Structural Inspections: 5 Essential Things They Reveal
Professional structural inspections are the only way to truly understand the health of a building. Whether you are buying a new home, noticing cracks in your walls, or planning a major renovation, the surface appearance of a property can be deceiving. Fresh paint and new drywall can hide serious issues that jeopardize the safety and value of your investment.
Unlike a general home inspection, which covers a broad range of items like appliances and outlets, a structural inspection is a focused, deep dive into the load-bearing elements of the building. This guide explains exactly what we look for and the five essential things an engineer can reveal about your property.
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What is a Structural Inspection?
Structural inspections are visual examinations performed exclusively by Licensed Professional Engineers. The goal is to evaluate the structural integrity of the building’s “bones”—the foundation, the framing, the walls, and the roof system.
While a general contractor can tell you *how* to fix something, an engineer tells you *why* it broke and *if* the building is safe. This distinction is critical for liability, insurance, and peace of mind.
The 5 Essential Things an Engineer Looks For
When you hire us for an assessment, we are looking for specific signs of stress and failure that the untrained eye often misses.
1. Foundation Settlement and Movement
Florida’s soil is notorious for shifting. We look for subtle signs of differential settlement, such as stair-step cracks in exterior stucco, windows that are out of square, or uneven floors. Identifying whether a crack is a simple shrinkage issue or a sign of a sinking foundation is the most valuable part of our structural inspections.
2. Inadequate Formwork for Multi-Story Pours
For concrete buildings, the formwork must support the massive weight of wet concrete plus the construction crew. We often see mistakes like undersized posts or incorrect spacing. A collapse here destroys materials and causes massive delays. A qualified engineer’s plan specifies the exact load capacity required, ensuring the formwork holds firm during the pour.
3. Neglecting the Reshoring Schedule
After a slab is poured, it cannot support itself immediately. “Reshoring” is the process of replacing the main shoring with temporary posts to support the slab while it cures. A shoring engineer provides a detailed schedule for this. Removing supports too early or in the wrong order can cause the “green” concrete to crack or deflect, compromising the building’s permanent structure.
4. Water Damage to Structural Elements
Water is the enemy of structure. We look beyond the water stain to see if the moisture has rotted the wood framing or rusted the steel rebar within concrete beams. Long-term water intrusion can turn a solid beam into a safety hazard, and our structural inspections are designed to catch this rot before it causes a collapse.
5. Unpermitted Additions or Alterations
Many older Florida homes have additions that were built without permits or proper engineering. We can assess these structures to determine if they meet code requirements and are safe to inhabit. This is often a requirement for closing a real estate deal or obtaining insurance.
The Engineering Report: Your Roadmap
The final product of our structural inspections is a sealed engineering report. This is a legal document that provides an unbiased professional opinion on the condition of the property.
This report gives you the leverage you need. If you are a buyer, you can use it to negotiate the price down or require repairs. If you are a homeowner, you can use it to get accurate bids from contractors, ensuring they fix the root cause of the problem, not just the symptom. You can verify the standards we follow through the American Society of Civil Engineers.
Schedule Your Assessment Today
Don’t rely on guesswork when it comes to the safety of your home. If you see warning signs or are planning a purchase, expert structural inspections are the best investment you can make.
We offer a full range of design and analysis services. You can learn more about our capabilities on our main Structural Engineering page.
Contact us today to speak with a licensed engineer and schedule your inspection.