Chartered surveyors in Lytham St Anne's

Post-war rebuilding, largely cavity-walled, but including system-built and non-traditional types — reinforced concrete, steel frame and prefabricated panels — put up quickly to address the housing shortage.

What we usually find. The conventional stock of this period is usually straightforward. Non-traditional construction is a different matter: some types are designated defective, and most lenders treat them differently or decline them, which affects both mortgageability and resale.

Worth knowing. Identifying the construction type is the first job on anything of this age that does not look conventionally built. A Level 3 survey is normally the right choice here, and lending should be confirmed early.

Mostly solid-wall terraces and early semis, with cavity construction beginning to appear toward the end of the period. Slate damp-proof courses are usual, along with timber sash windows and slate roofs.

What we usually find. Much the same pattern as the older stock, with the addition of early cavity walls where wall ties may now be corroding. Original roof coverings are commonly nearing replacement, and rear additions of this age are frequently built to a lower standard than the main house.

Worth knowing. Where a property has been re-roofed or extended, the junction between old and new is normally where water gets in. It is worth establishing what was done and when.