Email: nsv.consulting.eng@gmail.

com

STRUCTURAL SURVEY & DILIGENCE REPORT:

for WORLD VISION

NO. 32 PARK ROAD SURBURBS

603 CIPF Centre Jason Moyo 9th & 10th avenue , P.O.Box 2876 Bulawayo, Zimbabwe Telephone +263-
9 63636/63634 fax : +263-9 63639 DIRECTORS: N DUBE BSc (Eng) Hons (UZ), FZweIE, MZACE (Managing), R.A Dube (Finance &
Admin), V DUBE BEng Hons (NUST), Grad MZweIE
1.0 Introduction

NSV & Associates were requested by Mr. Ndou of World Vision (Bulawayo) to investigate and produce a
report on the structural state of the house on No. 32 Park road Suburbs in Bulawayo. Our engineers, Ms
N. Dube & Mr. N.P Zikhali visited and inspected the property on the 25 th of October 2011.Inspections
were focused on the following elements:

 2 Buildings within the stand identified as main house and cottage.

 Pool
 Car park and drive way

2.0 Inspections & Observations

Both buildings are single storey, brick masonry structures. The roof for the main house comprises
corrugated roof sheets laid on timber trusses & purlins & asbestos sheets on timber rafters for the cottage.

a) Main house

The gutters around the edge of the roof are supported by a timber fascia. This timber fascia shows clear
signs of rotting. The gutters leak generously, presumably because of aging and evidence of water
percolation is reflected through dampness cracks that have developed over time on the plaster. The gutters
are also blocked in some areas. The extent of leakages reflect a near total failure of the gutters. Refer to
fig 1.1 & Fig 1.2 in the annexure. There are also a number of “plaster shrinkage” cracks which were
observed. These are however non structural.

Fig 1.2.2 shows a crack; this settlement crack probably occurred during initial footing settlement &
consolidation as the building must have been built many years ago. It was noted that the crack is wider at
the top than at the bottom. This suggests that the footing on one side of the crack has moved downwards.
The width of this crack may have remained the same for a number of past years if the foundation
conditions eventually stabilized.

Some diagonal cracking was observed over the openings due to absence of bridging lintels. This
is evident over one door and on the big French door located on the western end of the building.
See fig 1.3 & 1.4

The concrete apron has been affected by creep & shrinkage. This is not a structural concern; however a
sound apron is recommended at all times to protect rain water from percolating into the building
foundations.

Severe cracks were observed on the verandah floor at the western end of the main house. These are due to
omission of expansion joints between stub column and the slab. In addition these may be due to
settlement of the foundation. See fig 1.7.

603 CIPF Centre Jason Moyo 9th & 10th avenue , P.O.Box 2876 Bulawayo, Zimbabwe Telephone +263-
9 63636/63634 fax : +263-9 63639 DIRECTORS: N DUBE BSc (Eng) Hons (UZ), FZweIE, MZACE (Managing), R.A Dube (Finance &
Admin), V DUBE BEng Hons (NUST), Grad MZweIE
 b) Cottage

Save for termite infestation in one room, the structures were generally found to be in a structurally good
condition.

c) External works

 Pool

Save for minor shrinkage cracks that have no bearing on the structural integrity of the structure, no
structural issues of concern were observed. The pool will need to be tested for water tightness.

 Car park & drive way

The roots of the big tree in the middle of the paved drive way have deformed the pavement around it.

3.0 Recommendations

The pattern of the cracks on the wall suggests that there is water ingress between the wall and the plaster.
The water ingress results from the leaking gutters. This water has caused the timber support to rot. We
recommend the following remedial works:

1. Total removal, rehabilitation of some for re-use and subsequent re-fixing of gutters.
2. Flood test to determine the effectiveness of the repairs on the gutters.
3. Total replacement of the timber fascia supporting the gutters.
4. Levels to gutters must be checked to ensure that these fall adequately towards down pipes.
5. Rehabilitation of the concrete apron & inducing of joints to control shrinkage and structural
movement.
6. Sealing of all leaking points on the corrugated roof sheets.
7. Removal of the tree in the drive way, rehabilitation of pavement and relaying of paving blocks.
8. Termite treatment within the whole building.
9. Whilst plaster shrinkage cracks are non structural, we advise that plaster must be removed in all
deteriorated areas & around the cracks to determine the extent & severity. Cracks must be
mended appropriately before re-plastering.
10. Lintel supports must be added where necessary. This will prop the affected sections and
discourage future cracks.
11. All minor cracks must be opened up & mended with crack filler before paint work.

603 CIPF Centre Jason Moyo 9th & 10th avenue , P.O.Box 2876 Bulawayo, Zimbabwe Telephone +263-
9 63636/63634 fax : +263-9 63639 DIRECTORS: N DUBE BSc (Eng) Hons (UZ), FZweIE, MZACE (Managing), R.A Dube (Finance &
Admin), V DUBE BEng Hons (NUST), Grad MZweIE
4.0 Conclusion

Both buildings generally inhibit a sound structural integrity & we do not foresee any major structural
defects that may compromise the structures. We therefore recommend that the observed defects be
repaired. We would like all the defective areas stripped open for further inspections if the client opts to
renovate the buildings. Thereafter more instructions can be issued to the relevant contractor.

603 CIPF Centre Jason Moyo 9th & 10th avenue , P.O.Box 2876 Bulawayo, Zimbabwe Telephone +263-
9 63636/63634 fax : +263-9 63639 DIRECTORS: N DUBE BSc (Eng) Hons (UZ), FZweIE, MZACE (Managing), R.A Dube (Finance &
Admin), V DUBE BEng Hons (NUST), Grad MZweIE
 ANNEXURES: FIGURES

603 CIPF Centre Jason Moyo 9th & 10th avenue , P.O.Box 2876 Bulawayo, Zimbabwe Telephone +263-
9 63636/63634 fax : +263-9 63639 DIRECTORS: N DUBE BSc (Eng) Hons (UZ), FZweIE, MZACE (Managing), R.A Dube (Finance &
Admin), V DUBE BEng Hons (NUST), Grad MZweIE
Fig 1.1

603 CIPF Centre Jason Moyo 9th & 10th avenue , P.O.Box 2876 Bulawayo, Zimbabwe Telephone +263-
9 63636/63634 fax : +263-9 63639 DIRECTORS: N DUBE BSc (Eng) Hons (UZ), FZweIE, MZACE (Managing), R.A Dube (Finance &
Admin), V DUBE BEng Hons (NUST), Grad MZweIE
Fig 1.2

Fig 1.2.2 Settlement crack on Northern side.

Fig 1.3 Crack over

internal door

Fig 1.4 Crack over

French door on
western side.

Fig 1.5 Pool

603 CIPF Centre Jason Moyo 9th & 10th avenue , P.O.Box 2876 Bulawayo, Zimbabwe Telephone +263-
9 63636/63634 fax : +263-9 63639 DIRECTORS: N DUBE BSc (Eng) Hons (UZ), FZweIE, MZACE (Managing), R.A Dube (Finance &
Admin), V DUBE BEng Hons (NUST), Grad MZweIE
Fig 1.6 Car park and drive way defect

Fig 1.7 Cracking of verandah slab from column base

603 CIPF Centre Jason Moyo 9th & 10th avenue , P.O.Box 2876 Bulawayo, Zimbabwe Telephone +263-
9 63636/63634 fax : +263-9 63639 DIRECTORS: N DUBE BSc (Eng) Hons (UZ), FZweIE, MZACE (Managing), R.A Dube (Finance &
Admin), V DUBE BEng Hons (NUST), Grad MZweIE