JH Site

I am a Chartered Engineer with some experience of structural house surveys and the design of domestic scale buildings. I have written these pages as a general guide to the construction of a normal house, a guide to the words used and some indication of the sort of problems that can be encountered.

When my brother started looking for a house and was very confused by survey reports, I've realised many people have little idea of what is involved so I've set up this area to try to help.

While it may offer assistance with general questions, nothing here should be taken to be about a specific property. If you wish to Email me with questions or comments please feel free but I cannot answer questions which deal with a specific property.

This section has developed over some time and I will add to it as seems appropriate. If there are particular subjects you would like covered Email me.

Contact by email

I did have an email form here. Either it didn't work or something caused it to send me random empty messages. If you have emailed me I will therefore not have received it.

Please note the conditions to the right.

If you want to email me please use the email address:

jhhaines <at> fourcat.co.uk

The above is modified so it cannot be automatically harvisted by web crawlers. Make the obvious substitution.

Please note:

• The following is for background information only. While it is accurate to the best of my knowledge and ability I cannot be held responsible for decisions based upon it. There is no alternative to a paid for survey by an appropriate professional. This ensures that you have a written report for the specific property and, as a last resort, you have legal protection.

• The company I work for does not undertake house survey work for individuals. It is not responsible for anything on this site.

• I do not undertake survey work on a commercial basis.

• I will not make any recommendations for those who can.

• I welcome general queries or comments on the contents of these pages by Email, but I cannot enter into any correspondence about specific cases. Any messages which disregard this disclaimer will be ignored. Generally I will answer queries by adding to the information given here rather than by personal Email.

• If you do send me an Email please don't expect a quick answer, (or indeed any). If I do answer the question by adding to this site I will usually let you know when this has been done. If you request an urgent reply or pester me I will take that as indicating that you are asking about a specific property and I will ignore you.

• The information here is based generally on a knowledge of soil conditions and house construction in and around London.

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