Buildings and structures

Heritage buildings and monuments

With 500,000 Listed buildings in England and Wales alone, historic buildings and monuments form around 3% of the total UK building stock. The owners and professionals responsible for their upkeep and conservation require information on the arrangement and condition of the fabric just as much as those working on modern buildings. The context of old buildings however places more constraints on how that information can be derived. Firstly, construction records are very seldom available, and secondly intrusive or destructive testing or examination is undesirable and often only possible as a last resort.

Clockwise from top left:
Ground penetrating radar survey to track subsurface obstructions at Goodwood House

Mapping metallic fixings in ornate stonework at Hardwick Hall

Buckingham Palace: using ground penetrating radar to map metallic fixings in the masonry

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There is therefore a real need to inspect and investigate old buildings without damaging the fabric or disturbing the users, which is where Non Destructive Investigation (NDI) methods become invaluable. Modern NDI methods cannot solve the problems of moisture, corroding metal fixings or voided rubble walls, but with appropriate use by investigation specialists they can save money by establishing the nature and extent of problems to enable effective remedial and maintenance strategies.

Lambeth Palace: Flue detection

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