Design
Whether designing an addition, alteration, renovation, or a brand new building, the structure (foundation and framing) is the backbone of your project:
An engineer will review your plans and ideas for feasibility, economy, proper sizing of elements and connections.
If it's an existing structure, the engineer will determine the capacity and condition of the existing elements, so they are not overloaded or compromised.
The engineer will review the design for potential problem areas that will create difficulties during construction and help you simplify the design.
The engineer will review your structure for durability and resiliency to natural hazards for your location, whether wind, seismic, flooding, or susceptibility to moisture related damage and fire.
The engineer will provide you with an economical foundation design that will resist settlements and movements that would lead to cracks and moisture related damage thus providing you with peace of mind that your project will perform for the long haul without requiring extensive maintenance and expensive repairs.
Construction
The devil may be in the details, but real chaos is sometimes in construction. And even best laid plans often fall short once the hammers start swinging, because the builders don't read those plans thoroughly. Other times the drawings may not show all the details, leaving it at the contractor's discretion, and they can't always make the right call. And we've found that many builders may cut corners if they feel that no one is reviewing their work in detail.
Engineering oversight during construction makes sure your foundation and framing are built strictly according to the design and best industry practices. Thus providing a solid footing for all the beautiful finishes and fittings to come.
When a contractor knows there's engineering oversight, they won't cut corners, because they know they won't get away with it.
Assessment
Many existing buildings weren't built well to start with, others have aged and suffered from poorly planned alterations, lack of maintenance, or have been damaged by past events. Most commonly this is due to excessive moisture infiltration that rots the framing and compromises the foundation support. Determining the cause, severity, and fix to these issues requires a highly trained and experienced investigator. We call them engineers.
Repair
We all know there's more than one way to skin a cat. But what the best way? The way that's economical, foolproof, and will hold up strongly for years. The engineer will determine the underlying causes of the damage or failure, and assess the severity. Only when this investigation is complete will the engineer creatively leverage their training and experience to design the best fix for the problem.
Buying or selling a home with "issues"
Whether you are a current homeowner or in the market to purchase a home, it is vital to be aware of any structural damage to your property. If the home inspector notices any signs of structural problems, they will recommend hiring a structural engineer to evaluate the situation. The engineer doesn't make any income on the repairs, so they will give you an honest opinion on whether the damage is structural or cosmetic, ongoing or a past event. In either case you are left with the peace of mind of knowing what's wrong and what to do about it.
Preparing for natural hazards
Moisture intrusion, wind, fire or earthquakes, floods and tree fall are all threats to the integrity of your home and can cause severe damage to a structure if it's not well built, or not designed to withstand these effects. As with other forms of structural damage, your engineer can evaluate the severity of the issue and recommend an appropriate solution to make your home more resilient and durable for what may come. Ensuring that it can be a true source of refuge and security for your family.
I know what I want, why NOT just hire a General Contractor to perform the work?
OZER works for YOU as your consultant to save you time, money, and help you achieve your goals whether to create something beautiful, functional, or durable. (We hope all of the above)
We map out the construction process with you so that you can make smart decisions in planning your project and executing it.
We always search for the most economical and durable solutions for your specific repair or build project.
We don't make any income on the actual construction, so we have no conflict of interest. Our passion is to find the simplest, most economical approach to a given problem, utilizing a vast toolkit and the most up to date industry knowledge. As an example sometimes simple gutters or landscaping can solve a drainage issue without the need for expensive trench drains, sump pumps, etc.
Contractors, like most of us, don't do their best work in a vacuum. When there is oversight, discussion, and direction, contractors feel empowered and inspired to build right. And they know where to go for help. And they know there will be consequences for cutting corners.
We believe that knowledge, understanding, and collaboration lead to successful projects that withstand the test of time.
Any design, assessment, repair, remodel, or addition starts with us providing a written Structural Assessment with a limited scope for your specific needs.
Request a Quote on our website or call us at 901-305-6540
We schedule a visit and quote the fee for our on-site assessment (for residential this typically ranges from $450 to $900 depending on size of the structure, area to be assessed, and distance from Memphis).
We meet with you or your representative on-site to perform a walkthrough of all interior spaces, attic, crawlspace, and exterior perimeter as necessary to document existing conditions.
We will provide your Structural Assessment with limited scope of recommendations and discuss your next steps to meet whatever goal you have. Should you require letters for code compliance or insurance needs we will handle that as well.
Typically, we can schedule your structural inspection within the week. We do have options to expedite our report delivery (typically 7-10 business days) since turn around times for real estate transactions need to be fast. These include a same day verbal report of findings to provide peace of mind for decision making. Also, weekend appointments and a 24-48 hour written report turnaround for an extra fee. Calling us at 901-305-6540 or filling out our quote request online is the best way to schedule.