About Me

I have been carrying out remedial surveys in and around Devon and Cornwall for over 35 years.

My interest in the general industry started at a young age working alongside my father who was himself a master craftsman working on projects such as the restoration of HMS Victory and the refitting of the QE2.

I joined a preservation company in 1983 and progressed through training ultimately to surveying and managing a team of operatives.

I started my own property preservation business in 1989, obtaining surveying qualifications CTIS & CRDS in 1994 through the BWPDA, now known as the PCA – Property Care Association. I furthered my education with a double distinction in basic construction in 2006 and have continued updating with various courses relating to the industry.

In 2018 I decided to concentrate on remedial surveying as an independent with a particular focus on historic and traditional buildings. I also wanted to help the inexperienced and/or first time buyers who often “bite of more than they can chew”.

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ICIRS Independent Damp & Timber Surveys

40 Old Woodlands Road, Crownhill, Plymouth

5.0 82 reviews

darren tippett ★★★★★ 4 years ago
I have known Ian for around 20 years. And in that time he has surveyed various properties for me. Ranging from 1930 construction to a 1830 historical building on the Barbican , and more recently a barn conversion which I am in the proceed of renovating. Ian has provided me with excellent detailed surveys and reports. Along with how to resolve any water ingress and damp problem. He has carried out work for me recently on the barn with great success. Highly recommended should anyone require his devices.
Tim Brooks ★★★★★ a year ago
We were experiencing water penetrating into our kitchen extension. Ian came recommended and we looked at the positive reviews before booking him. They were spot on, Ian was quick to respond, clear and concise advising what he could provide and booked in quickly. His communication was great and I was informed throughout. Polite and professional and very helpful. Still waiting for tradesmen to do the work recommended so can't say if the problem is solved but I'm confident if it isn't Ian will continue to assist and provide advice. We wanted someone to tell us what was required rather than a builder or roofer tell us we needed unnecessary work. We are now informed and can request suitable work.
Would definetly use again when we buy our next house for survey.
Thank you Ian
Sam Vallance ★★★★★ 2 years ago
We have been very happy with the advice and recommendations from Ian. Having been unsure in which direction to turn first to manage the issues with our older property - it feels like weight has been lifted. Ian has very kindly provided us with the reassurance that we can move forward with a structured plan in place. He was very generous with his time during the visit and was extremely professional throughout. Having the reassurance that we can contact him with any future queries is so helpful and I would not hesitate to recommend his services. Thanks again for all your help Ian.
Sites at HPB ★★★★★ 2 years ago
Ian recently carried out a damp survey on one of our properties and we had an excellent experience from start to finish. Upon initial inquiry, Ian was very responsive, listening to all of our concerns and directing us to the best survey type tailored to our needs, saving both time and money. Whilst on site, Ian undertook a very thorough investigation of the property taking time to show and discuss his findings while on site, allowing us to ask questions throughout. Following the inspection, Ian produced an in-depth, but easy-to-digest report with clear recommendations. Ian then called me to further discuss the aforementioned report and answer any queries that I had, which again was informative and explained in terms that we could understand. Ian is approachable, highly professional and comprehensive – everything that you would want in a surveyor! I would instruct ICIRS in future and would highly recommend to others.
Daniel Uren ★★★★★ a year ago
Fantastic, friendly & comprehensive service. I highly recommend ICIRS to anyone seeking to find detailed and comprehensive advice regarding all aspects of damp within their property and a clear, professional and unbiased opinion towards best courses of future action.
Ian was friendly and responsive from first contact. He was very clear, professional yet approachable in his advice and performed a very detailed investigation followed up by a detailed yet concise report containing all information required. Ian has a profound knowledge of his field and shared a genuine passion and expertise offering a service to a standard that is hard to come by in this day and age and that was far above the cut of any other that I have worked with.
Thank you Ian.
Samantha F ★★★★★ 4 years ago
Ian recently carried out a survey at my property and I can't fault him at all; he was just excellent.
He explored all possible avenues to resolve the issue that I’m having and went above and beyond what I expected. Ian made 3 visits to my property, firstly to carry out the initial survey and then to advise various contractors on the technicalities of what needed to be done. He took the time to explain everything to me in a way that I could understand and sent me a comprehensive report within 24 hours, which was also written in such a way that I would be able to understand.
Ian has also followed up with a few telephone calls to check how I’m getting on with the project and to offer further advice and support. He has made it clear that his support doesn’t stop after the survey is complete and has encouraged me to contact him if I have any questions at any time, something that I will definitely be taking him up on as the project progresses.
Ian is friendly but professional, his services are competitively priced and his wealth of knowledge and experience is worth every single penny.
Julie Vaughan ★★★★★ 4 years ago
Ian was brilliant from the start, he gave advice over the phone prior to me booking in a survey with him. He was extremely knowledgeable and came across as passionate and conscientious and above all professional and honest. He carried out the survey and produced a thorough report based on his findings. He followed this up with a phone call to ensure my understanding and to check if I needed clarification on anything. I would have no hesitation in dealing with him again. Friendly, engaging with positive integrity, a pleasure to do business with. Highly recommended.
Danielle Dudley-Smithson ★★★★★ 4 years ago
Ian visited our site to access a damp problem. Our buildings are from circa 1870 so we are always keen to keep them as authentic as possible when doing work on them. Ian arranged to visit within a few days and was very professional and knowledgeable. He explained everything we needed to consider.
I would recommend Ian to any business, old or new.
Emily Neil ★★★★★ 4 years ago
Ian's knowledge of historic buildings was invaluable for our house renovation planning. Thanks to his advice, we have a clear idea of how to proceed, taking into account traditional materials and methods. His assessment was exceptionally thorough and professional, and he was very generous with his time, coming to our house on more than one occasion & always available for a phone call to discuss anything further. He is clearly an expert in his field and we really can't recommend him enough. Thank you!
Juliana Allen ★★★★★ 4 years ago
Really grateful to have been recommend Ian by a trusted friend, he did not disappoint. He was knowledgeable, professional and clearly cares about providing service to a high standard. He carried out a very thorough pre-purchase house survey for me; revealing a number of issues, which I will be using to negotiate the purchase price. His report was timely and very detailed, clearly explaining the issues, likely causes and clear recommendations for remedial works or further investigations, which I have been able to take to tradespeople for quotes. I was feeling a bit apprehensive about the findings of the report and Ian spoke to me at length, putting things into perspective and ultimately I feel empowered to make a decision about my purchase. I recommend Ian without hesitation!
LooeMCG Events ★★★★☆ 4 years ago
From the word go Ian understood and explained the issues causing the damp problem we have battled with for the last 35 years at the back of our stone built house. He was generous with his time and shared his experience. I was a bit daunted by the task ahead but found Ian encouraging and down to earth, was helped by a follow up phone call from him and reassured that I can call on him again when the work is being carried out. He offered to liase with any builder we use at no extra cost. Although the work has not yet been done I feel confident that Ian has given us the right advice, verbally and in writing, and would not hesitate to recommend him.
Deborah Marsh ★★★★★ 4 years ago
Ian was recommended by a local builder and neighbour. He was very knowledgeable and professional as well as providing extra advice. He did a full survey on a damp problem and made very practical and helpful suggestions of how to proceed with treatment. He provided a very good after service and I would highly recommended him.
Charlie Cousans ★★★★★ 4 years ago
Ian is passionate about his work and it shows. He doesn’t just find the issues in your home he recommends the best course of repair for them while giving you a few extra tips along the way. He will help you feel at ease with the issues he finds by helping you understand them. This is so important if you want to fix something yourself.
Ian also went the extra mile by giving me friendly advice over the phone before I purchased the property because I couldn’t book him in soon enough.
I highly recommend Ian.
alex legge ★★★★★ 4 years ago
We have been extremely impressed by this service and would recommend.
Ian has demonstrated high levels of professionalism and has offered us sound and realistic advice right from our initial telephone call.
We have an older home - the management of which clearly requires specialist skills. It is clear that Ian is knowledgable and has an evidence-based approach to his work, but he is also genuinely passionate.
The report provided was extensive and well written; the phone call to speak things through was a reassuring way to ensure that we totally understood the advice and we know what to do moving forward.
Ross Sleight ★★★★★ 4 years ago
We instructed ICIRS for a Damp and Timber survey on a property and we had a fabulous experience. Ian was very responsive and listened to all our concerns, and then undertook a very thorough investigation of the property, and wrote up his findings in depth (with accompanying explanatory photos) in a report that was objective, measured and highly actionable. Post the survey Ian took the time to talk us through his findings and suggest a course of remedial action that we could discuss with our builders. Nothing was too much trouble, and all was explained in terms that we could understand for laymen like ourselves. As the property was of age, Ian's expertise in older buildings meant that remedial action recommended was sympathetic to the design and traditional construction without eschewing modern methods or materials - but we now have solutions that are in keeping with the building's original design and address ongoing issues. Ian's highly professional yet consultative approach and wealth of expertise was warmly welcomed and we would without hesitation recommend ICIRS for anyone looking for specialist survey advice on damp and timber.