Building Pathology

Smith & Garratt survey buildings.  The subjects of our surveys are usually buildings that are occupied, where we cannot open-up fabric to see what lies beneath surfaces.  Sometimes we drill 10mm holes and use an 8mm borescope to peer inside the fabric.  This can be useful, for example, to inspect wall ties within a cavity … Read more

Smith & Garratt have a range of tools for investigating buildings.  Our thermal imaging camera provides a quick, non-invasive method of assessing thermal performance, incomplete insulation, cold bridging, damp, electrical overheating and other defects. To be able to see defects clearly, we need differences in temperature, or contrast.  We may, for example, ask for heating … Read more

Smith & Garratt survey buildings.  We understand the fabric of buildings, we diagnose defects, we undertake building pathology.  Here are examples of some things we see and write about. Fungi Defective chimney flashings – resulted in dry rot (Serpula Lacrymans)18 months later. Ink-caps (Coprinus Domesticus), sometimes known as ‘plaster mushrooms’.  Although not destructive like dry-rot, … Read more