Non-Destructive Investigations
Non-destructive investigation answers questions about a historic building without opening it up: what is inside a wall, where a flue or a blocked opening runs, whether a floor is supported as expected, where moisture is concentrated, and how a structure is behaving over time. Techniques include infrared thermography, ground-penetrating and wall radar, metal detection and covermeter surveys, endoscopy through existing joints, resistograph testing of timber, and long-term monitoring of movement and environmental conditions. Results usually inform an engineer's or architect's decisions rather than standing alone.
What this category covers
- Infrared thermography for fabric, moisture and heat loss
- Ground-penetrating and wall radar surveys
- Endoscopy and borescope inspection through existing openings
- Resistograph and micro-drilling assessment of timber
- Movement, moisture and environmental monitoring over time
Heritage Window Consultancy
Heritage Window Consultancy Ltd gives independent advice on the windows of listed ...
Michael Swords Studio
Michael Swords Studio is a RIBA Chartered architectural practice and AABC-accredited conservation ...
The British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing
The British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing (BINDT) is the professional body that ...
When non-destructive investigation pays for itself
Use it to avoid opening up. On highly graded or decorated buildings, the cost of a survey is usually far less than the cost and the harm of exploratory openings, and consent for opening up may be restricted in any case.
Ask a specific question. These techniques answer targeted questions well and general ones poorly. Knowing whether you are looking for a blocked opening, a wall tie, a void, a beam end or a moisture source shapes which method is appropriate.
Expect interpretation, not pictures. A thermal image or a radar trace means little without someone who can read it in context and say what they are confident about and what they are not. The report matters more than the equipment.
Allow time for monitoring. Movement, moisture and environmental questions are seasonal, and a single visit cannot distinguish active from historic movement or establish a drying trend. Where the question is 'is this getting worse', budget for monitoring across at least a year.
Questions to ask
Can you see inside a wall without opening it up?
To a degree. Radar, thermography and endoscopy through existing joints can identify voids, flues, embedded timbers, blocked openings and metal fixings. Each has limits, and results are interpreted rather than read directly, so a specialist's report is part of the service.
Is thermal imaging useful on old buildings?
Yes, for locating heat loss, tracing embedded features, and identifying areas of damp and evaporation. It works best in cold, dry, stable conditions with a temperature difference across the fabric, so surveys are usually scheduled for winter.
How do I tell whether cracking is still moving?
By monitoring rather than inspection. Tell-tales, studs and digital measurement over at least a full year distinguish seasonal movement from progressive movement, and that distinction usually determines whether structural repair is needed at all.
All 6 businesses listed under Non-Destructive Investigations
- Eco Tiffin Limited Hertfordshire
- Elements West Sussex
- Heritage Window Consultancy Somerset
- Hutton + Rostron Surrey
- Michael Swords Studio Greater London
- The British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing Northamptonshire
Directory information is provided to help visitors identify potentially relevant specialists and suppliers. Inclusion does not constitute a recommendation, approval or guarantee by Tuscan Foundry Products. Please check current services, credentials, availability and suitability directly with each business.