Homes we inspect in Ealing
Ealing grew quickly after the railway arrived in the nineteenth century and became known as the Queen of the Suburbs. Its housing is mostly Victorian and Edwardian, much of it generously sized and since extended or subdivided. The Brentham Garden Suburb is a conservation area with an Article 4 direction, which removes many permitted development rights, so extensions and loft conversions there need planning permission.
Earlier alterations are a common source of the cracking we see in Ealing: walls taken out between rooms, chimney breasts removed, and conversions that changed how loads reach the ground.
Common structural issues in Ealing
- Cracking where earlier alterations changed how the house carries its loads.
- Movement at the junction of older rear extensions and the main house.
- Sagging or overloaded floors in houses converted into flats.
- Trees close to the house on the clay of the higher ground.
- Roof spread in houses where roof timbers were altered for a loft conversion.
Ground conditions
Much of Ealing sits on river terrace gravel with brickearth above it, rather than the London Clay found in much of North London, while the higher ground around Hanger Hill runs onto clay. The usual assumptions about clay shrinkage need applying with care here, which is why an inspection of the actual house matters.
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 Ealing
- 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 Ealing
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 Ealing from our office on Turnham Green Terrace in Chiswick, with weekday and weekend visits available. See our prices or request a quote.
Nearby areas we cover
See all areas we cover across London.
Common questions
Do you have an office in Ealing?
No. Our office is at Gable House, 18–24 Turnham Green Terrace, Chiswick, W4 1QP, and our engineers travel to Ealing for inspections and site visits.
Do I need planning permission for a loft conversion in Brentham?
Very likely. The Article 4 direction in the Brentham conservation area removes most permitted development rights, so check with Ealing Council or your architect before you start. Our structural design can be prepared once the scheme is agreed.
