Cockrams Surveyors

01/04/2025

There is currently a power cut affecting our offices and parts of Truro. We apologise for any inconvenience caused if you are trying to call our office. We politely request that you send us an email and we will return all calls as soon as possible.

20/01/2023

Interesting article by Rightmove in relation to the property market....

How could the events of 2022 affect the property market next year? Here’s how things are looking right now.

17/10/2022

Is the current energy crisis and cost of living affecting buyers criteria and considerations when it comes to purchasing a home? Are you more likely to consider how energy efficient the property is when buying? 💡

Our pre-purchase Level 2 and Level 3 Home Surveys contains an informative Energy Efficiency section, something that may be even more relevant and useful to many purchasers in the current climate.

There's also lots of useful information on the Energy Saving Trust Website -

We want to help you save money on your bills at the same time as reducing your carbon footprint. Explore our advice to find out more.

13/01/2022

Everyone likes a box of wine?

Especially wood boring beetles!

Beware, whilst wine boxes are in vogue, older boxes such as this one will have been stored in cellars with high relative humidity (>60%). Always check for flight holes (circle holes in the wood approx. 1-2mm) before bringing into your home.

A good check for active infestation is to tap the wood and check for fresh frass (wood dust) exiting the flight holes. By this stage the active larvae have already degraded the structure of the wood.

Larvae can actively eat away wood for between 2 - 5 years depending on the species before pupating into an adult beetle, emerging, mating and laying new eggs, completing the life cycle.

If in doubt ask a Certified Surveyor of Timber & Dampness in Buildings (CSTDB).

06/01/2022

An interesting find!

The previous owner used this property as a second home and always complained of headaches and feeling lethargic when staying in this Cornish property. Little did they know they were suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning.

Regular sweeping and inspections of chimney flues by a HETAS registered engineer is always advised and carbon monoxide detectors should always be fitted and tested regularly in properties that burn fuel such as a gas combination boiler or wood/solid fuel in a fireplace.

In this case the acidic flue gases over time have degraded the structure of the concrete blocks resulting in complete failure of these elements. The blocks will have to be removed and replaced and the addition of a 904/316 flue liner will reduce the risk of further deterioration.

10/11/2021

A lovely surprise thank you from a recent client to brighten up the office 😊

09/11/2021

27/09/2021

Lets talk new builds...🏠

We get a lot of clients questioning whether they should have a survey on their purchase of a new build property. There is a common misconception that new builds are defect free and whilst there are lots of quality new builds on the market, we do see both minor and fairly significant defects in some instances.

Would you be happy with this in your new build property?