Understand the Problem Before Designing the Solution. 

Existing buildings rarely present simple problems. What appears on the surface can be the result of original design, construction methods, material deterioration, ageing, maintenance, previous repairs or modifications made over many years.

That’s why our remedial engineers start with investigation. We look beyond the visible defect to understand what is happening, why it is happening and what it means for the building.

And building problems don’t always sit neatly within one engineering discipline. Water ingress may involve the facade, structure and hydraulics. Cracking may be linked to movement, deterioration or an interface between building elements. Building services issues can be influenced by ageing infrastructure, previous modifications or wider asset constraints.

CORE’s remedial team can draw directly on expertise across Facade, Structures, Electrical, Mechanical, Hydraulic and Fire, bringing the right people into the investigation as the problem unfolds.

With more than 20 years’ experience across thousands of existing buildings, we have also seen how different materials, systems and building types perform over time. That experience helps us recognise patterns, interrogate issues efficiently and focus investigations where they are most likely to provide meaningful answers.

The objective isn’t to simply find the defect. It’s to understand the building well enough to make the right decision about what happens next.

Turning Facade Inspections Into Asset Intelligence.

Facade auditing is an important part of CORE’s remedial capability and one where the quality of the information captured can fundamentally change how clients understand and manage their assets.

Our engineers undertake facade condition assessments, rope access and difficult-access inspections, BMU inspections, water testing and weatherproofing diagnostics, cladding and compliance investigations, heritage facade inspections, emergency inspections and make-safe works.

But the inspection itself is only the starting point.

For complex buildings and portfolios, we combine specialist engineering with high-resolution image capture, photogrammetry, advanced 3D modelling and digital asset management technology. Defects can be spatially mapped against the facade, creating a visual record of where issues occur, their classification and their significance.

Rather than receiving disconnected photographs and observations, clients gain a clearer picture of the condition of the asset as a whole.

That information becomes even more valuable over time. Repeat inspections can be compared against the same digital building record, allowing clients to monitor deterioration, track known defects and understand how facade condition is changing.

For owners and asset managers responsible for multiple properties, this creates the opportunity to move beyond individual inspection reports towards consistent, portfolio-level visibility of condition, risk and future investment requirements.

Better information changes the conversation from “what defects did we find?” to “where is our risk, what needs attention and where should we invest?”

From Investigation to Action.

Technical information only creates value when clients can use it to make decisions.

Once an issue is understood, our engineers help determine its significance and the most appropriate response. That may mean immediate make-safe works, further investigation, ongoing monitoring, planned maintenance, a staged remediation programme or significant capital works.

We distinguish between immediate safety risks, compliance issues, maintenance requirements and longer-term asset priorities, giving building owners, asset managers and facilities teams a clearer basis for deciding what happens first and where investment is best directed.

And when remediation is required, the knowledge developed during the investigation doesn’t have to disappear at the end of the report.

CORE can remain involved through remedial design, procurement, tendering, contractor engagement, contract administration and construction. The engineers who understand the original issue stay connected to the solution, helping resolve challenges as they arise and protecting the intent of the remediation through delivery.

Sometimes the right answer is to act immediately. Sometimes it is to plan works over several years. And sometimes it is to investigate further before committing significant capital.

Our role is to give clients the evidence, engineering judgement and clarity they need to make that decision with confidence.