#225Do you know your bitumen from your Bressummer Beams? Your helical bars from your horizontal beds? Or your cavity walls from your crack monitoring studs?This week, we fill one more gap in the back catalogue with a deep dive into all things structural.Paul Fowler is a surveyor with 20 years experience and a particular interest in subsidence.We discuss:·       Key Warning Signs Outside the Property: Start your property viewing before leaving the car! Find out how cracks and distortions on surrounding buildings can indicate (or rule out) costly issues like subsidence.·       How Trees Affect UK Properties: Learn why trees, especially on clay soils, cause 60–85% of UK subsidence claims—and when removing a tree might create a bigger problem called ‘heave.’·       Roof and Damp Risks: Discover why replacing slate with concrete roof tiles can cause ‘roof spread,’ how to identify potential damp issues from outside, and what the damp proof course should look like.·       Crack Types (and When to Worry!): Paul breaks down different cracks: harmless thermal movement and decoration cracks, versus those diagonal cracks (especially wider at the top around doors and windows) that could signal structural movement or subsidence.·       Inside Inspection: Tips for checking the loft for spray foam insulation (a growing problem for mortgage lenders), identifying asbestos, and what cracks inside the house actually mean.·       Crack Monitoring & Insurance: How surveyors track structural movement using crack-monitoring studs, when to involve insurers, and what coverage is typical for UK property owners—including excess amounts and exclusions.·       Renovation and Remediation Costs: From simple repairs to advanced underpinning or resin injection, get a sense of what fixing serious structural problems might cost—and why these issues can represent a genuine opportunity for savvy investors.I'd Like Help With Setting My GoalsLeave a reviewJoin our WhatsApp  group / access  37 Question Due Diligence Checklist / 23 Step Guide to Buying Property at AuctionInstagramExclusive Property Engine discounts (Code: EXPAT)Starter package: 30 day trialPro package  30 day trial, then 3 months 1/2 price, Ultimate package, 1/2 price 3 monthsKeywordsProperty viewing tips UK, UK buy-to-let investment, UK property insurance tips, How to spot subsidence UK, Common structural problems UK houses, Bay window subsidence UK, Bressamer beam UK explanation, UK property cracks what to look for, Heave vs subsidence UK, Dealing with damp in UK property, Roof spread in UK houses, Spray foam insulation UK warning, Asbestos in UK homes, Underpinning cost UK, Helical bars for UK property, UK property maintenance podcast, UK property surveyor advice, Investment property red flags UK, Street view for property checks UK, Expat property story

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