UBLL7G-20-2 Summer 2012

Faculty of Environment and
Technology
Academic Year: 11/12
Examination Period: Summer
Module Leader: Fiona Burrows

Module Code: UBLL7G-20-2
Title of Module: BUILDING DEFECTS AND PROPERTY SURVEYS
Examination Date:
Examination Start time:
Duration of Examination: 3 Hours
Instructions to Candidates:
Candidates must answer the COMPULSORY question from Section A

AND THREE questions from Section B.
Materials supplied to the candidate will be:
Number of Examination Booklets per Examination 1
Number of sheets of Graph Paper size G3 (Normal) 0
Number of Pre-printed OMR (Multiple Choice Answer Sheet) 0
Additional Instructions to Invigilators:
University approved calculators may be used Yes
Candidates permitted to keep Examination Question Paper Yes

Material supplied by student allowed (must be collected with answer booklet)
N/a
please specify:
Additional Specialised Material : NONE
Treasury tags will be supplied as standard
UBLL7G-20-2 Page 1 of 16
.
SECTION A - COMPULSORY QUESTION
1. You have received an instruction from a new client to carry out a Full
Building Inspection on the property shown in photograph Q1 A.
a) Prior to carrying out your building inspection you will need to

check/prepare all necessary equipment. List all the equipment you
would want to take and explain how you would cover health and
safety aspects.
(6 marks)
b) From photographs Q1 A, D, G and H write a “thumbnail description”

of the property, as recommended in section 6.2 of the RICS
Guidance Note “Building surveys of Residential property”
(6 marks)
a) Write site notes to illustrate particular points of interest to the

survey that you have picked up from photographs Q1
A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,J,K, and L.
(12 marks)
b) Using the format of the RICS Guidance Note (mentioned above)

and photographs listed above, write the “Walls” sections of your
report.
(16 marks)
(Total = 40 marks)
SECTION B Answer THREE (3) QUESTIONS FROM THIS SECTION
2. Photographs Q2 a,b,c, and d show a number of building defects. In each

case identify the problem, explain the evidence that you would look for to
substantiate your diagnosis and explain the possible causes.
(5 marks each for a, b, c and d)
(Total= 20 marks)
3. The photograph (Q3 a) on the attached page shows a terraced house built
in about 1900 which is poorly heated and suffering from a number of damp
problems. It is suspected that the causes possibly include rising damp,
condensation and penetrating damp.
a) Explain using annotated sketches the factors which may have

caused each of these problems and how you would distinguish
between rising damp, penetrating damp and condensation.
(10 marks)
b) On the assumption that rising damp is found to be one of the

problems in this house discuss the available remedies.
(10 marks)
4. Your experience leads you to suspect that the rising damp referred to in
Question 3 may have resulted in a dry rot attack to the suspended timber
ground floor of the house shown in Photo Q3 a.
a) Draw annotated sketches through sections of the floor to show its

construction (you should assume that this is as originally built) and
use this to explain the possible causes of the problem.
(10 marks)
b) Explain how you would distinguish between wet rot and dry rot,
what evidence you would look for to verify your suspicions, and
what remedial treatment should be undertaken.
(10marks)
5.
a) Using annotated sketches, show the differences in construction
between a cold flat roof and the two types of warm flat roof (assume
that the roof structure is timber). Then explain the relative
advantages and disadvantages of each type.
(10 marks)
b) Explain, using annotated sketches, the main causes of defects that

might occur in a bitumen felt flat roof and how they might be
avoided (again assume a timber roof structure).
(10 marks)
6.
a) Explain the difference between subsidence, settlement and heave
and, using annotated sketches, explain and describe the possible
causes.
(10 marks)
b) You have been asked to inspect a house which has a number of

cracks to its walls. The house is a 1930s semi detached property.
Explain the evidence you would look for, and how you would gather
it, in order to diagnose the possible causes of the cracking.
(10 marks)
Q1 A
Q1 B
Q1 C
Q1 D
Q1 E
Q1 F
Q1 G
Q1 H
Q1 J
Q1 K
Q1 L
Q2 a
Q2 b
Q2 c
Q2 d
Q3 a
END OF QUESTION PAPER

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Faculty of Environment and

Module Leader: Fiona Burrows

Candidates must answer the COMPULSORY question from Section A

Materials supplied to the candidate will be:

Number of Examination Booklets per Examination 1

Number of sheets of Graph Paper size G3 (Normal) 0

Number of Pre-printed OMR (Multiple Choice Answer Sheet) 0

Additional Instructions to Invigilators:

University approved calculators may be used Yes

Candidates permitted to keep Examination Question Paper Yes

Additional Specialised Material : NONE

Treasury tags will be supplied as standard

a) Prior to carrying out your building inspection you will need to

b) From photographs Q1 A, D, G and H write a “thumbnail description”

a) Write site notes to illustrate particular points of interest to the

b) Using the format of the RICS Guidance Note (mentioned above)

2. Photographs Q2 a,b,c, and d show a number of building defects. In each

(5 marks each for a, b, c and d)

a) Explain using annotated sketches the factors which may have

b) On the assumption that rising damp is found to be one of the

a) Draw annotated sketches through sections of the floor to show its

b) Explain, using annotated sketches, the main causes of defects that

b) You have been asked to inspect a house which has a number of

END OF QUESTION PAPER

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