JNW & Co Ltd

04/03/2026

04/03/2026

Surveyed a property with thermal bridging issues at first floor ceiling/ eaves level and condensation forming internally.

Recommended exposure externally to ascertain extent of blown CWI slumping to the late 90’s property and lack of detailing with the roof insulation at eaves junction.

Thermal bridging defect confirmed by removing the soffit and fascia board. More surprising was the level of CWI.

CWI stopped about 1m below top of the external cavity wall; not a little slump! More like it was never correctly installed to all three external walls.

Difficult design options to resolve the issue:

-Top up with loose CWI and create small voids and move condensation staining elsewhere on the wall.

-Use of insulation batts and mismatch thermal properties; also how to adequately position batts passed the wall ties

-Removal of brick work to aid best detailing between original and new insulation

- Use of PIR rigid foam board not appropriate

Tile vents previously installed, so eaves detail can be easily insulated.

Follow up conversation with client and contractor about options and how to achieve suitable resolution and allow tenant to live in property with water running down the wall like a waterfall!

19/02/2026

*** Take care when viewing these photos ***

Working within an area that covers both rural and more densely populated towns and cities we come across a variety of properties with different methods of drainage that sometimes has been altered within its lifetime and may not always be as assumed.

We recently attended a property that was being purchased and working on behalf of the purchaser. We noted that the property was on the outlines of a town and that there were two inspection covers within the rear garden that would indicate that this may have been a septic tank originally, before modernisation of the town included for the mains sewage.

During the inspections we were able to lift the covers and by flushing the toilets and turning on the tap within the property we found that the presumed septic tank primary chamber allowed for the wastewater to enter. In discussions with the owner, they were confident that they were connected to mains drainage and provided a letter that they were issued at the time of their purchase from the water company indicating that the property was on mains drainage.

As this was at odd against the findings of the survey, we spent more time with them to
Discus the property and history of the drainage. Reviewing a water bill they found there was no sewerage charge and therefore could not confirm that the property was on mains drainage.

When buying and selling properties it is always best to obtain a professional opinion on the property to alleviate any uncertainty regarding the services and building elements that you are buying. In this case the issue was out of the surveyor’s hands and had to be put back to the vendor to deal with the water company to determine what was actually happening at the property before the purchase could be completed.

This could have been an expensive issue for the purchaser if this issue had not been raised at the time before exchanging contracts.

17/02/2026

Whether you’re buying, selling, or managing a rental property, understanding your ownership rights and responsibilities doesn’t stop at the front door. Boundaries, access roads, and shared footpaths can all affect how a property is used, maintained, and ultimately sold.

Buyers:
Before committing to a purchase, make sure the property boundaries align with the Title Plans and check for any shared access routes or rights of way. Overlooking this can lead to unexpected disputes, restrictions, or future legal complications.

Sellers:
Boundary discrepancies or unclear access rights are common causes of delays during conveyancing. Ensuring your Title Plans accurately reflect the physical boundaries of your property can help prevent last-minute issues that could delay or jeopardise your sale. Any shared footpaths or access over the property you are buying is made clear to you before exchanging contracts.

Landlords:
Understanding shared access and maintenance responsibilities is essential when managing tenants and protecting your investment. Clear knowledge of rights and obligations helps avoid disputes with neighbours and ensures tenants understand permitted access and usage.

Boundary or access issues often only surface when a property is being sold or re-financed — and by then, they can create costly and stressful delays.

Taking time to review your property documents, confirm boundaries, and clarify shared responsibilities now can help protect your property value and avoid complications in the future.

16/02/2026

Adding a conservatory to your home can increase the useable floor space; though it must remain separate from the main living space. To usually qualify for building regulations exemption, a conservatory should:

• Be less than 30 sq.m
• Be separated from the main house by external-quality doors, windows, or walls
• Have its own independent heating system that can be controlled separately
• Maintain the thermal boundary of the original home

This separation helps maintain energy efficiency, prevents heat loss, and ensures the conservatory is compliant with current regulations.

While open-plan living is popular, removing the dividing doors or walls between your home and conservatory can mean the structure may need to fully comply with building regulations.

Conservatories are not always built to the same standard as a regular extension, and cost less due to the limitations of the method of construction. Regular extension will require Building Control approval whereas a conservatory typically does not.

Upgrading a conservatory to be part of the living space will need to consider all aspects of the construction, including the foundations, thermal performance of the floor, walls, and roof area; as well as the extent of glazing being retained.

A conservatory should be viewed more like a greenhouse than an additional room; whilst the quality of conservatories continues to improve, the blending of what is and is not an extension can become more tricky to define.

If you are uncertain, seeking professional advice can provide reassurance

14/02/2026

Winter Roof Check – Protect Your Home

During the winter months, it’s important for homeowners to routinely inspect their roof space and ensure adequate ventilation is in place.

A build-up of moisture in the roof void can affect both stored belongings and key structural elements of your property. Cold external air during winter is often saturated with moisture, which can enter the roof space and lead to condensation.

This is usually reduced during warmer months, but preventative checks now can help avoid unnecessary damage.

✔️ Check that loft insulation is laid evenly and fully across ceiling areas.
✔️ Make sure insulation is not blocking the eaves.
✔️ Keep eaves clear to allow cross ventilation through the roof space.
✔️ Ensure vents and airflow paths are unobstructed.
✔️Extract ventilation from bathroom is secured to the external grille

Good ventilation allows moisture to escape and helps maintain the condition of your roof structure and insulation performance.

Routine seasonal checks can help protect your home, improve energy efficiency, and prevent costly repairs in the future.

If you are unsure about the condition of your roof space, consider seeking professional advice for peace of mind.

12/02/2026

Maintaining the correct ground levels around a property is an important but often overlooked part of preventing dampness, particularly in older homes.

Most properties are constructed with a physical damp proof course (DPC), which acts as a barrier to prevent moisture rising up through the walls from ground level. For the DPC to work effectively, external ground levels should normally be maintained at least two courses of brickwork below the DPC. In addition, air vents that provide ventilation to the sub-floor void should remain clear and ideally positioned at least one course of brickwork above external ground levels to allow proper airflow beneath suspended floors.

One sign that a DPC is functioning correctly can sometimes be visible externally, where water staining or moisture marks rise up the brickwork but stop at the level of the DPC. This indicates that the barrier is performing as intended and preventing moisture from travelling further up the wall and into the home.

In some cases, properties have been modernised with external cladding, raised paving, flower beds, or landscaping that can obstruct inspection of the DPC and unintentionally bridge it. Where ground levels are too high, moisture can bypass the DPC altogether, often leading to damp-related issues internally. Fortunately, high external ground levels are often one of the simpler and more cost-effective issues to address when identified early.

If you own or maintain a property, particularly an older or period home, it is worthwhile occasionally checking that ground levels, paving, and landscaping have not been raised over time. Keeping these areas clear can help protect the building fabric, improve internal conditions, and avoid more significant remedial works in the future. If you are unsure whether ground levels around your property are appropriate, seeking professional advice can provide reassurance and help plan preventative maintenance.

11/02/2026

Regular maintenance plays a vital role in protecting older homes, especially Victorian properties where traditional materials depend on careful upkeep to keep the building weatherproof and performing as intended.

This Edwardian semi-detached property is a good example of how earlier; poor-quality repairs can create longer-term issues. The render coating to the rear parapet wall has developed cracked and deteriorating render, along with an inadequate drip edge. The modern brickwork to the front parapet had not addressed the movement of moisture. This has allowed moisture to track into the solid brick gable wall below. Over time, the trapped moisture has also encouraged vegetation to grow within the cracks of the render, which will further deteriorate over time.

The gable wall brickwork is now showing signs of frost damage externally and internally, and elevated moisture readings were also recorded within the bedroom below. Issues like this often begin at high level and can go unnoticed until they start affecting internal areas of the home.

Parapet walls are particularly exposed to the elements and rely on effective weathering details and regular inspection to remain in good condition. Addressing defects early and carrying out sympathetic, high-quality repairs can help avoid more extensive and costly problems later on, while helping to preserve the character and integrity of period homes.

If you own or care for an older property and have concerns about cracking, dampness, or external defects, arranging periodic inspections can provide reassurance and help you plan maintenance before issues escalate. Looking after these details helps protect not only the building itself, but also the comfort and long-term value of your home.

10/02/2026

When undertaking a survey of the roof area of the property we take an holistic view of all of the building elements externally and internally to draw a conclusion and provide our opinion on the current condition of the structural elements and coverings to provide recommendations for our clients in respect of the life expectancy and next steps that need to be taken.

Here are some photos of a pitched roof to a 1930s detached property in Essex.

Utilising drone technology as part of the surveying process provided clarity as to the external envelopes condition and whether there were any failings that would require urgent attention.

Roof coverings to the building presented in an aged condition that would require roofing maintenance and repairs, with no significant findings of damaged or missing tiles that would allow water ingress to damage the internal aspects of the property.

The internal inspection of the roof structure and coverings presented a different picture. There was no secondary barrier underneath the roof tiles. Often this can provide a level of ventilation that would mitigate any potential issues with retained moisture laden air within the roof space. However, due to the nature of the roof coverings and exposed position within the area, wind driven rain and the general higher moisture content of the cooler air during the winter period increases the risk of condensation and moisture related damage over a period to the roof structure.

During the inspection it was noted that there were a number of timber battens had cracked or broken, with high levels of moisture content in them that would soften the timber and put them at risk of failure.

Based on the findings of the survey it was viewed that the roof coverings were visually in fair condition externally, at significant risk of cascade failure due to the wear and tear of the timber battens, through prolonged wetting and drying during the seasons that has affected their integrity to retain the tiles in place.

It was recommended that plans to be put in place for the roof coverings to be replaced within the next two years.

09/05/2025

Over the last few months we have been busy undertaking residential building surveys on some interesting buildings.

We have fully integrated the use of drone technology within our offering so that a greater understanding of the property can be provided with the use of aerial views and superimposed items for consideration.

There are no hidden fees with our services, providing simple and uncomplicated offers for our services.

If the boundaries were vague on site when surveying, we provide a snap shot of them for review against the title plan.

Services to and from the property that need to be clarified can be provided on the photo that supports the queries being raised.

Where properties have been heavily extended and altered in their lifetime, we provide a breakdown of when this occurred and which parts of the building it relates to.

Also, we just love seeing these amazing properties in their glory in sunshine too.

We don't just undertake residential surveys, we also survey commercial properties for purchase/ lease, defects inspections, and also condition surveys/ planned maintenance programmes.

This year we are also offering contract administration services for residential and small commercial premises that require building/ contraction services.

If you have any building related query then get in touch and we can discuss your needs.

07/03/2025

As the weather has been amazing this week, we took every opportunity to use our drone to provide clear detail of specific items for a residential building survey. Breaking down a roof to its age related areas, to offering the viewed boundaries of the property, along with the assumed drainage runs of the property over neighbouring land.

Whether its a large Grade II listed property or a more conventional and modern house, we apply the same level of detail and consistency to our services; the weather just makes it easier to provide great photos of the property.

If want to chat about a property you are being buying then get in contact with us to know more about what we can offer.