Structural Damage Inspections Tampa

Our Licensed PE Engineers can provide structural damage inspections for the following cases

Structural Damage Inspections Tampa for Foundation

Structural damage inspections Tampa of masonry

Structural damage inspections for concrete & steel structures

structural damage roof & building inspections

Project construction structural inspections.

Hurricane damage structural Inspections

Special buildings structural Damage Inspection Tampa & Clearwater

Quality Assurance Structural Inspections

Structural damage Inspections

Fire Damage Structural Inspections

Residential/Commercial Structural Inspections

Structural Sinkhole Inspections

 Structural Damage Inspections for Homes

Inspect The Exterior Of Your Home For Signs Of Structural Damage.

When you look at your home’s exterior, you should be able to see the shape of the home, the color of the siding, and any visible signs of damage. If you are unable to see these things, it’s best to hire a professional home inspector to inspect the exterior. They can look for cracks in the siding, missing shingles, and other signs that may indicate a problem with your home’s exterior, even if you can’t see them yourself.

The term “structural damage inspections” refers to physical damage to the structural components of your home or commercial property. Such damage includes cracks, holes, and warping, as well as damage caused by corrosion, decay, or impaction. The term “structural damage” does not include cosmetic damage, such as drywall warping or dents.

Look For Structural Damage Inspections Cracks, Breaks, Warping, Or Missing Shingles On Your Roof.

It’s also important to look for any signs of corrosion on your roof deck. When a roofing system is left to rust, it can eventually fail. A roofing contractor can inspect the roof deck for corrosion and caulk or repair any areas that have rust.

During a full structural inspection, we look at the entire building not just from the outside, but also from within. We are able to inspect hidden areas that cannot be seen from the outside. We also look at the building from the inside, as the inside of the building can often tell us a story about the past.

Check For Any Damaged Windows, Doors, Or Siding.

Believe it or not, your home may have some windows or doors that are damaged but not noticeable from the outside. To check them, you can either do a complete inspection from inside or hire a contractor to do it for you. If you choose the former approach, then you can look at each window from the inside and check for any chips or cracks. If you notice any, you should immediately have it fixed. If you hire a contractor, then they will check every window for you and make sure that they are in good working condition.

We inspect the building’s structural elements to understand their condition and to locate areas that may be weakened or compromised. This type of inspection can help identify problems that may lead to costly repairs. In some cases, we can recommend mitigation procedures.

Look For Termite Damage, Which Can Be Identified By Webbing Or Exposed Wood.

If you see wood that is covered in a fine black powder, or if wood that is close to the ground seems to be bubbling, you may have termites. These pests can quickly damage wood, so look for damage around pipes and electrical outlets. Webs can also indicate a problem, especially when they’re in

corners or in tight spaces.

The different types of structural damage can occur due to natural disasters, such as tornadoes, or manmade incidents, such as explosions. One of the biggest challenges when dealing with these types of incidents is determining the scope of the damage. This is because the damage may be hidden from view, such as behind walls, or the area may be so hazardous that it is unsafe to enter.

Rinciples of Infrared

With the Infrared Thermography, roofs can be scanned with a highly sophisticated infrared camera to detect and accurately map sub-surface moisture, thereby detemfining whether a portion or all of the roof requires replacement. Unlike other non-destructive techniques, infrared themal scanning assesses every square inch of the roofing including vertical flashing. This results in a comprehensive view of the roof s condition with the possibility of error minimized.

The thermographic survey is conducted by hand canying the Infrared cameras over the roof.

Thermography or Infrared Scanning is based upon the ability of a specialized infrared camera to detect variations in temperature radiating from the roof surface and to convert them into an electrical signal which is displayed instantaneously as a video heat image called a Thermogram. The difference in tones (black to white) denotes variations in the roofs surface temperature of 0.2 degrees Centigrade, and is influence by the moisture content.

Every object whose surface temperature is above absolute zero (-2T3 degrees C.) radiates electromagnetic energy which is a function of its surface temperature. The intensity of this radiation varies along the wave lengths of the electromagnetic spectrum from visual to the infrared ranges. Using a highly sensitive, real time infrared imaging system, it is possible to observe, qualify and record the thermal picture of the object whose temperature is between -20 and +2000 Degrees C. The sensitivity of the equipment is such that it is capable of detecting temperatures between two given surfaces to an accuracy of .2 Degrees C. at an ambient temperature of 30 Degrees C. The heat picture, known as a Thermogram, is composed of a gray scale with continuous contrast ranging from black to white. Areas of higher temperature appear lighter while areas of lower temperature appear darker.

Charactieristicts of Moisture in Roofing.

Infrared techniques pinpoint the moisture entry points from the interior, exterior, or from roof leaks. The absorption characteristics of various types of building materials are of particular interest. With porous material, moisture generally penetrates from the surface down; the greatest amount of water is found near the surface traveling along and dispersing into the porous material. In colder regions a potential condensation problem exists. The insulation is often protected by a vapor barrier located as near as practical to the warm side.

As long as the vapor barrier is maintained at a temperature above the dew point, condensation can be completely forestalled. If water vapor can penetrate into the roof because of a poorly installed vapor barrier, it will migrate to the cold face, condense and often, be absorbed by the insulation or other absorbent materials.

The characteristics of various types of roofing materials raises a similar interest. Different roofing materials have varied moisture absorption characteristics. With porous material, moisture generally penetrates from the surface down. The greatest amount of water is found near the surface traveling along felts and dispersing into the insulation. The quantity of moisture, itsform, and location within the assembly, and the water absorption.

Technical Approach

When an abnormality on a Thermogram is identified as wet, (usually noted as a darker colored area), it is marked with paint and is photographed for future reference. The location of thi-area of sub-surface moisture is noted on the roof map which accompanies the report. Findings were not confirmed by further tests.Under a clear sky during the day, the roof acts as a large themial collector and can approach 160 degrees Fahrenheit.

Insulation laden with sub-surface moisture absorbs this radiation and acts as a reservoir to regenerate the heating of the membrane after the solar effect has dissipated. The affect of wet and dry material on the surface temperature of the roof is also a result of emissive cooling of the roof surface as much as 15 degrees Centigrade below ambient. In cooler weather, the introduction of moisture reduces the R-value of the assembly-producing thermal bridges. These thermal bridges are localized warm zones which also produce images on the Thermogram.