RICS Level 3 Building Survey in Saltburn

A RICS Level 3 Building Survey is the most detailed report we offer. In Saltburn, that depth is useful on homes near the Saltburn Conservation Area, on older terraces around Balmoral Terrace, and on properties that have been altered since they were first built. Our surveyors carry out the most detailed visual inspection possible of all accessible parts, then explain the construction, materials, obvious defects, condition, repair needs and maintenance priorities in plain English.

We look at the roof space where access allows, the external walls, chimneys, gutters, windows, floors, ceilings, joinery, visible services and any accessible outbuildings. If a property off Marske Road has signs of movement, if a terrace near Glenside has patched roofing, or if a New Marske house has had a rear extension added later, the report will say what that means in practice. You get advice on the likely consequences of not dealing with an issue, not just a note that something looks tired.

The Level 3 report does not turn into a destructive investigation. We do not lift carpets, open up floors, cut into plaster, carry out drainage CCTV, or test electrical, gas or plumbing systems, because those are specialist tasks. What we do is identify the things that warrant follow-up, so if a roof on a Saltburn property has slipped slates or a Marske Road house shows signs of damp at a chimney breast, you know which specialist to call next.

• Accessible loft inspection
• Sub-floor and ground-floor observations where entry is possible
• External walls, chimneys, roof coverings and rainwater goods
• Windows, doors, finishes and visible signs of movement
• Advice on repairs, maintenance and likely consequences if defects are left alone

Saltburn’s building stock is not one single type, and the local details matter. Balmoral Terrace, built between 1864 and 1866, uses cream-coloured Pease brick with sandstone dressings and Welsh slate roofs, and some roofs have since been reclad in concrete tile. That change is exactly the kind of thing a Level 3 survey needs to assess, because a roof covering may hide heavier loading, older fixings or a patchwork of repairs that a quick inspection will miss.

The wider parish adds more variety. Marske Conservation Area, designated in 1976, contains earlier sandstone houses, including High Street properties with herringbone tooled sandstone and ashlar dressings, while Marske Hall and St Mark’s parish church sit within a historic core with buildings from several centuries. Saltburn Conservation Area was updated in 2019, and listed places such as the Zetland, the Pleasure Pier and the Incline Keepers Cottage show how much older fabric survives in the town. That mix often means solid walls, older timber, hidden drainage routes and occasional later alterations that need careful reading.

The local risk picture also matters. Saltburn, Marske and New Marske are in an area with long-term flood risk from rivers, the sea, surface water and groundwater, even though the next 5 days can be very low risk. Flooding can still hit from extreme rainfall and coastal weather, while New Marske’s mining history, plus disused workings near Errington Woods, raises the question of ground stability in parts of the wider parish. A Level 3 survey is useful here because it can connect visible cracking, floor movement or damp staining with the building form and the local setting.

• Penetrating damp around chimney breasts and parapet walls
• Roof deterioration where slate has been replaced by heavier tiles
• Timber decay and woodworm linked to poor ventilation
• Movement at bay windows, lintels and older solid walls
• Outdated wiring, pipework or historic alterations that may not meet current standards