Merit Estates: Building Surveying

26/03/2026

Surveyed in 2025, this church was suffering from water ingress via the rainwater goods and historic application of gypsum plaster was exacerbating the issue. A schedule of works was issued to a capable, local contractor with experience of heritage and ecclesiastical buildings, and most importantly: LIME.🍋‍🟩

2026, the rainwater goods and internal walls have been repaired, as if nothing has ever happened. This time benefiting from a breathable lime render.

Church is now ready to play host to weddings this spring/summer ☀️

24/03/2026

The question we’re most commonly asked: do I need a Level 2 or Level 3 Survey?

14/03/2026

Plenty of progress made throughout the winter months. First fix electrics & plumbing in full flow; ground source heat pump being installed; limecrete floor installed; central valley area re-covered; new windows; re building of chimneys; new drainage system installed. Looking forward to warmer weather and seeing the property burst into life ☀️

17/12/2025

Final full week at the office of 2025. We’d like to thank all of our clients, contractors and specialists we’ve worked with this year. Here’s to an even bigger 2026! 🎄

11/11/2025

We previously carried out some design work to give this boathouse a facelift. Lovely end result!

12/07/2025

Plenty of progress being made project managing an extensive refurbishment at a property in North Yorkshire!

Enjoying the warm dry weather ☀️

☠️ All asbestos (lots of it) has been safely removed from the building. The heating pipes were lagged in the material throughout the ground floor.

🌳 A dangerous beech tree has been felled and we intend to plank it up, leave to dry for a year with a view to use inside the house.

💧 Rainwater goods have been stripped shot blasted, primed and decorated in the original ‘lizard’ colour.

🧱 Great progress being made on the raking out of all cement based mortar from the building.

🔥 Three hot mixed lime mortar samples, each with a different pozzolan applied to the wall and a decision made, just need the weather to cool off a little before re-pointing starts!

🪵 Some of the rotten timber fascia boards have been marked for replacement. Happy to say most can be repaired.

06/05/2025

Different one today, but what a treat. Got the keys to this lovely Victorian church to carry out a Schedule of Works in line with recommendations made in a Quinquennial report.

There was a lead plaque on the flat roof at the top of the bell tower, dedicated to T. Broome (an estate plumber). Unsure on the reason, possibly died during construction, but unsure why the plumber would be up such a height!

07/02/2025

07/01/2025

Happy New Year!
Back to work and as busy as ever.
We would like to wish everyone a prosperous 2025. 💪

18/12/2024

We’re delighted to announce the business has purchased the old Lister Haigh premises, in the heart of Boroughbridge.

This Grade II Listed building has housed a Land Agency & Chartered Surveying firm since the 1940s. We’re honoured to be continuing that legacy.

There’s plenty of work to do, and contractors are already putting the work in to sympathetically restore and renovate parts of the building.

Watch this space…

30/11/2024

Some architectural highlights from two weeks holidaying in Hong Kong & Thailand.

Sky scrapers, Buddhist Temples and bamboo scaffolding. A fantastic cultural experience, rich in colour and history.

Looking forward to getting back to work on Monday and surveying historical houses on home soil. 🇭🇰 🇹🇭