Overview of Building Survey of a Renovated EWI Property
The buyers had been impressed by the appearance and level of modernisation and considered the property to offer the complete package. Extensive works had been undertaken, including the installation of an external wall insulation (EWI) system intended to improve the appearance and thermal performance of the building.
However, newly finished surfaces can conceal poor detailing and incomplete work. A detailed inspection was therefore particularly important to establish whether the refurbishment had been carried out to an appropriate standard and whether defects existed behind the property’s improved external appearance. In practice, this meant an external wall survey in North West London focused closely on how the new system had been detailed.
Our Response
Our inspection identified defective window and door installations together with concerns over the detailing and installation of the EWI system. High-level inspection also found that the chimney stacks had received insufficient attention during the wider external refurbishment, leaving defects that still required repair.
The rainwater goods were heavily defective and active leakage was observed during the survey. In some locations, rainwater was entering the property directly around window openings. These findings demonstrated that the external refurbishment had not dealt adequately with several important weatherproofing details and that the visual appearance of the property did not reflect its underlying condition.
Method in Brief
- Level 3 Building Inspection: A detailed internal and external inspection was completed with particular attention to the quality and performance of the recent refurbishment works.
- EWI Assessment: The external wall insulation in North West London was assessed across its junctions around openings and other building elements for visible defects and poor detailing.
- High-Level Inspection: Roof and chimney areas were examined to identify defects that had not been addressed as part of the wider external improvement works.
- Water Ingress Investigation: Defective rainwater goods and window junctions were traced during active rainfall, allowing areas of direct water ingress to be identified.
Outcome & Deliverables
The Level 3 survey materially changed the clients’ understanding of the property. Issues that were not apparent during their initial viewings were identified and explained in detail, including defects to recently completed work and active water ingress. This gave the buyers the information needed to reconsider the risks, likely remedial works and implications of proceeding with the purchase.
Why It Matters
A recently renovated property should not be assumed to be defect-free. New finishes can improve appearance without addressing underlying defects, and poor detailing can introduce new problems of its own. This case demonstrates why an independent survey remains important even where a property appears modern, well maintained and ready to occupy, particularly for first-time buyers making a significant financial commitment.
