Homes we inspect in Balham
Between Clapham Common, Wandsworth Common and Tooting Bec Common, Balham is mainly late Victorian and Edwardian terraces, including the Nightingale Triangle, with mansion blocks along Balham High Road and around the station. Many houses have been converted into flats.
Knock-throughs between the front and back rooms, kitchen extensions and loft conversions are the alterations we design most often.
Common structural issues in Balham
- Walls removed between rooms without adequate support.
- Cracking where rear extensions meet the original house.
- Bay window movement.
- Alterations in mansion flats that affect neighbouring flats.
- Movement near the mature trees on and around the Commons.
Ground conditions
Balham is mostly on river terrace gravels over London Clay, with clay closer to the surface in places. Old drains and nearby trees are the usual suspects when cracks appear.
We check the British Geological Survey records for every address we inspect, because ground conditions can change from one street to the next.
Services in Balham
- Structural inspections: Specific (SSI) from £420*, General (GSI) from £540* and Comprehensive (CGSI) from £880*.
- Mortgage structural reports when your lender's valuer asks for an engineer.
- Insurance structural reports and subsidence investigations.
- Wall and chimney breast removal calculations for Building Control.
- Extension and loft conversion design.
- Freeholder consent reports for leasehold flats.
* Prices are a guide only and VAT may be added. Contact us for an accurate price.
Arranging an inspection in Balham
Send us the postcode, whether it is a house or a flat, how many bedrooms it has and a few photos of what you have noticed, or your valuer's letter. We will recommend the right service and give you a price in writing before you book. Our engineers travel to Balham from our office on Turnham Green Terrace in Chiswick, with weekday and weekend visits available. See our prices or request a quote.
Local guides
Nearby areas we cover
See all areas we cover across London.
Common questions
Do you have an office in Balham?
No. Our office is at Gable House, 18–24 Turnham Green Terrace, Chiswick, W4 1QP, and our engineers travel to Balham for inspections and site visits.
Is the wall between my front and back rooms load-bearing?
In a Victorian or Edwardian terrace it very often is, carrying floor joists or walls above. An engineer can confirm this on site and, if it is, design the beam and supports Building Control needs before the wall comes out.
