We have designed projects in most styles and can use our broad experience to help design the best solution for your property, using whatever construction technology best suits your needs. Whether you plan a modest alteration or something spectacular WBC can help you achieve your project goals.

Consultant Levels of Knowledge

Consultant Levels of Knowledge

We employ qualified professionals with a variety of skill sets and the latest training. many of our employees have specialist post graduate qualifications. We also train selected staff through university programmes and professional qualifications to ensure our clients get the best trained surveyors and up to date advice. You will receive a professional, comprehensive and cohesive consultation and guidance throughout the project, ensuring that your development is handled with a consultant level of knowledge.

Survey to Completion Guarantee

Survey to Completion Guarantee

We are here for you when you need us, with our survey to completion guarantee. You won’t be left alone, we will fit in wherever you need us in the project or guide you through the whole process. You will have the knowledge that someone is always at hand whatever level of service you need.

Cost Conscious, Value for Money & Fixed Fees

Cost Conscious, Value for Money & Fixed Fees

Whilst offering exceptional value for money we also bring a positive, approachable, pragmatic, realistic and well rounded attitude to your project. You will feel at ease discussing issues with your project, our pragmatic approach to design and refurbishment means that we can often deliver built in VALUE. One example of this is recognising where cost savings can be made in the design without compromising the overall scheme and offering a higher standard of technical specification over many of our competitors, this reduces the need for outside engineering input and ultimately saves you money in fees. We are grounded which means that we can deliver a build in a cost conscious manner in order to make sure our projects are buildable.

Well Networked with Local Knowledge

Well Networked with Local Knowledge

Where we do not have the in house skills to tackle an element of a project we are well networked locally to utilise outside consultants that we have built up relationships with over many years. You will get the best of local knowledge and be introduced to like minded trusted suppliers with excellent professional services.

One Stop Shop

One Stop Shop

We can provide the majority of services required for a small project in house, making us practically a one stop shop. Having most services in house means that we are often fully accountable for the professional services on your project, this ensures simplicity, communication and efficiency. By utilising a multi-disciplinary approach we are able to keep professional costs for the project extremely competitive and hassle free, essentially you only pay for one set of overheads.

Unparalleled Technical Knowledge

Unparalleled Technical Knowledge

We have unparalleled technical knowledge and produce comprehensive architectural designs and surveys. You will be getting market-leading technical advice that has been approached with imaginative problem-solving techniques. This helps us to identify potential problems with a build before they arise.

Our knowledge adds value, an example of this is that most architects do not provide any advice on the structure of a building during the building regulations approval stage, relying on a structural engineer to produce all work relating to the super structure. At Western Building Consultants we provide structural advice on many areas, such as timber design for floors and roofs, limiting the scope of the engineers work and saving you money.

Large Team of Surveyors

Large Team of Surveyors

Having a large team of surveyors means that your project is unlikely to be held up due to other circumstances, there will always be at least two surveyors familiar with the project therefore continuity and a personal service will be retained. On larger schemes a bigger team will be assembled with the required specialist knowledge to fully support your project.

Latest Case Studies

Barn Conversions in Bath, Bristol, South West, Wiltshire, Somerset & Wales

House Extensions and Remodelling in Bath, Bristol, Cardiff, Somerset, South West & Wales

Case Study: Georgian Terrace House Grade II listed refurbishment

Newport Office

Merlin House

No 1 Langstone Business Park,

Priory Drive

01633982588

Frome Office

Commerce Park, Unit R17, Marshall Way

01373488566

Bath Office

Western House,

2 Rush Hill

01225789307

Cardiff Office

Sophia House,

28 Cathedral Road

02922679366

Swindon Office

Kingston House,

Lydiard Fields

01793234516

Bristol Office

Studio 1a,

31 Berkeley Square



0117 3294290

South Gloucestershire Office

Unit 2, Byre Workshops, Winterbourne Court Farm Barn, Church Lane, Winterbourne

0117 3294290

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