Condition Survey
A systematic physical inspection of a building or structure that records the state of each element — its material, any deterioration, and its urgency for intervention.
A condition survey is a systematic inspection of a building or structure to record the current physical state of its fabric. It identifies what materials are present, how they are deteriorating, the extent and pattern of any defects, and what maintenance or repair is needed urgently versus later.
For heritage buildings, condition surveys require specialist knowledge of traditional building materials and their characteristic failure patterns. Lime plaster behaves differently from cement plaster; stone from different quarries weathers differently; timber joints fail in patterns determined by species, exposure and load.
A condition survey typically maps findings onto a simplified plan or elevation drawing, colour-coded by urgency (e.g. red = urgent structural risk, amber = active deterioration, green = stable). This mapping approach makes the findings actionable for maintenance scheduling and conservation programming.