Building Condition Assessment
Our experienced technicians forensically assess and record the condition (or health) of your building's fabric, providing precise remedial solutions to prolong the lifespan of your heritage asset.
ITS OK FOR OLD BUILDINGS TO LOOK OLD
At RBA, we acknowledge that all built fabric inherently exhibits some degree of entropy - building fabric decay - which is an inevitable part of its natural lifecycle. However, external factors such as poor detailing or previous inappropriate repairs and accretions can cause decay to accelerate in an abnormal or unacceptable way.
Using a combination of cutting-edge and traditional investigative techniques, a Building Condition Assessment aims to examine a structure in fine detail to record defects (or poor condition). Critically, with our unique expertise we can distinguish between decay that has occurred naturally and defects that have occurred due to external factors requiring remediation.
Investigative techniques utilised by our team may include:
Digital recording of building fabric including: photogrammetry, aerial drone surveys
Traditional hands-on assessment techniques; eg. tap tests
Microscopic paintscrape analysis
Scientific/laboratory materials analysis
Sonar, metal detector,s ultrasound to understand structure and defects
Where necessary, we call upon our database of external specialist consultants and traditional crafts and trades people using their expansive knowledge of early and contemporary building technologies and predicted modes of decay.
Once the defects are identified we determine what remedial (repair) action/s are appropriate. Sometimes low tech solutions are best for low tech problems. RBA endeavour to recommend the most appropriate, durable and economical solutions for our clients.
A prioritised schedule of Conservation Works and ongoing maintennance can then be prepared.
RBAs knowledge of building fabric, gained over 30 years of experience, is extensive and includes but is not limited to:
DECORATIVE FINISHES (internal and external) including: paint systems, renders, stuccos, wall papers, tessellated tiling
GLASS including: stained glass, leadlight, etched glass, curtain walls
MASONRY including: dimension stone and freestone, sandstone, basalt, limestone, concrete
TIMBER including: hardwood and softwood framing and cladding systems both indigenous and exotic (external, structural, internal, decorative)
METAL including: wrought and cast iron, steel, bronze, copper, aluminium
MORTAR including: traditional lime putty mixes, tuck-pointing as well as the many cement based systems
PLASTER AND RENDER including: traditional lime putty based systems, lathe and plaster ceilings
ROOF CLADDING including: terracotta, slate, corrugated iron, lead, zinc, copper and fibre cement sheet
FACADE CLADDING including: stone, faience architectural terracotta, brick, concrete, glass, timber, aluminium, sheet metals, cement sheet
