Frequently asked questions

The appearance of a crack is not enough to judge how serious it is. Three things should raise concern: a width of several millimetres, a stepped path through the masonry and visible change within a few weeks. Associated defects — sticking doors, cracked tiles, uneven floors — reinforce the need for an examination. Where there is doubt, a technical opinion settles whether the issue is cosmetic or structural.

An amicable assessment is instructed by one or more parties outside any proceedings. It is flexible, quick to arrange and often forms the basis of an agreement. A judicial assessment is ordered by a court within proceedings: it follows a strict procedural framework and respects the right of every party to be heard. In both cases the method of analysis and the standard of rigour are identical.

Every instruction is different: the nature of the defect, the area to be examined, the number of parties involved and the investigations required all bear directly on the work. We therefore prepare a quotation once we understand your situation. Contact us with a description of the problem and we will set out the most appropriate scope of work.

Yes, we work across the whole of the Grand Duchy. Visits are scheduled as promptly as possible so as to fit our clients' constraints. Our office is in Bertrange, which allows every region of the country to be reached quickly.

Anything that documents the history of the property is useful: drawings, permits, quotations and invoices for works carried out, the handover record, earlier reports, correspondence with contractors or insurers. Photographs taken when the defect first appeared are particularly valuable, as they make its progression traceable. If you do not have these items, an assessment is still possible: we adapt our investigations.

The time required depends on the complexity of the instruction: the number of defects, any further investigation, possible laboratory analysis or the need for a second visit to monitor movement. We indicate an expected timescale when the instruction is agreed and issue the report as promptly as possible. A judicial assessment also follows the timetable set by the court.

An amicable report does not carry the procedural weight of an assessment ordered by a judge, but it is a technical document that can be put before the court and discussed by the parties. Its strength comes from its method: verifiable findings, photographic documentation, reasoned analysis and conclusions limited to what the technical evidence supports. Our reports are written with that in mind.

Handover is a decisive moment: this is when reservations are recorded and warranties take effect. Signing off without reservations markedly weakens the buyer's position. Being accompanied by an expert makes it possible to identify defective workmanship, including defects that are easily missed, and to record precise, defensible reservations.

Start by documenting the situation: dated photographs, a written description of the defect and the contract documents gathered together. Then notify the parties concerned in writing. An assessment can then characterise the defect, establish its origin and determine what stems from defective workmanship, from design or from a lack of maintenance — a distinction that shapes everything that follows.

Yes. Insurers instruct us to establish responsibility and estimate reinstatement costs following a claim. Lawyers and notaries call on us for technical support in construction and property disputes, as well as in sales and estates. We also work with managing agents, estate agencies and private clients.