Common defects

 This section has been designed to support the building pathology approach to defect analysis and should be read in conjunction with the other sections within the pathology section. It provides a holistic and more general introduction to the pathology approach necessary to deal with common defects that will be encountered in a UK-based inspection.

Defects interfere with the relationship between the physical building and the client's desires, perceptions and expectations. This section reflects defects that are common, difficult to diagnose or complex to resolve, and provides a compendium of common defects.

The section also explores how to begin investigating a defect, what the most likely causes are and the common pitfalls to avoid when analysing cause and effect.

This section is maintained by Andrew D Thompson FRICS.