Gold Standard Building Surveying

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Gold Standard Building Surveying

👨🏼‍💻 Seán McGoldrick
🕵️‍♂️ Chartered Building Surveyor
🏡 RICS Regulated | MRICS | MRPSA
🤝 12+ years’ experience
🧱 Traditional buildings enthusiast

05/11/2026

So, what does a building survey actually involve? 🏡

You’ve found a property you like, but you want to understand what you’re taking on before committing to the purchase.

We inspect the accessible parts of the building, inside and out, from the roof coverings, chimneys and external walls to the roof space, ceilings and floors.

We’re looking for defects, signs of movement, moisture problems and issues with previous alterations. We also consider how the property was built, the materials used and how they perform, alongside the maintenance it’s likely to need.

A big part of the job is following the clues. A patch of staining, for example, needs more than a mention in the report. Where might the moisture be coming from? What needs checking next?

There are limits to what we can see. We can’t lift fitted floor coverings or open up walls during a typical survey, so we explain any restrictions and where further investigation may be needed.

Afterwards, we bring the findings together in a report that provides a risk-based analysis of the property. We explain what we found, how serious it is and what you should do next.

Our reporting is balanced and proportionate, putting findings into context for the property’s age and construction, and helping you distinguish between routine maintenance and more significant concerns. We can then talk through anything you’re unsure about.

The aim is to help you understand the property, the repairs it needs and the costs you may need to plan for, so you can make an informed decision.

🏡 Gold Standard Building Surveying – protecting your investment, one survey at a time. 💰 🧱

03/11/2026

Something I come across quite often, particularly as the weather turns colder - is localised mould growth and staining to ceilings.

It’s understandable to worry about a roof leak when you see patches like these. But in this case, the cause was gaps in the insulation above.

These gaps left parts of the ceiling colder than the surrounding areas, creating conditions for mould and condensation to develop under the right conditions.

The thermal image helps illustrate those colder areas, while a look inside the roof space revealed the missing insulation.

The good news? Addressing the insulation gaps is relatively straightforward and cost effective. Insulation should be continuous and evenly laid, taking care to keep the roof space’s ventilation paths clear.

Indoor moisture levels, heating and ventilation also play a part in controlling condensation.

Simply cleaning and painting over the patches won’t address the underlying cause.

The key is understanding what’s causing the issue, how serious it is and what needs doing to put it right - which is where we come in.

🏡 Gold Standard Building Surveying – protecting your investment, one survey at a time. 💰 🧱

27/10/2026

Something worth keeping an eye out for when purchasing or working on properties built before 2000.

Some localised deterioration to the soffit boarding and finishes of this mid-1980s property.

So what’s the concern?

Asbestos-containing boards were commonly used for soffits during this period, particularly asbestos cement and asbestos insulating board (AIB).

Whilst asbestos cement is generally considered relatively low risk when in good condition and left undisturbed, AIB can present a much greater risk, particularly when damaged or disturbed.

Of course, you can’t confirm whether a material contains asbestos simply by looking at it.

Specialist assessment and, where appropriate, sampling are needed to establish its composition and determine any necessary remedial works.

Aside from the potential health risks, asbestos-containing materials can also have significant financial implications, with specialist encapsulation or removal sometimes proving costly.

It’s useful to recognise materials that could potentially contain asbestos, so they can be left undisturbed until properly assessed.

🏡 Gold Standard Building Surveying – protecting your investment, one survey at a time. 💰 🧱

20/10/2026

One thing I regularly come across when surveying older properties is the inappropriate use of modern building materials.

This traditional solid wall property is a good example.

Cement render externally, dot and dab plasterboard internally, and solid concrete floors to name a few.

All alterations that might seem like a good idea at the time, but the consequences often don’t become apparent until years later.

Widespread dampness is now affecting the internal walls, with plaster and decorations deteriorating at low level.

Traditional solid walls need to be able to absorb and release moisture naturally. Cement render and impermeable concrete floors restrict this process, whilst plasterboard can conceal problems developing behind it.

It’s essential to use materials that work with older buildings, rather than against them.

🏡 Gold Standard Building Surveying – protecting your investment, one survey at a time. 💰 🧱

14/10/2026

🔥 A significant fire safety concern identified during a recent property survey.

The flue from this oil-fired boiler is discharging hot combustion gases directly towards an oil storage tank positioned nearby.

Someone has placed a piece of timber between the flue and the tank, presumably in an attempt to deflect the heat.

As you can see, the timber is visibly scorched!

Not only does this demonstrate the heat being directed towards the tank, but the timber itself is combustible and provides no suitable form of fire protection.

Technical Booklet L provides guidance that oil boiler flue terminals should be positioned at least 1.8 metres from an oil storage tank, unless suitable fire protection is provided. A piece of scorched timber certainly doesn’t provide that protection 😬

A good example of why a property survey involves much more than identifying cracks, dampness and general maintenance issues.

Sometimes the most important findings are those that could have serious implications for the safety of the occupants and the property.

🏡 Gold Standard Building Surveying – protecting your investment, one survey at a time. 💰 🧱

12/10/2026

Have you heard of lime torching?

It’s something you’ll often come across in the roof spaces of older properties.

Before roofing felt became widely used, lime mortar was often applied to the underside of roof slates to help prevent wind-driven rain, snow and draughts from entering through gaps between the slates.

This traditional technique is known as torching.

Interestingly, animal hair was also commonly mixed into the lime mortar, which helped strengthen it and reduce cracking as it dried.

If you look closely at the third photograph, you can see animal hair within a piece of the original mortar.

Over time, the torching can become loose, crack and eventually fall away, as can be seen here.

Whilst this is quite common in older properties, deteriorated torching doesn’t necessarily mean the roof needs replacing.

The condition of the slates, their fixings and the overall roof covering is much more important when assessing the roof’s condition and whether repairs are necessary.

🏡 Gold Standard Building Surveying – protecting your investment, one survey at a time. 💰 🧱

18/09/2026

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Really pleased to receive this recent feedback from a returning client:

“Very professional and personal service again from Sean, and nothing is too much trouble - excellent customer service approach and a really comprehensive, intelligible, detailed report of the inspection carried out to a high standard and quality of work. We wouldn’t consider using anyone else. Many thanks Sean.”

Always great to receive positive feedback, and especially nice to have returning clients put their trust in me again.

Thanks for taking the time to leave a review, it’s very much appreciated! 🏡

🏡 Gold Standard Building Surveying – protecting your investment, one survey at a time. 💰 🧱

17/09/2026

🏠 Not every defect is a major concern.

It is quite normal for a property survey to identify a number of defects and maintenance items, particularly with older properties.

The important part is understanding the significance of what has been found.

Some defects may require further investigation or more immediate attention, whilst others may simply be typical of a property of that age and form part of ongoing maintenance.

A good survey should not just provide a list of defects. It should help you understand the property, prioritise any necessary works and make an informed decision before proceeding with your purchase.

In the process of buying? Reach out today to see how we can assist you.

📞 028 8230 2123
📧 [email protected]
🌐 www.gsdsurveying.com

🏡 Gold Standard Building Surveying – protecting your investment, one survey at a time. 💰 🧱

15/09/2026

🍂 A timely reminder as we head into autumn.

Rainwater goods are an important, but often overlooked, part of maintaining a property.

Blocked, leaking or defective gutters and downpipes can result in rainwater overflowing onto external walls, which over time can contribute to dampness, staining and deterioration of the building fabric.

With leaves beginning to fall and wetter weather approaching, now is a good time to make sure gutters are clear, joints are watertight and downpipes are discharging correctly.

A relatively simple maintenance item, but one that can help prevent more costly repairs in the future.

🏡 Gold Standard Building Surveying – protecting your investment, one survey at a time. 💰 🧱

10/09/2026

Another fantastic client review following a recent home survey 🏡

For me, a survey isn’t simply about identifying as many defects as possible. It’s about putting those findings into context and helping clients understand what actually needs attention, what can be planned for, and what is simply part of owning a property of that age.

Buying a home is a significant investment, and a detailed but practical survey can provide the clarity needed to make an informed decision with confidence.

It’s always great to receive feedback like this and know that the level of detail, advice and support we provide is making a difference to our clients.

📞 028 8230 2123
📧 [email protected]
🌐 www.gsdsurveying.com

🏡 Gold Standard Building Surveying – protecting your investment, one survey at a time. 💰 🧱

Address

Drumlester Road
Carrickmore
BT799NT

Website

http://www.gsdsurveying.com/

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