Structural Assessments for Existing Buildings
A professional assessment can help establish the likely cause, structural significance and appropriate response to an observed building defect.
I assess:
• Structural cracks and building movement
• Suspected foundation or settlement problems
• Structural damage following flooding, water ingress or other incidents
• Concrete corrosion and spalling
• Retaining walls and other structural elements
• Roof and structural defects
• Structural alterations and modifications
• Defects identified during property transactions
Where appropriate, the assessment includes a site inspection, photographs, measurements and a written structural engineering report setting out the findings, professional opinion and recommendations.
Structural Assessment Services
Independent Structural Assessments for Property Professionals
Property Buyers & Sellers
Concerned about structural defects before buying or selling a property?
An independent pre-purchase or pre-sale structural assessment can help establish whether observed defects are likely to represent a significant structural concern.
Pre-Purchase Assessments
Pre-Sale Assessments
Estate Agents
Independent structural assessments and clear professional reports can help identify and explain structural defects before they become obstacles to a property transaction.
Assessments for Estate Agents
Insurers & Loss Adjusters
Independent structural damage assessments and professional opinions on observed building damage and probable causes.
Insurance Assessments
Attorneys & Legal Professionals
Independent structural engineering opinions concerning building defects, structural damage and disputed conditions.
Professional & Legal Assessments
Relative Compaction Testing
I provide in-situ relative compaction assessments for foundation trenches, platform areas, backfill, and other earthworks using a Dynamic Cone Penetrometer (DCP/DPL). Testing is carried out to a depth of up to 1.0 m in soils containing less than 15% gravel, providing a practical assessment of the consistency and relative compaction of the founding material. The results can be used to assist with foundation inspections, quality control during construction, and engineering evaluations where confirmation of ground conditions is required.
Client Assistance: The Dynamic Cone Penetrometer requires two people to operate safely and efficiently. The client is therefore required to provide one able-bodied person at the test site to assist during the testing. If no assistant is available, this should be discussed in advance so that alternative arrangements can be made.
Why Use an Independent Structural Engineer?
I am a registered Professional Engineering Technologist (Pr Tech Eng) with extensive experience in structural engineering and assessment of existing buildings.
My approach is independent, practical and focused on answering the question that matters:
Is the observed defect structurally significant, what is likely causing it, and what should be done next?
I undertake structural assessments throughout Cape Town, the Overberg and the wider Western Cape, with particular experience in existing buildings exposed to coastal conditions, moisture and environmental deterioration.
Local Experience in Western Cape Coastal Conditions
Many properties throughout Cape Town, Hermanus and the Western Cape are influenced by the varying soil conditions, seasonal moisture variation, coastal exposure and ageing building materials.
Understanding these local conditions is essential when assessing structural cracks, settlement and movement accurately.
My experience across the Western Cape enables me to distinguish between cosmetic defects and structural concerns, ensuring that recommendations are practical, technically sound and appropriate to local conditions.
Concerned About Cracks or Structural Damage?
If you are unsure whether a defect requires professional investigation, send photographs and a brief description of the problem by WhatsApp.
Please provide:
Property location
Brief description of the problem
Photographs, if available
I can advise whether a site assessment appears warranted and, where appropriate, provide a fixed-fee quotation before the inspection.
Request an Independent Structural Assessment
Whether you have a question, would like to discuss a structural concern, or wish to request a Structural Assessment, please contact me using the quick contact links alongside this page (Email, Phone or WhatsApp), or by completing the online Structural Assessment Request Form below.
