Business Details
Expert Building Surveyors & Damp Specialists in Leominster
Heritage & Design is a family-owned building surveying practice specialising in heritage and traditional buildings. With over 8 years of combined academic study in building construction and materials, our team provides comprehensive property reports focusing on damp diagnosis, building pathology, and conservation of historic structures. We differentiate ourselves through hands-on inspections in challenging environments, utilising cargo pants and work boots rather than formal attire to access all areas.Our expertise extends across the UK, covering properties from tenement flats to castles. We maintain strict independence by refusing contractor affiliations and avoiding chemical damp-proofing recommendations. Our reports combine technical detail with plain English explanations, offering ongoing support to clients through post-report consultations.
Services
Building Surveys
Damp Diagnosis
Building Pathology
Heritage Conservation
Property Reports
Drone Inspections
Defect Analysis
Moisture Testing
Structural Assessment
Historic Building Surveys
Highlights and features
- We offer absolute integrity with no contractor affiliations
- Our team has 8 years of academic study in building construction
- We provide comprehensive reports with practical repair solutions
- We conduct hands-on inspections in challenging environments
- We specialise in traditional building conservation methods
What people say
Thorough reports
Expert knowledge
Practical solutions
Cost-effective advice
Educational value
Services
Building Surveys
Our comprehensive building surveys examine all accessible parts of properties, from chimneys to drainage systems. We specialise in diagnosing dampness causes and assessing structural damage in both modern and historic buildings. Our reports provide detailed explanations of defects and practical remediation strategies tailored to traditional construction methods.
Damp Diagnosis
We identify various damp types including penetrating damp, condensation, and misdiagnosed 'rising damp'. Our approach focuses on addressing root causes rather than temporary solutions, avoiding chemical treatments in favour of traditional repair methods that maintain building integrity while resolving moisture issues.
Building Pathology
Our defect diagnosis service examines construction failures in traditional buildings. With expertise in solid wall construction and lime-based materials, we identify complex defect patterns and provide solutions that respect original building techniques while ensuring modern functionality and longevity.
Heritage Conservation
Specialising in heritage buildings, we offer conservation advice for structures ranging from castles to tenement flats. Our approach maintains historical integrity through traditional materials and methods, addressing common issues like inappropriate cement rendering and modern repair techniques that compromise building performance.
Property Reports
We produce detailed property reports explaining building defects in accessible language. Our documentation includes photographic evidence, practical repair recommendations, and educational content to help owners understand their properties' needs. Reports focus on long-term solutions rather than temporary fixes.
People
John Durie
Building Surveyor
John holds a first-class honours degree in building surveying and an MSc in Conservation of Historic Buildings. With experience at the National Trust for Scotland and Historic Scotland projects, he specialises in traditional construction methods and damp diagnosis.
Alison Durie
Building Surveyor
Alison has a first-class honours degree in building surveying and a Master's in Urban and Regional Development. With background in local authority housing, she specialises in drainage systems and traditional building material conservation across the UK and France.
Questions
What makes Durie Heritage different from other surveyors?
We specialise in traditional buildings and damp diagnosis without contractor affiliations. Our hands-on approach includes accessing difficult areas in work attire rather than formal wear.
Do you provide damp proofing services?
No - we avoid chemical damp-proofing recommendations. Our focus is on diagnosing root causes and recommending traditional repair methods that maintain building integrity.
What areas do you cover?
We operate across the UK including Scotland, Wales, and central England, with particular expertise in historic building conservation nationwide.
How do you handle complex damp issues?
We identify multiple defect causes rather than simple 'rising damp' diagnoses. Our solutions focus on addressing root problems through traditional methods rather than temporary chemical treatments.
What qualifications do your surveyors have?
Both directors hold first-class honours degrees in building surveying and Master's qualifications - 8 years of academic study focusing on traditional construction methods and materials.
Reviews (2)
Ben Stimpson
Nov 07, 2020
Report
We found John though several searches looking for a specialist in heritage houses, being first time buyers and buying an 200+ year old building we were obviously nervous, and desperate to avoid using chemicals both having been brought up to do things traditionally where possible. John had excellent communication leading up to the survey ( which is of itself a brilliant read) answered any and all questions we had even after we had purchased the property and had begun renovating it . Whilst not as cheep as an off the shelf survey it was more than worth it both in highlighting a defect that the home
Michael Hodges
Jul 01, 2020
Report
Heritage & Design delivers an excellent service! We thoroughly assessed the property from top to toe for a damp survey. Recommendations were given how to fix problems and identified the roots of various problems. The survey is effectively a detailed walkthrough of what to do. Highly recommended!
