RICS Level 3 Building Survey in Clevedon

Our RICS-qualified building surveyors carry out the most detailed non-invasive inspection that RICS offers. We look at all accessible parts of the building, inside and out, including the loft, sub-floor areas, visible roof structure, walls, floors, windows, chimneys and drainage runs that can be seen without specialist equipment. In Clevedon, that matters on houses around Beach and Copse Road, Old Street and the seafront, where age and exposure can leave hidden wear behind neat paintwork.

The report explains how the property was built, which materials appear to be in use and where defects are likely to stem from. We comment on repair work needed, maintenance priorities and the likely consequences if a defect is left alone, so you can judge the urgency rather than guess. If we see signs that point to movement, damp penetration, timber decay or failed previous repairs, we flag the issue clearly and tell you which follow-up, if any, makes sense.

A Level 3 survey does not mean the property gets opened up. We do not lift carpets, cut into fabric, carry out drainage CCTV, or test services such as electrics, gas, boilers and heating. Those are separate specialist checks, and we will say so if the evidence suggests one is needed before exchange.

• Construction and materials
• Condition and defect analysis
• Repair priorities
• Consequences of non-repair

Clevedon grew fast in the Victorian period, and that shows in the housing stock around Old Street, the Triangle Conservation Area and the roads back from the seafront. Many of those homes were built with brick, local stone or magnesian limestone, then finished with slate or tile roofs and lime-based mortars. In houses of that age we often look for failed pointing, roof leaks, timber decay and signs that older alterations were not done well.

The town’s coastal setting changes the picture. Properties near Marine Parade, Gullhouse Point and the stretch behind Marshalls Field can suffer from wind-driven rain, salt exposure and flood risk, while flood warning areas also affect places by Old Church Road, Strode Road, Southern Way, Yeolands Drive, Kenn Road and Tickenham Road. Surface water can be awkward too, especially on slopes, so a dry-looking wall at the viewing can still hide a moisture route through the structure.

Geology matters here as well. Clevedon sits on a mix of Devonian sandstones, Carboniferous marine rocks and Upper Triassic deposits, with a major mineralised fault running east-west near Clevedon Pier. Historic mining is part of the story too, which is one reason we take any cracking, sloping floors or stuck doors seriously, especially in and around conservation streets such as Beach and Copse Road, where the first Conservation Area dates back to 1974.

Listed buildings such as Clevedon Pier, Clevedon Court, Clevedon Hall, the Church of St John, the Curzon cinema and older structures near the Clock Tower need careful handling because repairs often need matching materials and consent. A standard view from the pavement cannot tell you whether a lime render is sound, whether a chimney stack has opened up, or whether a previous patch repair is hiding something larger. Our reports help you separate age-related behaviour from defects that need action.

• Damp ingress
• Roof coverings
• Timber decay
• Movement around bay fronts
• Flood exposure near low-lying roads