RICS Level 3 Building Survey in Great Chart with Singleton

A RICS Level 3 Survey, also called a Building Survey or Full Structural Survey, is the most in-depth inspection we offer for residential properties. From the roof down to the foundations, it looks at the building as a whole. Our surveyors in Great Chart with Singleton check all accessible walls, floors, ceilings and doors, and they also look at services, damp levels and insulation. The report gives a clear picture of the property's current condition, so you can see both immediate defects and issues that may turn into more serious problems over the coming years.

Great Chart with Singleton brings its own survey headaches, and our local assessors know them well. The village has a number of period properties that go back centuries, built with traditional methods that differ sharply from modern construction. Many homes along The Street and the surrounding lanes have ragstone foundations, timber-framed upper structures and Kent Peg tile roofing. Those older methods can be sturdy, but age can bring damp penetration, timber decay and movement in structural elements. Our inspectors know how to pick out those age-related concerns and separate them from something more serious.

The conservation of the village centre means many properties in Great Chart are either listed buildings or sit within the designated Conservation Area (CA-16). Buying in these categories needs extra care, because alterations and repairs often need Listed Building Consent or planning permission from Ashford Borough Council. Our Level 3 surveys pick up any unauthorised alterations that might cause trouble later, and we flag areas where heritage rules could shape renovation plans. For buyers thinking about works to period properties in the village, that sort of detail is invaluable.

Our surveys also take account of the geology around Great Chart with Singleton. The parish sits in the River Stour valley, and the clay soils below it have shrink-swell potential that can affect foundations, especially in drought or after heavy rain. The Great Chart with Singleton Parish Council's Environmental Action Plan recognises climate change impacts that may make those ground movement risks worse. Our inspectors look closely for subsidence, settlement or movement in homes across the area, especially where large trees are nearby and drawing moisture from the soil.

• Comprehensive structural assessment
• Detailed defect identification
• Recommendations for future maintenance
• Heritage and conservation advice
• Ground condition considerations
• Clear traffic-light rating system

The buildings in Great Chart with Singleton show centuries of local building tradition, with materials taken from the immediate area. In the Conservation Area, ragstone is the dominant material, a locally quarried limestone that gives many buildings their grey-brown look. Orange brick, often handmade from clay taken from local brickyards, sits alongside the ragstone in Victorian and Edwardian properties. Kent Peg tiles, made in the county for generations, remain the traditional roofing material and create the orange-brown roofs seen across the village.

Many first-floor elevations in Great Chart have decorative tile hanging, a distinctive Kentish building method that shields walls from the weather and adds visual interest. Along The Street and Bucksford Lane, we see everything from simple horizontal courses to more elaborate fishscale patterns. Our inspectors know these traditional methods well, so they can spot damaged, badly installed or misleading tile hanging. Those elevations need careful attention, because moisture can get in behind broken tiles and affect the structural timbers underneath.

Older timber-framed buildings in the parish, including Singleton Manor on Bucksford Lane, are among the oldest surviving structures in the area. This Grade II* listed 16th-century or earlier building has a timber-framed upper structure and a moat, and it shows the medieval techniques used locally. Some historic properties have had their ground floors rebuilt in red brick over the years, which was a common change as brick became more widely available. Our surveyors are used to assessing these mixed structures, how the materials work together and the issues that tend to arise in each type of build.

Years of surveying in Great Chart with Singleton have shown us a few recurring problems buyers should know about before they commit. Period properties in the village often show damp, especially rising damp where there is no modern damp-proof course. Many traditional houses were built without that protection, so moisture can travel through solid walls and affect plasterwork and timber. Penetrating damp is also common where render has failed, gutters are damaged or roof coverings are defective. Our inspectors use moisture meters to check damp levels and trace the source of any moisture ingress.

Timber-framed construction in many historic properties across Great Chart brings its own set of issues, and it needs an expert eye. Singleton Manor, a Grade II* listed 16th-century timber-framed building on Bucksford Lane, is a strong example of the construction methods found throughout the area. These homes often have exposed timber frames, and some ground floors were rebuilt in red brick over the centuries. Our surveyors inspect the timber for beetle infestation, fungal decay and structural movement that could affect the building's integrity. We also look at solid floors, which may be brick, stone or concrete, and check for deterioration or damp penetration.

Roof conditions are another regular concern in Great Chart with Singleton. Kent Peg tiles, the traditional roofing material used throughout the area, can become brittle with age and then crack or break, which leads to water ingress. Tile hanging on first-floor elevations, a striking feature of many properties in the Conservation Area, needs checking for missing, cracked or slipped tiles. Our surveyors also examine chimneys, a common feature on period homes that often show damaged brickwork, cracked flashings and poor pointing. Left unchecked, those defects can let water into the structure and damage internal finishes.

Ground conditions shape many of the issues we see across the parish, especially in places built on clay soils that shrink and swell. Trees close to properties, which are common in Great Chart's rural setting, can make that movement worse because they draw moisture from the ground during dry spells. That can move foundations and lead to cracking in walls, together with movement in door and window frames. Our inspectors look for signs of subsidence, heave or settlement that may point to unstable ground. Where the water table is high or homes sit near watercourses, we also assess flood risk, a concern recognised by the Great Chart with Singleton Parish Council.