Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. h&s Surveyors conducted a level 2 survey ahead of our house purchase last year. Their communication was excellent from start to finish, and their report was thorough and very well written. One year on, the report describes everything we've learned from living in our home and we haven't hesitated to recommend h&s Surveyors to our friends and family. Hopefully, we won't need to move home for some time, but when we do, we will use h&s Surveyors.Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Wonderful and simple process to book in our survey and received back very quickly. Thorough and insightful report and lovely team to work with. Thank you so much.Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Absolutely first class service, I had additional questions after the survey and nothing was too much trouble. I would highly recommend this company.Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. H&S provided an efficient service at a very competitive price. Communication was great. The report was detailed and comprehensive and even our solicitor was impressed with it. We would use them again.Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Andy provided a really thorough RICS Level 3 survey for us, which was clear and easy to understand, for an excellent price. Would definitely recommend.Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We recently had a Grade 3 survey conducted as part of the process of purchasing a house, and we couldn’t be happier with the service provided! The survey was incredibly thorough, detailed, and professionally executed, giving us a clear and comprehensive understanding of the property's condition. The report was not only easy to understand but also highlighted important areas to address, which has been invaluable in helping us plan for possible future works. Chris' expertise, attention to detail, and willingness to answer any questions made the whole process seamless and reassuring. We truly feel that this survey was worth every penny and gave us the confidence to move forward with our purchase. Highly recommend to anyone looking for reliable and meticulous survey services!Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Survey was promptly booked with helpful admin staff responding quickly by email. Survey was detailed (including plenty of photos) and arrived within the time promised. Seems to be much better value for level 2 surveys than other local providers. Would recommend - thank you!Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Chris is knowledgeable, efficient and helpful and provides an excellent professional serviceTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. This was the second time using H&M Surveyors. They were quick to respond to my initial enquiry and also arranging a date for the survey. Chris phoned me beforehand to ask if I had any particular concerns about the property. The level 2 homebuyers report was provided in the timescale advised and Chris was also happy to discuss the findings of the survey once I had seen the report, which I found very useful. Chris was friendly and explained everything I needed to know. Would definitely recommend h&s and will be happy to use again in the future.
What is Mundic Block?
If you have ever lived in Cornwall or tried to buy property in the area, you may have come across the term “mundic block”.
It refers to a historic building material that was particularly popular in Cornwall around 1900-1950 and 1952, which used waste materials from nearby mines as a concrete aggregate (“mundic” is simply the Cornish word for mine waste). It was fairly common in those times for concrete to be mixed locally, using the materials that were at hand. This resulted in a large number of Cornish homebuyer properties being constructed from this ‘mundic’ material.
Why is it a problem?
The issue with the mundic block is that it’s difficult to predict what exactly is in the mixture. Quite often, due to the high mineral content of the Cornish soil and the ore extraction process, the aggregate still contains minerals or chemicals that actually cause the concrete to degrade over time.
Needless to say, this can have a considerable impact on property valuations, with many buyers trying to avoid houses that have been built with mundic and lenders refusing mortgages for properties of a certain condition.
What does a mundic block look like?
It may be obvious that a building has been made with mundic materials or it may be uncovered during a Building Survey. Regardless, in Cornwall and West Devon, any property that has been built (or altered) between 1900 and 1960 and contains concrete or concrete blocks will need to be tested for mundic. Many surveyors offer a Mundic Test to screen concrete building materials or can arrange for one to be carried out on your behalf. This test involves taking small samples of the house’s fabric using a drill, which is then analysed for mineral content and given a grade of A1, A2, A3, B and C.
What do the grades mean?
An A1 or A2 grade is good news. That means that the concrete doesn’t contain any potentially harmful materials or contains so few that there are unlikely to be future problems as a result. Nearly all mortgage lenders consider this to be an acceptable grade to lend against.
If a sample contains more than these levels of mundic, it may be classed as a grade A3. However, special testing is required to obtain this grade (rather than a grade B), and the testing is expensive, time-consuming, not appropriate for every case and may still be denied by mortgage lenders.
You will not secure a mortgage if the property is classed as a B or C on a mundic test. This means that mundic makes up more than 30% of the concrete and may already be causing visible degradation. However, if the mundic is limited to a specific part of the property, you may be able to replace it with a modern material in order to obtain a lending.
Contact us to see how we can help
At h&s Surveyors, we have extensive experience in helping clients across South Devon with issues with mundic block. For more information about mundic block, Cornish homes or surveying services across the country, please get in touch with us today.
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Last updated: 24th April 2025