Meet the team

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For over 30 years, Robert has been surveying a broad spectrum of buildings throughout the South of England, with a specific emphasis on listed and period property.  Before setting up Desbruslais Chartered Surveyors in 2009, he had spells at London building surveying consultants Watts and Partners and JLL, as well as local practices in Hertfordshire and Sussex. With a deep knowledge of period construction and defects, he gives regular talks on construction and listed building matters, and is well placed to understand and explain the implications of purchasing a structurally complex building. Robert is also an author and accomplished musician.

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Richard is a Senior Chartered Building Surveyor with over 20 years experience in the built environment and construction industry, with a particular focus on heritage architecture and specialising in medieval and post-medieval timber-framed vernacular buildings. Early in his career, he undertook roles in Claims Management and Loss Adjusting for leading general insurers and loss adjusting practices, managing complex residential and commercial building refurbishments. More recently, he has undertaken senior management roles within both surveying and construction contractor practices, carrying out a wide range of engagements as both surveyor and project manager. In addition to Chartered Status through the RICS, he also holds an MSc in Building Surveying and Building Rehabilitation (majoring in conservation management and practices) and other insurance and HSE related qualifications.

Richard writes and lectures on timber-framed vernacular architecture and is currently developing Desbruslais’ provision of Historic Surveys/Building Recordings. He is also an active member of the Surrey Domestic Buildings Research Group, an organisation which specialises in the recording, dating and investigation of timber framed historic buildings in Surrey and further afield, where he is involved in heritage recording and re-interpretation projects in conjunction with Surrey CC and has been engaged to lecture for the group.

Stuart has been surveying buildings for over 17 years, initially as a Loss Adjuster for several industry leading firms, project managing building insurance claims for restoration and reinstatement typically following water leaks, flooding, fires and also subsidence. He augmented this experience by initially obtaining a Diploma and then a Degree in Building Surveying at Reading University, followed by becoming an RICS Chartered Surveyor. Further courses have been carried out related to historic building materials and practice, archaeology, energy efficiency and retrofit.

Stuart has always had a passion for building pathology and carrying out detailed investigations into building defects, by drawing upon his deep knowledge of construction through the ages, material science and the agencies of decay. He has a particular specialism in the diagnosis of dampness and timber defects and is an advocate for traditional moisture management techniques, rather than the use of chemicals or damp-proofing measures.

Over his career, his second main passion has been architectural history and the archaeology of buildings, particularly historic timber framed buildings. He undertakes detailed Archaeological Interpretative Surveys and Heritage Statements for interested owners or as part of obtaining Listed Building Consent. He is on the committee of the Wealden Buildings Study Group, a charity organisation that researches vernacular buildings in the Weald of Sussex, Surrey and Kent. He also recently led the West Sussex Dendrochronology Pilot Project, which dated six buildings precisely by tree-ring analysis and revealed the earliest known timber hall house in Sussex.

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Gareth Evans qualified as a Chartered Surveyor in 1979. He has four decades of public and private sector experience in property and has worked throughout London and the south. Particular interests include Listed buildings, flood risk and ground stability issues.

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Gary is a Chartered Surveyor with over 35 years experience.
In 1984 Gary started working as a trainee surveyor in a well established and respected general practice company, rising to become an Associate Partner and active RICS member and Officer in the Sussex branch of the RICS.

Over the last 25 years Gary has specialised in pre purchase surveys and has gained a wealth of experience and knowledge.
His speciality is building defects on a range of age and style, urban and country properties.

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With over 30 years experience working in property and construction at craft and professional level, Dan has extensive practical knowledge of surveying all types of residential property, providing pre-purchase advice to private and corporate clients. After working “on the tools” in the building industry, Dan graduated with a BSc. (Hons) in Historic Building Conservation and went on to gain valuable experience as a Preservation Surveyor before qualifying as an RICS Residential Surveyor in 2005. A member of SPAB, English Heritage and Sussex Past, Dan has a keen interest in history, architectural interpretation and practical building conservation and restoration.

01273 495984

Katharine first joined Robert very early in the days of Desbruslais Chartered Surveyors, back in 2010, in an administrative capacity. As the practice developed and grew, so did Katharine’s role within the office team and proofreading surveys was always an important part of it. After more than a decade of working with many, many high quality survey reports, Katharine finally had to face facts: she had been bitten by the surveying bug! With Robert’s support and endorsement, she is currently about 9 months into her Sava Diploma in Residential Surveying and Valuation and enjoying it hugely. “I am looking forward very much to achieving my AssocRICS status and becoming a fully fledged member of the surveying team. I am privileged indeed to be working for such a supportive employer and with such generous and supportive colleagues.”

07766 954225

Raphael is a Building Surveyor with 17 years’ experience in pre-purchase surveys, specialising in period and listed homes. Fascinated by vernacular architecture, defects and restoration, he began as a Home Inspector and Energy Assessor before moving into loss assessment for building-insurance claims.

He won the 2020 John Ashurst/Historic England Prize while completing the Professional Development Diploma in Historic Building Conservation at West Dean College and holds the SQA Level 3 award for Energy Efficiency in Older Buildings. A member of SPAB and an Associate of CABE, he is working toward chartered status. Outside work he cycles, fishes and restores antique clocks.