Home buyer structural inspections
Independent engineering assessment before you commit to a purchase, with clear advice on severity, cause and likely cost.
Surveys & Defect Diagnosis
Structural Surveys & Defect Diagnosis London
Structural inspections and reports for buyers, homeowners, landlords, businesses and property professionals.
When to act
When to request a structural survey
A structural survey gives you an independent engineering view of whether a defect is serious, what is likely causing it and what to do next.
Request a structural survey whenever the structure itself is in question, when you can see cracking, signs of movement or settlement, suspected subsidence, bulging or leaning walls, sagging floors or roofs, or before buying, altering or extending a property. A structural engineer inspects the building, diagnoses the likely cause, and advises whether the issue is cosmetic or structurally significant, and what action is required. If you are preparing to sell rather than buy, a pre-sale structural survey answers the same questions before they are raised by a buyer's surveyor.
- You have noticed cracks in walls, ceilings or external masonry
- There are signs of movement, settlement or distortion
- You suspect subsidence or have seen it mentioned in a report
- A building survey has flagged a structural concern
- You are buying a property and want an engineering view
- You are planning alterations, an extension or wall removal
- Walls are bulging, leaning or bowing
- Floors or roofs are sagging or deflecting
- A retaining wall, concrete element or chimney looks distressed
- An insurer, lender or solicitor has asked for an engineer's report
Who this is for
Engineer-led surveys for owners, buyers and businesses
We produce clear, practical structural reports tailored to who is reading them and the decision they need to make.
- Home buyers
- Homeowners
- Landlords
- Business owners
- Property managers
- Commercial property owners
Defect Diagnosis
Types of issues we inspect
From a single worrying crack to whole-building movement, we diagnose the likely cause before any repair is considered.
Homeowner structural concerns
Reassurance and diagnosis when something has changed in your home, new cracks, sticking doors or sloping floors.
Crack inspections
Assessment of crack width, pattern and direction to distinguish cosmetic cracking from active structural movement.
Subsidence assessments
Investigation of suspected subsidence, including likely causes such as ground conditions, drainage or nearby trees.
Movement assessment
Diagnosis of settlement, heave, thermal movement and lateral spread, with monitoring advice where needed.
Masonry defects
Inspection of bulging, leaning, cracked or spalling masonry, lintels, arches, chimneys and wall ties.
Concrete defects
Assessment of cracking, spalling, reinforcement corrosion and deflection in concrete slabs, beams and frames.
Retaining wall defects
Checks on leaning, cracking, bulging or overturning retaining walls and the ground they support.
Foundation issues
Diagnosis of foundation-related movement and advice on whether intrusive investigation or underpinning is needed.
Roof & floor deflection
Assessment of sagging, bouncing or overloaded floors and roof structures, and whether strengthening is required.
Commercial building defects
Structural inspection of commercial and mixed-use property for owners, landlords and managers.
Pre-purchase & pre-works checks
Targeted structural appraisals before a purchase, alteration, extension or change of use.
Intrusive Investigations
Trial pits and opening-up works
Some defects cannot be diagnosed with confidence from a visual inspection alone. Where the cause of movement is uncertain, intrusive investigation provides the evidence needed to specify the right repair.
Trial pits are excavated next to foundations to confirm their depth, type and condition and to assess the underlying ground and any influence from drainage, trees or made ground. Opening-up works expose concealed structure, beams, lintels, wall ties, connections or hidden corrosion, so the true condition can be assessed rather than assumed.
We advise when intrusive investigation is justified, coordinate the works, and interpret the findings so you move from uncertainty to a clear, evidence-based diagnosis and a buildable repair strategy. This avoids the common and costly mistake of repairing a symptom while the underlying cause continues.
Discuss a Subsidence Concern
The Report
What the structural report includes
A clear, useful engineer's report that leads to a decision, not a long list of caveats.
1
Inspection
A record of what was inspected, the property's construction and its relevant history.
2
Findings
The defects and observations found on site, supported by photographs and crack categorisation.
3
Diagnosis
The likely cause of the cracking, movement or defect, and its structural significance.
4
Severity
An honest assessment of how serious the issue is and whether it is active or historic.
5
Recommendations
Clear advice on monitoring, further investigation or repair, with a repair strategy where appropriate.
6
Next step
A practical route forward, including who can carry out any works and how EMA can support them.
Related Services
From diagnosis to repair
Once a defect is diagnosed, EMA can take you through to a practical, engineering-led repair.
Structural Inspection London
Engineer-led inspections for cracks, movement and suspected defects.
Learn moreSubsidence London
Subsidence and movement assessment, monitoring advice and repair strategy.
Learn moreCrack Repairs London
Structural versus non-structural crack diagnosis, stitching and repair.
Learn moreConcrete Repairs London
Repair of cracked, spalling or corroding concrete elements.
Learn moreStructural Repairs London
Engineering-led remediation, strengthening and contractor coordination.
Learn moreFAQs
Structural survey questions answered
What is the difference between a structural survey and a building survey?
A building survey is a broad condition report on a whole property, usually produced by a surveyor and covering everything from roofs and damp to joinery. A structural survey is a focused engineer-led assessment of the structure itself, cracks, movement, foundations, walls, beams and defects, diagnosing the likely cause and advising whether action is needed. Buyers often commission a structural survey when a building survey flags a structural concern.
Do I need a structural survey before buying a house?
Not every purchase needs one, but a structural survey is strongly advisable where there are visible cracks, signs of movement, suspected subsidence, previous underpinning, extensions or older masonry. It gives an independent engineering view of whether a defect is serious, what is likely causing it and what it could cost to put right, useful for negotiation and peace of mind.
What does a structural engineer's report include?
Our reports set out what was inspected, the defects and observations found, the likely cause, an assessment of severity and structural significance, and clear recommendations for any further investigation, monitoring or repair. Where useful we include photographs, crack categorisation and a practical next step rather than a long list of caveats.
Can you tell if a crack is serious?
In most cases, yes. We assess crack width, pattern, location and direction alongside the building's construction and history to judge whether cracking is cosmetic, settlement-related or a sign of ongoing structural movement such as subsidence. Where the cause is unclear, we may recommend monitoring or intrusive investigation before committing to a repair.
Do you carry out trial pits?
Yes. Where the cause of movement cannot be confirmed from a visual inspection, we can arrange intrusive investigations such as trial pits to expose foundations and ground conditions, and opening-up works to inspect concealed structure. This evidence allows the defect to be diagnosed accurately before a repair strategy is specified.
Worried about a crack, movement or a structural defect?
Send us photos and a few details, or book an engineer-led inspection, and we will advise whether it is serious and what to do next.