Tell us about the walls you want to change

Worth having ready

1. The postcode, and which walls are involved: front, back, side, gable, extension or garden wall.
2. What is on the wall now (render, pebbledash, paint or bare brick) and roughly when it was last done, if you know.
3. Any earlier repairs, cracks that have grown, or damp marks inside that line up with outside defects.
4. Access: side passages, conservatories, steep ground, or a neighbour’s land you would need to use.
5. Whether the building is listed or in a conservation area, and any drawings for an extension.

Photos worth taking

1. Each wall from far enough back to show it all, ground to roofline.
2. Close-ups of cracks, hollow or stained patches, with a coin or tape measure for scale.
3. The bottom of the wall where it meets the ground or path, so the damp-proof course level shows.
4. Window sills, the roofline, and any gutter or downpipe that drips onto the wall.
5. The access route, including anything below the wall such as a conservatory roof.