Defect prevention

Damage to tree roots during construction, often from heavy plant compaction or trenching, can lead to tree instability, disease, and eventual failure.

Disrupted DPCs or blocked/missing weep holes can lead to moisture accumulation within the cavity or rising damp.

Breaches, incorrect lapping, or punctures in DPCs/DPMs lead to capillary rise or lateral moisture penetration, causing dampness.

Combining ground-supported and flexibly suspended sections, or using weak strapping, creates points of stress and failure if either the ground settles or the pipe is rodded.

Deformed or cracked pipework found at CCTV survey, standing water in the run, or settlement over the trench line after backfill.

Omission of a DPM where necessary leads to dampness or efflorescence on the garage floor, potentially affecting adjoining habitable spaces.

Direct contact between incompatible metals, such as steel and copper, without isolation, can lead to accelerated corrosion of the more anodic metal.

Inadequate condensation risk assessment can lead to interstitial condensation, causing structural damage or unhygienic conditions within the floor void.

Insufficient or damaged corrosion protection, especially at weld locations or exposed areas, will lead to premature degradation of steel elements.

Cracking in the masonry at the ends of a lintel, or deflection visible along the soffit of the opening.

Incorrect lintel material choice or insufficient projection, leading to premature corrosion or water ingress above windows.

Water staining above windows, doors or at the ends of lintels, typically after wind-driven rain rather than in still conditions.

Damp patches on internal wall faces at low level or below window openings, often appearing weeks after the wall is closed up and worst after driving rain.

Incorrect coating specification or application for the environmental corrosivity, leading to premature corrosion and structural degradation.

Inadequate ventilation or incorrectly installed insulation can lead to condensation issues within the roof space.

Inadequate design or installation of insulation and ventilation systems, leading to trapped moisture and structural damage.

Blocked or insufficient ventilation paths, leading to moisture build-up, dampness, and degradation of timber elements and insulation.

Insufficient insulation, ineffective vapour control, or inadequate ventilation leads to interstitial or surface condensation, causing structural damage and mould growth.

Failure to account for increased condensation risk under certain roof coverings, leading to the use of insufficiently durable timber and subsequent decay.

Water tracking behind the fascia, staining at the eaves, or tile courses that lift and rattle in wind.

Failure to provide or correctly specify an AVCL based on a robust risk analysis can lead to concealed interstitial condensation, causing structural degradation or mould growth.

Cold spots, condensation patterns or mould appearing on internal wall faces in a regular pattern matching the board joints.

Poorly fitted insulation boards creating gaps, reducing cavity width, or forming ledges that retain moisture.

Lack of proper VCL installation or insufficient consideration of thermal bridges, leading to condensation issues and mould growth.

Visible gaps around pipes, cables and ducts where they pass through compartment walls, floors or the ceiling line of a protected route.

Inaccessible concealed pipework leads to significant damage and costly repairs when leaks occur.

Omission or incorrect placement of the DPC can lead to moisture ingress and subsequent rot in timber sole plates.

Uninsulated ductwork in cold spaces can lead to condensation forming on or within ducts, causing mould or dripping.

Use of incompatible metals or lack of sacrificial protection in aggressive water conditions, leading to premature system failure.

Leaving damp or mouldy plasterboard in place results in an unacceptable finish, potential health hazards, and can compromise the board's structural and fire performance.

Condensation on glazing and reveals in the first winter, and mould in corners of bedrooms and bathrooms.

Boiler lockout in the first hard frost of the winter, usually across a number of plots on the same site at once.

Rising damp and tide marks on internal walls next to paths, patios or raised borders; skirtings and plaster deteriorate at floor level.