You have concerns about your foundation….If you call an
inspector to come out, how do you know if you are going to receive something of
real
practical value…. or not?
I have heard many home owners tell me that an individual has
shown up to their home. He looked around for a few minutes gave them some verbal
advice and/or sold them some minor repairs and left without giving then
anything in writing. Some homeowners when they hire a structural or
geotechnical engineer, receive a 1 or 2 page letter. The letter has broad
generalizations without a specific repair plan or any objective
characterization of severity, but at least it is something.
Is getting some verbal advice really that helpful? Is this
scientific? Does it follow any of the guidelines set by any recognized
authorities such as the American Society of Civil Engineers or the Foundation
Performance Association? Here is the key Question:
Does the inspection include a floor elevation survey?
If
it does not it…. Then it is of limited value.
For the following reasons:
1. Without a floor elevation survey you cannot accurately see
where specifically on the house, the problem starts and stops.
2. A tilt and deflection analysis cannot be done without a
complete (not partial) floor elevation survey.
3. Severity of the problem cannot be objectively assessed
without tilt and deflection analysis. How bad is it? This is the key question
that people want to know.
4. An accurate diagnoses to tell the difference between
settlement and heave is almost impossible without looking at contour lines of a
floor elevation survey.
If all you are receiving is some verbal advice, then the
inspection is not objective, accurate, or helpful…. Especially if it is by a
self-proclaimed expert without proper credentials such as a professional
engineering license or certification from a foundation repair association.
So when your experts do the site evaluations that may include floor level surveys and estimates for piers and grouting, are they relying on soil information?
ReplyDeleteI have seen several of your estimates that tell customers about cracks in their floors, when floor coverings were never removed.
I notice you do a lot of self performed engineering, does you company have E & O insurance?
I notice your recommendations do not include soil information, isn't that a requirement of your manufacturer?
Dear "Anonymous" I suspect you are our completion, but I will play along. Our initial investigation is "Level B investigation" as defined by FPA and Texas ASCE. as such does not include soil borings. I have no Idea what your are seeing.... I stand behind our investigation as thorough and competent. Our in house engineer does have E&O insurance. soil borings are included at a later time if required. However if you know anything about how helical or push piles work you will know that each pile returns soil information in the form of a load test that is much more reliable than borings performed at a different location on the property.
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