Additional inspection or reinspection
A return visit to re-inspect an issue we've already looked at, or to check a further area after an earlier inspection.
About this service
An additional inspection brings us back to a property we have already visited, either to look again at the same issue or to check something we could not cover the first time. Because we already know the building, its history and our earlier findings, the visit is focused and efficient. It is priced from £250 + VAT, which reflects that most of the background work has already been done.
The most common reason is time. A crack noted in spring may look different by late summer, particularly on London Clay where the ground dries and shrinks in warm weather and recovers over winter. A second look, set against measurements and photographs from our first visit, tells you far more than either visit alone. Another frequent reason is checking that repairs we recommended have actually dealt with the problem.
A reinspection is also useful when an earlier report raised a related question. Lifting a floor or removing a kitchen may reveal a joist, lintel or wall that deserves a closer look. Rather than starting again with a new engineer, we pick up where we left off and update our advice, so your records stay consistent and easy to follow for you, your builder or a buyer.
When you need it
- Repairs have been carried out and need checking
- You want to know whether a crack has changed since our last visit
- A further area needs looking at after our first report
What's included
- Re-inspection of the item or area
- Comparison with the earlier findings
- Updated advice
How it works
- Tell us what has changedYou let us know whether repairs are finished, a crack seems worse or a new area has come to light. We review our earlier notes and confirm the scope and fee in writing.
- Return visitThe engineer revisits the agreed area, retakes photographs from the same positions where possible and remeasures cracks, levels or gaps recorded last time, so the comparison is like for like.
- Compare with earlier findingsWe set the new observations against our original record to judge whether movement has continued, stopped or been properly repaired, and whether the earlier conclusions still hold.
- Updated adviceYou receive verbal advice or a short written update, as agreed when booking. It states what has changed, what has not, and whether any further action is needed.
What you receive
When a single return visit is enough, and when you need monitoring
One extra visit works well when the question is simple: has this repair been done properly, or does this new area raise a concern? It is less reliable for judging slow, seasonal movement, because two readings months apart can mislead if they fall at similar points in the ground's wetting and drying cycle. If movement is the real question, a structured programme starting with a crack monitoring baseline report gives a far clearer picture, and our guide on whether cracks are serious explains why patterns matter more than single widths.
If the follow-up shows the issue is wider than first thought, a reinspection can be the step that leads to a fuller report. For example, cracking that has spread from one bay to the party wall may justify a Specific Structural Inspection report rather than another update. We will tell you honestly when a further visit is unlikely to add anything, and when it is time to change approach.
Projects that used this service
Frequently asked questions
How soon after repairs should a structural engineer reinspect?
For a visual check of completed work, any time after the builder finishes and before decorations cover it up is ideal. If the aim is to confirm that movement has stopped, it is better to wait through at least one change of season, so the building has had a chance to show whether cracks reopen. We can advise on timing when you book.
Can you reinspect a crack another engineer looked at?
This service is designed for properties we have already inspected, because it relies on comparing our own earlier records. If another engineer did the first inspection, we can still help, but it is usually treated as a fresh site inspection or report, with their findings reviewed as background. Send us their report and we will suggest the right option.
Will I get a written report after a reinspection?
You get either verbal advice or a short written update, agreed before the visit. The update refers back to our original report and records what has changed. If a lender, insurer or buyer needs a full standalone document, we can advise whether a fresh report is more appropriate than an update.
Is a crack getting wider always a sign of subsidence?
No. Cracks can widen for many reasons, including seasonal clay movement, thermal expansion, a failing lintel, rusting wall ties or a leaking drain softening the ground. Subsidence is one possibility, and it tends to show a particular pattern of tapered cracks. Comparing measurements over time with the crack pattern is what helps an engineer tell these apart.