Maintaining the structural integrity of a building is important but many people don't have the background to know where to start looking. Educating clients is important to us. Below are some commonly asked questions that could benefit a variety of potential clients. If you do not see the answer to your question, please feel free to ask by sending an inquiry on the Contact page!
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my building needs restoration?
​Unless you are a trained structural engineer or a building has obvious deficiencies, it may be difficult to determine if a building is in need of restoration or structural repairs. The severity of a building's deficiencies depends on a variety of factors such as construction type, materials used, original construction standards, age, and geographical location. Restoration should be part of a building's routine maintenance schedule. If the building is more than 20 years old and has not had a restoration project within the past couple of years, it is likely that some level of restoration work is needed. Restoration is a process that will be required for the buildings life and proper upkeep will minimize long term expense.
What do I look for to know if my building has problems?
Some structural defects indicating that restoration or repairs are necessary will be obvious. Cracks in concrete, rust bleeds, and/or deterioration of structural members, and other similar defects can be seen by just about anyone. Some defects are not so obvious, however, and require a trained eye to identify. To avoid potential defects from being missed, it is recommended (and now required for some buildings) that recurring inspections are performed to monitor a building's structural condition as it ages. ​
We just had work done a few years ago. Why are there more problems already?
Restoration is an ongoing process that should be considered routine maintenance. When repairs are made, there are often additional defects that were not yet identifiable and may not have presented themselves. In some cases, previous repairs could've been inadequate or improper and worsened existing conditions.
Who should I hire to make the repairs?
Restoration projects are often more complex than new construction. After a building analysis by a structural engineer, a Florida licensed, local general contractor with expertise in restoration should be hired to perform the work. As part of the design and construction administration process, the structural engineer will often create "bid documents" and can recommend qualified contractors to bid the project and complete the work.