Roof & weathering defects
Local roof coverings, flashings, parapets, gutters, junctions, chimney details and related signs of failure or leakage.
Specific defect investigation
A specific property defect that needs a focused answer?
When you do not need a whole-house survey, a targeted inspection can focus professional attention on one defect, building element or area and explain what the visible evidence means and what should happen next.
Focused scope
Independent assessment
Clear written reporting
One defined concern
Focus on the defect, not a generic checklist.
- Agree the question before the inspection
- Inspect the relevant element and surrounding context
- Record evidence and limitations clearly
- Recommend the proportionate next step
Targeted rather than whole-house
Useful when the problem is already known, but the significance is not
A Specific Defect Investigation is appropriate where the concern can be defined clearly enough to inspect it as a focused instruction. That may be a roof defect, a localised wall problem, failed repair, floor issue, timber deterioration, an extension junction or another identifiable element.
The inspection considers the defect itself and enough surrounding context to understand it properly. It is not presented as a substitute for a Level 2 or Level 3 survey where the client actually needs a broader assessment of the whole property.
Examples of focused scope
What a Specific Defect Investigation can cover
The exact scope is agreed around the concern rather than fixed to a universal checklist.
Walls, floors & openings
Localised cracking, distortion, dampness, defective finishes, floor problems or issues around windows, doors and structural junctions.
Repairs & alterations
Visible condition of previous repairs, extensions, removed elements, altered openings or other work where the outcome is causing concern.
Other defined defects
Timber, outbuildings, drainage-related symptoms and other specific concerns where a targeted surveying inspection is the appropriate first step.
When it is useful
A Specific Defect Investigation may be appropriate when:
- you already know which part of the property is causing concern;
- a previous survey has recommended further investigation of one issue;
- a repair has failed or the condition appears to have returned;
- you want a second opinion before authorising significant remedial work;
- you need an independent record of the visible condition; or
- the issue does not fit neatly into cracks, damp or water ingress but still needs professional assessment.
What you receive
A concise evidence-led report centred on the question you asked
Observed condition
The relevant defect and associated visible signs are photographed and described.
Contextual assessment
The defect is considered against the surrounding construction, repair history and accessible evidence.
Limitations
Matters that cannot be confirmed visually or non-invasively are identified rather than assumed.
Next steps
The report explains whether repair, monitoring, testing, opening-up or specialist referral appears proportionate.
Choose the right scope
Specific defect or full home survey?
The right service depends on the question. A targeted investigation is efficient when the concern is defined. A broader survey is more appropriate when the client needs an overall assessment of the property's condition.
Specific Defect Investigation
- one defined defect or building element;
- focused evidence and recommendations;
- useful for second opinions and follow-up investigations;
- scope agreed around the actual concern.
Level 2 or Level 3 Survey
- broader inspection of the property;
- condition across multiple building elements;
- primarily suited to purchase decisions;
- not limited to one reported defect.
Common questions
Specific defect investigations
What is a Specific Defect Investigation?
It is a targeted inspection focused on a defined problem, building element or area rather than a whole-property condition survey. The scope is agreed around the question you need answered.
What kinds of defects can be inspected?
Examples include roof defects, localised cracking, dampness, defective repairs, timber concerns, floors, walls, extensions, outbuildings, junctions and other specific building issues where a focused inspection is more suitable than a full home survey.
Is this the same as a Level 2 or Level 3 survey?
No. A Level 2 or Level 3 survey considers the property more broadly for a purchaser. A Specific Defect Investigation concentrates on a defined concern and does not provide a whole-house condition assessment unless that wider scope is specifically commissioned.
Will you tell me if another specialist is needed?
Yes. If the evidence indicates that structural engineering, electrical testing, drainage investigation, roofing tests, opening-up or another specialist assessment is needed, the report can identify that as the proportionate next step.
Can I send photographs before booking?
Yes. Photographs and a short description can help confirm whether a focused defect inspection is suitable and help define the scope, but they are not treated as a remote diagnosis.
South East London
Specific defect investigations across Greenwich, Lewisham, Bexley and Bromley
SurveyAll inspects a wide range of residential defects in older and modern housing, with particular local familiarity around Plumstead, Woolwich and the wider Greenwich area.