Learn to read a building the way a surveyor has to.

A training app for trainee residential surveyors. What a house is built from, what goes wrong with it, and how to tell one thing from another while you are standing in front of it.

  • 298 building elements, a picture on every one Browse a category, or describe what you are looking at in your own words and the reference finds it. 24 categories, from roof forms to drainage.
  • A defect finder you can search the way you would say it 80 defects with the differentials that separate them, because a crack above a window and a crack below it are two different findings.
  • 23 house types built step by step in 3D From a Georgian townhouse to a BISF steel frame, with the defects each kind of construction brings with it.
  • 17 knowledge modules and 645 questions Including questions about the limits of what a visual inspection can establish, which is a large part of the job.
steepshallowMANSARD RETROFITsteep lower pitch with dormers, shallow top
Roof forms
bricks on end, purely a facingsteel doing the work, out of sightSOLDIER COURSE OVER A STEEL
Lintels
in low at the eavesout high at the ridgedaylight at the eaves is the simplest evidenceROOF SPACE VENTILATIONinsulation pushed into the eaves is what blocks it
Ventilation
DPCwaste into the sidetrap keeps drain air outdischarge over the grating is what wets the wallBACK INLET GULLYand its relationship with the damp-proof course
Drainage

Four of the 274 drawings in the reference.

Training material for surveying practice in the UK. It supports your own judgement and does not replace it, and nothing in it is a substitute for a specialist inspection or report.

Building scene…

VICTORIAN TERRACE

Build
X-Section
Defects
Floor Plan
Drag to look · WASD/QE + Shift to fly · scroll to move · N/P = next/prev stage
X 0.30 Drag the view to fly through the cut · slide to choose where the cut is made
ROT 030°
ZOOM 1.0x
New Construction
Overview
Specs
Survey
Layer Key
Varies in practice
Solid brick was standard for this era, but ground floors are very often replaced with a solid concrete slab during later renovation despite an originally suspended timber build. Windows are very commonly replaced with uPVC or timber double glazing, and rear or side extensions are extremely common and not shown here. Always confirm construction type on site rather than assuming this build-up.
Construction Progress

Building scene…

EDWARDIAN SEMI

Build
X-Section
Defects
Floor Plan
Drag to look · WASD/QE + Shift to fly · scroll to move · N/P = next/prev stage
X 0.30 Drag the view to fly through the cut · slide to choose where the cut is made
ROT 030°
ZOOM 1.0x
New Construction
Overview
Specs
Survey
Layer Key
Varies in practice
Edwardian semis sit in a transitional period — the exact mix of solid and early cavity wall varies even within the same pair of semis, and the bay window shown may not be present on every example. Floors, windows and roof coverings are frequently altered during later refurbishment, so always confirm construction type on site rather than assuming this build-up.
Construction Progress
Trainee Surveyor Platform
Residential
Construction Academy
Everything a trainee surveyor needs — 3D construction viewers, defect library, knowledge modules, on-site tools and CPD tracking. Built for the APC.
A Cotswold stone manor house with mullioned windows and a gabled roof
23
Property Types
17
Knowledge Modules
500+
Questions
17
On-Site Tools
Your Progress
Modules
—
Assessment
Not taken
CPD Hours
0h
Session: 0m
01 · Learn
Training Tools
Construction viewers, knowledge modules and full assessments — everything you need to learn the material and prove you know it.
Construction
23 property types · 3D build viewer, cross sections, floor plans and defect views
Explore →
Modules
17 knowledge modules covering every core surveying competency, each with a sub-test
Study →
Assessments
Full 107-question surveyor assessment plus real-world case study scenarios
Test →
02 · On Site
On-Site Tools
17 on-site reference tools for defect identification, inspection workflow and report writing.
Open Tools →
03 · Reporting
Report Generation Coming Soon
Auto-draft a structured survey report from your inspection notes and defect findings.
NOGGIN — Residential Construction Academy
Construction
01
Property Construction Viewer
3D build · cross section · floor plan · defect view
02
Defect Animations
Looping mechanism animations
03
Installation Animations
How building elements are actually put together
Training Tools
01
Training Tools
Construction viewers, knowledge modules and full assessments
Construction
23 property types · 3D build viewer, cross sections, floor plans and defect views
Explore →
Modules
17 knowledge modules covering every core surveying competency, each with a sub-test
Study →
Assessments
Full 107-question surveyor assessment plus real-world case study scenarios
Test →
Modules
01
Knowledge Modules
16 modules in recommended learning order — start at 1 and work through in sequence if you're new to surveying, or jump to any module directly if you're brushing up on one topic
Tools
01
On-Site Reference Tools
14 tools across identification, workflow and reporting
Property Classification
Building Elements Reference
Identify windows, doors, roof forms, coverings, walls, external finishes, floors, rainwater goods, DPC, lintels and grounds — 12 categories, 83 entries
↗
Self-Testing
Roof Anatomy Test
Name the part on a real roof — several photographed buildings and numbered callouts covering ridge, hip, valley, verge, bargeboard, parapet, eaves, dormer, flashing and rainwater goods. Type your answer and it marks you
↗
Quick Reference
Key Figures & Measurements
Searchable cheat sheet of the measurements, thresholds and dates scattered across every other tool — foundation ratios, DPC clearance, roof pitches, boiler efficiency, legislation dates and more
↗
Repair Cost Reference
Standard repair costs cross-checked across five recent Home Survey reports — flagged as a safe default rate, scope-dependent, or "no genuine data — get a real quote"
↗
Defect Identification
Defect Reference
Full defect library with CR ratings and symptoms
↗
Diagnose a Defect
Symptom-led decision tree to identify defects
↗
Defect Finder
Describe what you see and identify it, with the differential and what a visual inspection cannot settle
↗
Defect Photo Library
Canvas illustrations and real site photographs
↗
Inspection Workflow
Pre-Visit Predictor
Predict likely defects before arriving on site
↗
What Else To Check
Cluster defects — find related issues
↗
Load-Bearing Wall Identifier
Judge whether a wall is structural before it's removed or altered
↗
Report Writing
Legal & Specialist Flags
Trigger points for specialist advice
↗
CR Justifier
Justify CR1/2/3 ratings with confidence
↗
Paragraph Check
Spot what's wrong with a template report paragraph
↗
Report Writing Guide
Practical rules for writing up findings — wording, tick boxes and image annotation
↗
02
Self-Practice
Standalone practice exercises — not on-site reference material
Training Tools
Photo ID Challenge
Study a real site photo and describe everything you can identify, then reveal the answer key to self-check
↗
↗
Analytics
01
Cohort Analytics
Admin-only — aggregate performance across every trainee account
Assessments
01
Assessments
Test your knowledge across all disciplines
🏅
Full Surveyor Assessment
111 questions · All disciplines · Includes case studies · 75% pass mark
Main Assessment
📄
Case Studies & Scenarios
6 real-world scenarios · Apply your knowledge · 70% pass mark
✏️
Written Judgement
Write the entry, then mark it against the model · 4 tasks per sitting · 75% pass mark
🔍
Limits of Visual Inspection
When the evidence will not support a conclusion · 75% pass mark
Progress
01
Progress Dashboard
Test attempts and CPD hours — synced to your account, visible only to you
No attempts recorded yet.
02
Your Weak Spots
Category performance across all your attempts
Take a test to see your category breakdown.
03
CPD Log
Your full CPD record
VICTORIAN TERRACE
Solid Floor · Cut Roof
01/18
Drag to orbit  ·  Scroll to zoom  ·  WASD  ·  N/P = next/prev stage
ROT 030°
ELEV 35°
ZOOM 1.0×
VIEW DRONE
Orbit
Elev
Zoom
Stage 01
SITE CLEARANCE
Stripping topsoil
NEW CONSTRUCTION
Construction Progress0%
DEFECT REFERENCE
SURVEYOR FIELD GUIDE
DEFECT DIAGNOSIS TOOL
IDENTIFY THE CAUSE

What are you seeing?

Pick the symptom you've observed on site. The tool will walk you through a diagnostic decision tree to identify the most likely cause.

Select a symptom from the left panel to begin diagnosis
LEGAL & SPECIALIST FLAGS
WHEN TO ESCALATE
✏ PARAGRAPH CHECK
SPOT WHAT'S WRONG
PRE-VISIT PREDICTOR
PREDICT BEFORE YOU ARRIVE
DEFECT VISUAL LIBRARY
WHAT TO LOOK FOR ON SITE
PHOTO ID CHALLENGE
DESCRIBE WHAT YOU SEE
Study each photo and describe everything you can identify before revealing the answer key. Nothing here is scored — it's for self-practice.
Reset progress
REPORT WRITING GUIDE
REPORT WORKFLOW
🏠 ROOF ANATOMY TEST
LABEL THE PHOTO
Photo  ·  This photo 0 / 0  ·  Overall 0 / 0
📋 KEY FIGURES & MEASUREMENTS
QUICK LOOKUP
💷 REPAIR COST REFERENCE
QUICK LOOKUP
Standard sources agree closely — safe as a budget figure Variable scales with quantity — confirm units/rooms/m² No quote no meaningful published average — get a contractor quote
🔍 DEFECT FINDER
DESCRIBE WHAT YOU SEE
No jargon needed. Type what you can actually see:
brown stain on the ceiling under the bathroom, horizontal cracks every few courses, white fluffy growth on a joist, mould in the bedroom corner, wall leaning out at the top.
★ CR RATING JUSTIFIER
DEFEND YOUR RATING

Select the defect

Pick what you have found. Answer 4–5 targeted questions about severity, spread and risk. Get a defensible CR rating with full written reasoning.

★Select a defect to begin

Answer the questions honestly about
what you actually observed on site.

The result gives you a CR rating
you can justify if challenged.
★ LOAD-BEARING WALL IDENTIFIER
STRUCTURAL OR NOT

Six signs to check on site

Read these first, or jump straight to the assessment. Either way: the wizard gives you a steer, never a certainty — a structural engineer's sign-off is the only thing that actually confirms a wall is safe to remove.

1. Joist direction above. Perpendicular (crossing the wall) is the strongest single sign it's bearing load. Parallel means it probably isn't carrying the floor above.

2. What's directly above. A wall in the same position, continuing up, is a strong sign.

3. What's directly below. A wall (or the foundation) in the same position suggests load is being carried all the way down, floor to floor.

4. Openings within the wall. A substantial steel or concrete lintel over a door is a tell; a simple timber head suggests it isn't carrying much.

5. Wall construction. A weak signal on its own — a timber stud wall can still be load-bearing, so don't rely on material alone.

6. Property era and roof type. Victorian/Edwardian cut-roof internal walls are commonly structural; modern trussed-rafter internal walls often aren't.

★Answer six questions about what you can see

on site — around the wall, above it and below it.

Get a steer on whether it's likely load-bearing,
with your reasoning written out for the report.

🔧 INSTALLATION STEP-BY-STEP
ONE STAGE AT A TIME
STEP 1 OF 7
1. Existing Opening
LEGAL & IMPORTANT NOTICES
PLEASE READ
WHAT ELSE TO CHECK
DEFECT CLUSTERING

You found...

Select what you have already identified. The tool tells you what else commonly appears alongside it in the same property — and exactly where to look.

Select a defect from the left

Get a targeted checklist of related
defects that commonly cluster
with your finding.

Tick each one off as you check it.
0 / 60
CPD LOG & PROGRESS TRACKER
DEFECT ANIMATION

1930s SEMI

Build
X-Section
Defects
Floor Plan
Drag to look around · Scroll to zoom
New Construction
Overview
Specs
Survey
Layer Key
Varies in practice
Not every 1930s semi matches this exactly: ground floors are sometimes replaced with solid concrete during renovation, windows are very likely to have been replaced with uPVC, and cavity walls may have later retrofit insulation — look for a grid of small filled drill holes in the mortar joints, not shown in this model. Always verify construction type on site.
Construction Progress

CONVERTED VICTORIAN FLAT

Build
X-Section
Defects
Floor Plan
Drag to look around · Scroll to zoom
New Construction
Overview
Specs
Survey
Layer Key
Varies in practice
Each flat's exact layout, party floor construction and shared services depend on how and when the conversion was carried out — these details vary property to property and should always be confirmed with the freeholder or managing agent and on inspection, not assumed from the building's age alone.
Construction Progress

POST-WAR BUILD

Build
X-Section
Defects
Floor Plan
Drag to look around · Scroll to zoom
New Construction
Overview
Specs
Survey
Layer Key
Varies in practice
Post-war builds vary by exact construction date and any subsequent renovation — retrofit cavity wall insulation (look for a grid of small filled drill holes in the mortar joints), replacement windows and altered floor coverings are all common and won't necessarily match this model. Confirm construction type on site.
Construction Progress

1980s DETACHED

Build
X-Section
Defects
Floor Plan
Drag to look around · Scroll to zoom
New Construction
Overview
Specs
Survey
Layer Key
Varies in practice
uPVC windows shown here are original to this era but are now old enough to have been replaced again. Cavity insulation was only partial-fill as standard for this period and may since have been topped up to full-fill. Confirm current window age and insulation type on site rather than assuming the original spec.
Construction Progress

MODERN NEW BUILD

Build
X-Section
Defects
Floor Plan
Drag to look around · Scroll to zoom
New Construction
Overview
Specs
Survey
Layer Key
Varies in practice
Exact specification varies by builder and by which edition of the Building Regulations was in force at construction — beam-and-block versus a different floor system, or a different insulation standard, are both possible. Confirm the specific developer specification and applicable regs rather than assuming this exact build-up.
Construction Progress

1960s BUNGALOW

Build
X-Section
Defects
Floor Plan
Drag to look around · Scroll to zoom
New Construction
Overview
Specs
Survey
Layer Key
Varies in practice
Bungalows of this era vary by exact construction date and any subsequent renovation — retrofit cavity wall insulation (look for a grid of small filled drill holes in the mortar joints), replacement windows and loft conversions are all common and won't necessarily match this model. Confirm construction type on site.
Construction Progress

HOUSE WITH EXTENSION

Build
X-Section
Defects
Floor Plan
Drag to look around · Scroll to zoom
New Construction
Overview
Specs
Survey
Layer Key
Varies in practice
Every extension is different — the exact construction date, DPC step size, roof junction detail and whether the extension itself has since been further altered will all vary property to property. Treat this as a general pattern for spotting mixed-era junctions, not a specific match to any one house.
Construction Progress

PURPOSE-BUILT FLATS

Build
X-Section
Defects
Floor Plan
Drag to look around · Scroll to zoom
New Construction
Overview
Specs
Survey
Layer Key
Varies in practice
Purpose-built blocks vary hugely by era, developer and local authority — some are steel or concrete frame rather than cavity brick, some have communal heating instead of individual boilers, and internal layout (number of flats per floor, deck access vs internal corridor) differs block to block. Always confirm construction type, number of units and lease terms from the specific block rather than assuming this model.
Construction Progress

TIMBER-FRAME HOUSE

Build
X-Section
Defects
Floor Plan
Drag to look around · Scroll to zoom
New Construction
Overview
Specs
Survey
Layer Key
Varies in practice
Timber frame systems vary by manufacturer, era and specification — some use I-joist or SIP panels rather than simple stick-built studs, insulation standards have tightened over time, and not every timber-frame house has a brick skin (render, timber cladding and other finishes are all used too). This model shows one common configuration, not a universal standard — always confirm the actual system on site.
Construction Progress

NON-TRADITIONAL (PRC) HOUSE

Build
X-Section
Defects
Floor Plan
Drag to look around · Scroll to zoom
New Construction
Overview
Specs
Survey
Layer Key
Varies in practice
Dozens of different named PRC systems exist (Airey, Cornish Unit, Wates, Woolaway and many more), each with its own panel/column detailing and repair history — this model shows one generic pattern, not any specific system. Many examples have since been re-clad, rendered or repaired under an approved scheme and may not look like this at all. Always confirm the exact named system and repair status on site, never assume from appearance.
Construction Progress

1970s COUNCIL BUILD

Build
X-Section
Defects
Floor Plan
Drag to look around · Scroll to zoom
New Construction
Overview
Specs
Survey
Layer Key
Varies in practice
Large Panel System construction varies significantly between manufacturers and local authority schemes — panel jointing detail, any remedial tying works and communal heating provision all differ by block. Check for the specific LPS system type and remedial works history rather than assuming this generic build-up applies.
Construction Progress