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RAAC in houses

RAAC in houses: how to tell, and what to do

RAAC is mostly found in public and commercial buildings, but some homes have it too, usually in flat roofs, and sometimes in floors or walls of homes built or extended between the 1950s and the 1990s. If you think your home may have RAAC, a survey will tell you for certain.

  • Which homes may have RAAC
  • How to tell
  • What a survey of a home involves
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Which homes may have RAAC

Homes with flat roofs, or flat-roofed extensions, built between the 1950s and the 1990s are the ones to check. RAAC has been found in some council and housing association homes, as well as in privately owned houses.

How to tell

RAAC planks usually have a smooth, light grey or white underside with joints between planks, often about 600 mm apart. Exposed RAAC looks bubbly, with no stones in it. A visual RAAC survey confirms whether it is there, and the building stays in use while we work. A visual RAAC survey starts from £395.

If your home has RAAC

  1. If there are signs of distress, such as sagging, cracking or water coming through, keep people out of that area and get advice.
  2. Have it surveyed and assessed by a structural engineer.
  3. Keep water out: the roof covering and gutters matter.
  4. Price the options, including strengthening the planks in place.

Selling or buying a home with RAAC

A survey and an engineer's assessment give buyers, lenders and insurers the facts about the roof rather than a guess. Every assessment is signed by a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the Institution of Structural Engineers.

Questions

RAAC in homes,answered

Do houses have RAAC?
Some do, usually in flat roofs or flat-roofed extensions built between the 1950s and the 1990s. It is less common in homes than in public buildings.
How do I know if my house has RAAC?
Look for a smooth, light grey or white ceiling under a flat roof with regular joints, and for bubbly material with no stones where it is exposed. A visual RAAC survey confirms it.
How much does a RAAC survey of a house cost?
A visual RAAC survey starts from £395.
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