Our engineers can provide you with independent advice and reports on your building problems, conditions and proposed changes.  Whether it’s building movement, cracking, fire, impact or storm damage, a proposed alteration or general advice, our team has most likely seen it before and has the knowledge to share with you.  Our experienced team will provide you with practical recommendations and can work with other specialists as required during the construction or rectification.

Do you have a problem or need advice with a building in the Ballarat Area?

We can assist with simple advice, detailed reporting, expert evidence reporting or design & documentation for structural, civil and soil matters regarding:
  • Building Cracking
  • Building Movement
  • Decay or Rot
  • Wall Rotation, Wall Lean or Wall Bowing
  • Chimney Rotation or Chimney Lean
  • Sagging Roof or Ceiling
  • Sagging, Sloping, Bouncy or Springy Floor
  • Building Vibration
  • Materials Failure
  • Building Stability
  • Footing Problems
  • Underpinning
  • Re-stumping
  • Fire Damage
  • Storm Damage
  • Impact Damage
  • Wind Damage
  • Drainage Problems
  • Moisture Ingress

Considering Restumping, Underpinning, Relevelling or Ground Injection in Ballarat or Central West Victoria?

​We can provide expert and independent advice to identify the cause of your building problems and provide practical recommendations for the appropriate next steps.
See our FAQ'S regarding restumping, underpinning, relevelling and ground injection. 
​Talk to us first before you undertake expensive underpinning or restumping works as there are often other ways to address problems which save you money.

Building and Forensic Investigation Services

Building Movement 
  • We can investigate and advise on building cracking, gaps, sloping floors, sagging floors, springy or bouncy floors, doors & windows sticking, wall and chimney lean, retaining wall lean.  Most footings and buildings move and deflect, however significant building movement can develop when structural elements and footings are not strong or deep enough for the soil, load and environmental conditions existing on the site.  We can investigate and advise what has caused the movement and the appropriate next steps.
Building Damage 
  • We can investigate and advise on structural implications of fire damage, storm damage, impact damage (eg: building being hit by a vehicle), wind damage, vibration damage, mine collapse, material decay, damage from a leaking pipe or moisture ingress.  Some damages may be claimable on building insurance.  We can recommend on emergency orders, make safe works and the appropriate next steps.​ ​
​​Building Structural Assessment 
  • We can investigate and assess the current structural condition of buildings and similar structures.  Material problems can effect buildings including timber decay, shrinkage & creep, masonry decay and steel corrosion.  Let us help you identify and find appropriate and economic solutions for your building issues.
Building Assessment for Proposed Changes
  • If you are planning to renovate, alter, relocate or extend a building, we can assess the impact of any proposed changes on the building.  Examples include wall removal, creation of openings, new windows, attic conversions, installation of solar panels etc..
Building Defect
  • We can assess and investigate site and building design and construction defects, issues and non-compliance, related to civil and structural matters.  Investigations can be undertaken throughout construction or after handover throughout the defects liability period.  We can identify if your building has been designed and constructed in accordance with the Victorian Building Regulations, National Construction Codes and Australian Standards and provide summary reports.
Building Dilapidation
  • We can inspect and record the existing building prior to works commencing on the building or a neighbouring site or neighbouring building.  Often these reports are undertaken in response to a Protection Works Notice for a neighbouring construction project.  We will document and provide photographic evidence on current building and site conditions
Non-Compliant / Illegal Building Works
  • We can investigate, assess, design and document structural works in response to building works undertaken without a Building Permit.  If you have been served a notice from Council or advised your building works are non-compliant, we can assist with necessary structural reports, design, documentation and certification.

Building and Forensic Investigation Process

Our typical process and options for building movement, damage and structural investigations
 Assess  
  • Review supplied information, existing drawings and reports, aerial image history, site geology, planning restrictions, wind loads and in-ground services (sewer, water stormwater etc.).  Note we may assist you in undertaking a Building Permit History search where relevant.
  • Consider, research and use our experience with other similar buildings and issues.
  • Develop a preliminary hypothesis to plan for a suitable site investigation​.

  Liaison 
  • Listen and discuss observations, time sequences, previous works history, previous repairs, previous advice, site history and concerns with owners, occupiers or managers.
  • Outline what we are doing and how we are doing it.
  • Discuss our observations and preliminary findings at the end of the inspection.
​
 Investigate - Options Include:
  • Non-destructive inspection of accessible building and site areas.
  • Photographic or video recording of significant observations.
  • Crack & gap identification and recording.
  • Out-of-plane, out-of-level measurements.
  • Partially destructive inspection where agreed and warranted.
  • Defect identification and recording.
  • Soil investigation – boreholes / lab testing.
  • Footing probe – existing footing type and dimensions.
  • Floor level survey – contour survey for relative floor level height variations.
  • Wall plumbness / out-of-plane total station survey.
  • Roof drone video inspection.
  • Sub-floor inspection.
  • Plumbing investigations, video inspections by qualified plumbers.

Analyse:
  • Develop a hypothesis for the likely causes of the building issues encountered
  • Test the hypothesis with calculations, research and liaison with the most experienced personnel.
  • Re-assess the hypothesis.

​Recommend:
  • Identification of problems and assessment of severity, with photographs or other evidence.
  • Likely causes and contributing factors to the problems identified.
  • What are the appropriate next steps - Do nothing, undertake simple maintenance, watch and observe, further detailed investigation, repair, undertake immediate action, emergency works, demolition.
  • Reporting options are available to suit your budgetary and use requirements - Simple advice, detailed reports, expert evidence reports, or design & documentation of repairs.
  • Practical recommendations considering costs, benefits, owner’s tolerances, constructability, on-going risk and performance.
  • Quality outcomes are based on our unique and extensive knowledge of building practices, structural engineering, building services, soil-structure interaction, local conditions and building history.  See Why Choose Us
For quotes, bookings or to discuss the assessment needs on your site or project, please call 03 5333 3030 during business hours, email [email protected] or Contact Us
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