Testimonials
Below are just a few of the testimonials we have received. The majority of our business is repeat or recommendations.
Other clients include:
- National Trust for Scotland
- Conservation Architects throughout Scotland
- Private Estates/Castles (who like to remain anonymous)
- Historic Scotland
- Local Councils
- Network Rail
"We felt safe in your hands and we would not hesitate to recommend you to anyone."
Mercedes and Gareth Leyson
Cromarty
“You done good. You are the best"
Roxby and Jaqui Robson
The Old Manse, Fortrose
“Many thanks for a very professional job. Both Graham and I were very impressed with your standard of work.”
Graham and Cathy Tague
“We are writing to say how much we appreciate the quality of the services provided. At all stages of the process, from the initial survey, to the on-site work and the administration, we felt confident that our interests were uppermost. Our experience will encourage us to re-employ you again and recommend you to others.”
Ken and Helen Foreman
Nairn
“I also have a big thank you to you personally. My trust in you for every aspect of the job was completely justified.”
Lynda Usher
Beauly
“From start to finish I was informed of every aspect of the works involved. Considering the magnitude of the job, things went remarkably smoothly. My special thanks to Mr Pat McLellan for his kindness and professionalism throughout the duration of the contract.”
Ulrike Zywietz
Listed Sop, Tain
“Undertaking works to traditional buildings requires sensitivity and gentle care. We are all attracted to these structures by their character and features. Cornices, timber detailing, original windows and panelling, local stone and slate, original plasterwork and delicate paint schemes…. they all contribute to the sense of value we find in an old building, and their contribution to our streetscapes. In most circumstances with a bit of thought and care such features can normally all be retained, repaired and represented if the planning of the work is approached with knowledge and experience.
Too often, due to lack of understanding or for commercial motivation, historic features are un-necessarily removed and lost during insensitive heavy-handed repair and renovation works. The service provided by Alder Specialist Surveyors, comprising technology and experience, can allow professionals and owners alike understand the true extent of decay, forensically identifying points of failure, and informing targeted invasive works only where needed. This results in proportionate cost-effective work, retaining the very fabric and character that attracts us to these buildings in the first place.
I have worked with Pat for twenty years or more. I consider his skill, experience and technology essential when developing repair schemes on traditional buildings. His offer is based on a desire to find the root cause of issues, allowing my practice to specify good sound conservation repairs, returning the old buildings we all love to good health.”
Glyn Young Associates
“Your conduct of the work has been exemplary! As an architect, I have been accustomed to appraising quality of work and I can assure you that yours cannot be faulted. It is a Hackneyed old saying “ It has been a pleasure to do business with you”
Colin McKercher
Grantown on Spey
“We would like to express our admiration for the professionalism and quality of your work. We immediately felt ourselves to be in safe and knowledgable hands. We were grateful for the way in which you familiarised yourself with our ‘B’ listed historic building. Your survey was thorough and witnessing it was a very interesting experience. We know that we have learnt a lot from you and we now have a much greater understanding of the house.”
Menno and Jane Verburg
Cromarty
“The House of Aigas is much more than a family home: it is also the celebrated Field Centre for the Highlands and Islands, attracting visitors from all over the World.
What is special to us from Pat is the care and expertise; the customer courtesy; the thoroughness and professionalism of the work you have done.
More important than this; it is important that we are green and seen to be green and Pat understands this, we speak the same language, buildings must survive, but not at the expense of the natural environment.”
Sir John Lister-Kaye, D Univ, D.Sc, OBE
Director Aigas Field Centre
“Thanks for your prompt and helpful advice in this matter at ‘Talisker’ Guest House. I would have no hesitation in recommending your services to Scottish Building Society clients.”
Norman Brown
Scottish Building Society Manager
“We write to thank you for the professional way in which you undertook the recent works for us. The care and attention which you demonstrated towards us and our home helped to make what could have been a truly nightmare experience a whole lot better.”
George and Fiona Carter
Torbreck, Inverness-shire
“My Mother is absolutely delighted with all the work you have done, she is also most grateful to you for the consideration shown towards her.”
James Wotherspoon
Inverness
'Hello again,
Thanks so much for getting back to me, and your message reminded me why I wanted to contact you in the first place. You are a genuine man and not out to make any gains from things that aren't actually requiring treatment etc. I appreciate that you are only providing consultancy services now but that is precisely what I need - to reassure the buyer because I'm not convinced it is dry rot either."
Belinda McCulloch
"Just a quick note to express my sincere gratitude for your involvement at my 300 year old, listed property that I rent out. My tenants had informed me of a strange mushroom growth in a cupboard. I therefore invited a couple of Preservation companies to come and inspect with a view of providing a full report and cost for rectifying the problem, which turned out to be an outbreak of dry rot. I was astounded at the information I received from these companies. The variation between the report and more importantly their costs for rectifying the problem was unbelievable. They were so different in content and especially cost, I was left wondering if they had all been to see the same property. I had this niggling feeling that if I wasn’t careful, I could be taken advantage of financially once the contract was awarded.
I contacted Scottish Highland Property Services, who look after the letting of the property and they advised me to contact you. Thank goodness, I was very happy I did! Your detailed technical survey, accuracy in diagnosing the problem and its extent and even specifications as too what it would take to rectify problem was excellent and in plain English, complete with drawings and photos.
Being duly impressed with what you had done to date and the fact that your services would include overseeing the work as an option. I retained your services, as this is an area, I have minimal knowledge. I was relieved find someone in whose capabilities in I had complete confidence in, to be able to trust someone and hand over the reins and keys to you and have you overseen the works you had recommended and nominate the preservation company to execute, as well as all the associated works right up to re-decoration. Although is still cost a considerable amount of money overall, the fees I paid for your services saved me a lot in the long run and more importantly on the budget you had estimated and made sure the preservation company adhered to and performed as per your specifications as they seem to need tight supervision.
Thank you again and I would highly recommend you to anyone that has to have involvement with preservation companies, as they seem to need to be policed!"
Norma Wilkinson
"My wife and I bought our home, a listed building in a conservation area in Inverness, nine years ago, and over the following few years we had it fully renovated, restoring and enhancing many of the original features. Much to our dismay we discovered recently that the house, and our neighbouring adjoining house, had an outbreak of dry rot. This meant having to deal in the minefield of timber preservation companies. Our neighbour introduced us to Pat McLellan and Alder Specialist Building Surveyors who was managing the remedial work for her. We were impressed with Pat’s approach so in turn we employed Pat to inspect our property. He carried out his survey in an almost forensic manner, using not just damp meters but also hi-tech cameras to inspect for tell-tale signs of dry rot infestation below floors and behind walls. We were particularly pleased that during that inspection he took time to educate us about dry rot and his findings, keeping us informed every step of the way.
Pat then produced a report and specification for the remedial work which was considered necessary. Armed with this information we had a preservation company price for the works as per his specification. With Pat’s guidance, we employed that company and asked Pat to oversee the works. Pat’s professionalism and accuracy, coupled with the manner in which he interacted with both ourselves and our neighbour, made the whole experience go as smoothly as possible during a very stressful time. He was always a step ahead of the preservation company with his knowledge and experience, which we took great comfort in. We are very grateful for all aspects of his involvement and are very happy to recommend his services."
Donald Ross
“We have used Alder Specialist Building Surveyors for several years now. They offer a complete,
professional, forensic surveying and highly cost-effective service, from initial survey to supervision of
our work force when carrying out the ‘preservation works’ and the final inspections and sign off. Alder
Specialist Building Surveyors are a pleasure to work with, we couldn’t recommend them more highly."
Gordon Simpson
Simpson Builders
"Alder Specialist Building Surveyors (A.S.B.S.), Mr Pat McLellan…
Eagle Brae has employed the services of A.S.B.S and Mr Pat McLellan for several projects over the last ten years, firstly as a main contractor delivering the build of a brand new eco log village resort, six years later as managing consultant for the build of three subsequent Canadian log cabins, and latterly as a project manager for the full renovation of a traditional stone farmhouse.
Whilst Pat's technicality speciality is in specialist survey work for the treatment of damp problems and wet and dry rot, he is very comfortable with all aspects of building work, whether timber or stone, whether new-build or renovation. His project management skills are exceptional, he executes comprehensive surveys backed up by concise and well presented reports, detailed scopes of works, reliable programme planning and budget costing analysis of a detail normally only expected of a quantity surveyor.
Pat's greatest strength is his people management skills and his fluid ability to tie a project, the materials and the people involved together as a happy hard-working unit. He has considerable project management experience and has consistently run a tight and happy ship for us.
To have someone like Pat and A.S.B.S involved in any project takes the pressure off the owner's shoulders and allows the other stakeholders to concentrate of their areas in the knowledge that Pat is efficiently and responsibly taking care of the rest.
Having worked for us in three different capacities, and on three different projects, A.S.B.S. and Pat McLellan come highly recommended by Eagle Brae."
Eagle Brae