Building knowledge from more than one angle
Hunter Ellis is an independent residential building surveying and architectural design consultancy, led by Mark Tutton. The approach combines building pathology, construction knowledge and architectural design to give homeowners clear advice on the buildings they are buying, investigating or planning to alter.
Why Hunter Ellis exists
Property advice is most useful when it explains how a building works, not just what appears defective.
Hunter Ellis was built around a straightforward principle: clients should understand the property well enough to make a decision, not simply receive a long list of technical observations.
On a survey, that means considering age, construction, previous alterations, moisture behaviour, maintenance history and visible defects together. On a design project, it means understanding the existing structure before deciding how it should be changed.
The result is a practice focused on existing residential buildings, particularly older, altered and technically interesting homes where a broader understanding of construction is valuable.
Technical education backed by residential practice
The qualifications matter because they underpin the work, but they are not a substitute for judgement. Hunter Ellis uses them as the foundation for clear, evidence-led residential advice.
BSc (Hons) Architectural Design & Technology
Architectural design, building technology, construction detailing and the technical development of building proposals.
MSc Building Surveying
Postgraduate study in building surveying, pathology, professional practice, contract administration, facilities and asset management and applied research.
Final overall award pendingMRPSA
Member of the Residential Property Surveyors Association, reflecting a professional focus on independent residential surveying.
ACABE
Associate membership of the Chartered Association of Building Engineers, complementing the surveying and technical design background.
Graduate Certificate in Surveying
Additional formal surveying education supporting the transition from architectural technology into building surveying practice.
GVC-qualified drone capability
Higher-level drone training supports safe high-level inspection of roofs, chimneys and other building elements where conditions, permissions and regulations allow.
Existing-building experience dating from 2009
A broad background in surveying, claims, defect diagnosis and technical design helps Mark assess the whole building—not one symptom in isolation.
- Chartered-consultancy background. Experience gained within chartered building consultancies and while supporting established surveying practices.
- Residential surveying and claims. Level 3 inspections, report writing, schedules, pricing, defect diagnosis and residential insurance-claim work for major UK insurers and loss-adjusting teams.
- Building pathology. Practical experience of subsidence and general-loss claims, deleterious materials, cracking, dampness, roof defects and previous alterations.
- Design and statutory-consent work. Residential drawings, feasibility studies and technical development for extensions, loft conversions and alterations.
- High-level inspection and CPD. GVC-qualified drone operation, annual asbestos-awareness training and a continuing commitment to relevant professional development.
Surveying tells us what the building is doing. Design helps explain how it was put together.
The architectural and surveying disciplines overlap most strongly in existing buildings. Understanding structure, junctions, materials and alterations can improve both defect diagnosis and the design of future work.
For building surveys
Construction and design knowledge helps put defects into context: why a crack may have formed, how a roof junction is intended to work or whether an alteration appears technically coherent.
For architectural projects
Surveying experience helps identify constraints early, including existing movement, moisture risks, drainage, structural changes and previous alterations that may affect the proposed design.
For the client
The aim is fewer disconnected opinions and clearer advice about what the building needs, what the risks are and what should happen next.
The person inspecting the property writes the report
Hunter Ellis is intentionally not a high-volume survey operation. Residential inspections are undertaken personally by Mark and the report is prepared around the property inspected.
- Property information reviewed before inspection
- Survey undertaken personally rather than passed between teams
- Photographs used to support important findings
- Defects explained in terms of cause, implication and action
- Further investigations recommended where they are justified
- Practical repair priorities rather than unnecessary alarm
The principles behind the advice
Independent
Advice is based on the property and the client’s interests, not on whether a sale completes or a particular contractor secures work.
Evidence-led
Findings are based on what can reasonably be observed, measured and researched. Limitations and uncertainty are recorded where evidence is incomplete.
Proportionate
Not every crack is structural movement and not every damp reading needs an injected damp-proof course. Recommendations should match the evidence.
Practical
Reports and design advice are intended to help a client decide what to do next, including repair, investigation, maintenance or alteration.
Building-focused
Older and altered properties are considered in the context of their construction rather than against assumptions that only suit modern buildings.
Clear
Technical language is used where it adds precision, then explained so the client can understand the significance of the finding.
Residential property advice from inspection through alteration
Level 3 Building Surveys
Detailed surveys for older, altered, complex or visibly defective homes, with defect analysis, repair priorities and cost guidance where appropriate.
View Level 3 surveysLevel 2 Home Surveys
Proportionate condition surveys for conventional, relatively straightforward homes that do not require Level 3 reporting depth.
View Level 2 surveysSpecific Defect Surveys
Targeted investigation of defined concerns such as cracking, dampness, leaks, movement, condensation or failed alterations.
View defect surveysArchitectural Design & Drawings
Design, planning and Building Regulations drawings for extensions, conversions, remodelling and structural alterations to existing homes.
View architectural designClear about what we do and when another specialist is needed
Building surveying & architectural design
Hunter Ellis provides residential building surveying, defect investigation, architectural design and associated technical services within the agreed scope of appointment.
Specialist work
Where a matter requires specialist structural engineering, geotechnical, asbestos, electrical, gas, drainage, ecology, party-wall, legal or other professional input, the appropriate further advice is recommended rather than extending beyond the suitable scope of the instruction.
Bristol-focused surveys, with wider design and technical support
Residential survey work is focused on Bristol and South Gloucestershire, with selected nearby instructions considered by agreement. Architectural drawing and technical-support work is considered more widely, including remote UK-wide B2B support.
Need advice on a property?
If you’re buying, investigating a defect or planning alterations, send us the property details and we’ll point you towards the appropriate service.
