SERVICES

DESIGN REVIEW

Our experience of investigating system failures, along with extensive field training allows us to assist designers and developers in their efforts to avoid costly mistakes by providing recommendations at the initial design stage. With our detailed review of the drawings and specifications prior to construction, Structure Shield is able to identify the problematic areas and point out potential problems. Following the review, we can add our field experience to observe these same critical details during construction and to answer questions in the field to ensure proper execution.

As “Building Envelope Specialist,” our vast experience in responding to problems that arise in buildings after they have been placed in service allows us to determine both, the cause and details needed to show how the problems can be avoided. One of our main objectives while performing our Plan Reviews is to alert the Architect or Qwner as to the specific details of construction that need to be closely followed or tested as the work progresses to avoid costly errors and schedule delays. The best way to assure this is to have the person performing the review, also point out the area of concern while performing the tests and inspections in the field.

CONSTRUCTION OBSERVATIONS

Structure Shield provides an objective third-party opinion to whatever project we are a part of, no matter who our client is. Our experienced, practical approach taken during observertions conducted through the construction phase of a new building or remediation project allows our Project Managers to easily convey findings in the field with our clients. During observations, Structure Shield documents work related to the building envelope, providing you picture and text reports on whether the job is being completed per Project Documents and is in accordance with local Building Code and Manufacturer's Installation Guidelines. We typically conduct weekly or bi-weekly job-site observations of the materials being installed; however, we also can visit the site on an as-needed basis by our client.

MAINTENENCE MANUAL

As a Consulting and Inspection firm, we are seldom asked to look at well maintained buildings. Instead, we normally find a complex with no maintenance plan of any kind or one that has been on a dusty shelf where it was placed the day it was delivered. A majority of the maintenance crews we observe are totally reactive to the problem of the day and show little interest in performing any organized preventative maintenance. Our firm can prepare a comprehensive, structured preventative maintenance plan with schedules and budgets to ensure all key building envelope components are effectively maintained. Recognizing the true value of a comprehensive, but practical maintenance plan, we see the importance of critical points that must be covered to make a plan effective. The Structure Shield plan provides the three critical links that make our plan work. First we provide a third-party overview that directs in-house scheduled inspections and required repairs or replacements that will take place as scheduled. Then we provide an initial Condition Survey that covers all critical building components and finally a Reserve Study, with estimated repair or replacement costs along with a cash flow budget. With this data, and our Annual Condition Inspections, we are able to fine tune the maintenance schedules and budgets to keep our plan current.

CONDITION SURVEY/DUE DILIGENCE

A Condition Survey for a building can be compared to a medical doctor’s complete physical exam in as much as both will identify a serious problem that may exist and set up a data base for each major component in future investigations. For buildings, we have found that the most effective methods to assure future performance are to combine the initial Condition Survey with a Reserve Study and a preventive maintenance strategy. When the three services are performed in the order presented, they will save the Owner, Management Company, or the Association far more than they will cost. Structure Shield takes pride in customizing our efforts to make each of these services unique and effective. We utilize our state of the art equipment, skills, and experience to produce reliable Condition Surveys. We produce our Reserve Studies based on factual conditions observed and rely on our experience to estimate the expected service life performance. Our Structured Maintenance Plans are created from the data collected in our Condition Survey.

CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION

The secret to the effective management of large or small restoration projects with limited subcontractor involvement is to have the restoration design firms provide the day to day management as a part of the contract administration project especially where limited demolition is involved and will require continued modification to details and testing to prove the performance of the repair. Such tasks are most effectively performed by a professional design team enforcing the execution of their own designs. Normally restoration work does not include multiple trades and is most often performed by specialty contractors with limited subcontractor involvement. It has been our experience that such work is best managed by the professional designer for reasons of economy. It is best to have the designer of the fix be the one inspecting and making adjustments or modifications to the designs as the work progresses along with limited testing to prove the performance. This method will combine the management with the contract administration and should include the following tasks:

Assist the Owners or Managers with developing a basic contract for their attorney to review.
Review and approve the Contractor's Submittals, Shop Drawings, Insurance Certificates, and Schedules.
Hold a Pre-Construction meeting with the selected Contractor and review the Scope, Schedules and special conditions with minutes of the meeting being taken for recording purposes.
Review Contractor's Payment Applications and Change Orders and respond accordingly.
Conduct full-time or periodic observations of the work in progress at every phase to ensure compliance with the contract documents is being achieved and document each observation with either daily reports or picture and text reports.
Perform a detailed contract compliance final inspection (punch List) along with a follow up inspection to assure satisfactory completion.

INFRARED THERMOGRAPHY

Structure Shield has utilized our infrared scans for detecting hidden moisture damage within wall assemblies, below roof membranes, on structural wood beams and below floor finishes. Through this non-destructive method of locating potential damage, our staff is able to locate the primary source of the intrusion and make repairs before they become significant and costly replacements.

Additional Services:

Owner Representation
Quality Control Services
Moisture Intrusion Surveys
Construction Management
AAMA Moisture Testing