Welcome to the Building Doctor
The Building Doctor has been established to provide professional support and information to help property owners understand common building defects within their home, from identifying Subsidence cracks to dealing with Black Mold.
It is hoped, that from this website you will be more confident to carry out an initial DIY diagnosis of a common building problem, which will help to ensure the correct action is taken.
This may be useful if for example, you are thinking of purchasing a property, and have identifed some potential problems, or if you want to better understand a building survey.
The Building Doctor advises the following basic steps be taken:
1. Identify the symptoms
2. Establish the cause
3. Carry out remedial action
This approach should be taken regardless of the concern, whether you are looking at issues such as cracks appearing above door frames, to determining the cause of mould on a window cill.
It is pivotal that you have an understanding of the various defects, their cause and effects, if you are to ensure the correct treatment is undertaken.
"As it is only by understanding the root cause of a problem can we ever hope to solve it".
Some common building defects, including Dry Rot, Subsidence, Rising Damp and Woodworm below.
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact us, and we will endeavour to respond within a reasonable time.
We are dedicated to making our information as accurate, complete, useful, and unbiased as possible, and we also welcome critique, questions, or content suggestions.
We are also keen to expand the depth of research information and welcome contributions of similar, related content. Contributors will be cited, quoted and linked to from the appropriate articles.
Some common building problems:
- Slipped tiles, defective flashings (link roof)
- Condensation (link condensation)
- Gutter and rainwater leaks (link damp)
- Decoration and finishes (link internal decorations)
- Plumbing and leaking drains (link services)
- Cracking to walls (subsidence/ walls)
- Lack of ventilation (condensation)