The Architectural bit

I have more or less retired from this sort of work now, but still do a bit now and then. After all, I can’t forget what I’ve been doing for years just because I got a bit older!

I’m not a designer or job-runner, I’m a Technician. Which means when the Architect has a brain-storm I make it stand up and keep the rain out. I also do “condition surveys” on all kinds of buildings although my interest, and most of my experience, is in commercial and industrial buildings, and “space planning” of office layouts, etc. Please don’t ask if I do house extensions – look in the local rag small ads for that! But I can tell you that 90% of “Rising Damp” isn’t rising, and you probably don’t need an expensive new DPC ( rainwater pipes and garden walls are the worst offenders, not to mention lots of modern insulation in an old house ).

Trees and Buildings

I can also tell you if you’ve got a problem between your trees and buildings. As a rule, for example, roots don’t break drains; but they will let you know if you have a problem, by penetrating a drain that’s been

Trees in the wrong place!

broken by settlement or crushed by traffic, etc. Trees too close to buildings are often a problem ( especially if both tree and building are “listed” ), what effect they have often depends on the soil type, but trees growing in the gutter should be an obvious one!