An important part of our role as Chartered Building Surveyors is to look after our client’s property portfolio and make sure we “add value”.  A perfect example of this is preventative maintenance, not glamorous I know, but essential if you want to make your property work for you. Whilst visiting a Youth Hostel to review a new refurbishment scheme one of our Chartered Surveyors upon entering the property was concerned about a distinctive smell.   A brief investigation revealed the smell was emanating from the large ground floor dining room, this floor was also excessively ”springy”, this lead to an external inspection and the surveyor noted the external concrete paths to the rear were higher than internal floor level.  A classic scenario, the air bricks were blocked preventing ventilation of the timber sub-floor and the surveyor was now concerned about rotten floor timber.   A brief note to the client recommending further intrusive investigation was issued .   The cost of a full outbreak of dry rot here would have no doubt cost over £100,000* to correct had it gone unnoticed and allowed to spread through the property.  Following opening up works McGrath Associates specified and managed the works, which included necessary alterations, replacement of rotten joist ends, treating remaining timbers and making good.  The works were undertaken without undue disruption to the hostel (which didnt have to close).  The costs were just under £5,000 and the perfect breeding ground for dry rot eliminated saving a potential £95,000.  All part of the service.

* £100,000 figure obtained from a recent project in a similar type property were the dry rot had spread through 3 floors of a building resulting in a complete refurbishment.