Technical Due Diligence and Building Surveying for Commercial Property

Book excerpt: Technical Due Diligence and Building Surveying for Commercial Property is the first book to introduce the process of technical due diligence (TDD) and examine the role of the building surveyor within the commercial property sector. The book outlines the processes that the surveyor must go through when performing a TDD inspection and report and, most importantly, covers in detail the typical pathology and defects encountered during TDD. Performing a TDD survey involves collecting, analysing and reporting on a huge amount of information, often under specific contractual conditions. The book covers everything the surveyor needs to know in order to do a proper job and includes analysis of materials, life cycles and potential defects on an elemental basis, with detail on individual components where necessary. Coverage includes: • an introduction to the TDD process and types of commercial buildings encountered • chapters outlining the life cycle and defects of: structures, roofs, facades, finishes and services • hundreds of illustrations and photographs of defects, real-world case studies and suggestions for further reading • a final chapter covering legal issues and technical details. This book fills a clear gap in the literature and is the first fully illustrated book on TDD dedicated to commercial building stock. It will help students and professionals to understand the process, the science involved and the reasons why defects occur, as well as their evolution and long-term impact.