How we work
The value of a construction opinion is decided entirely by how it was developed. This is the method we follow on every engagement, whether the file ends in a repair contract or on a witness stand.
Six stages, applied to every engagement
The sequence does not change based on who retains us or what the file is worth. It is the only way we know to produce a conclusion that survives being tested.
Intake, scope and conflict clearance
Before any billable time is recorded, we confirm the property address, the parties involved, the precise question we are being asked to answer, the governing deadlines and any trial date. We then run a conflict check. If we have previously worked for an adverse party, you learn that immediately rather than three months into the file.
We will also tell you at this stage if we believe the assignment needs a different specialty, such as a geotechnical engineer, an industrial hygienist or a roofing consultant. Recommending someone else costs us a fee and saves you a problem.
Document review
We review what already exists before we form any view of the property: original plans and specifications, permits and inspection cards, soils and structural reports, prior repair records, maintenance history, the insurance policy where coverage is at issue, and any estimates or expert reports already produced in the matter.
The purpose is to arrive at the site knowing what the building was supposed to be, so that deviations are recognizable on sight.
Site investigation and documentation
A physical inspection led personally by the principal. We photograph systematically, measure rather than estimate, record moisture and elevation readings where relevant, and note every condition that bears on cause, extent or repair cost.
Photographs are logged to location and date. In litigation matters this record often becomes the only surviving evidence of what the building looked like before repairs began, which is why we overdocument rather than under document.
Destructive testing where warranted
Many defects and much damage are concealed. Where the question cannot be answered from visual inspection, we open the assembly: stucco and siding removal, roof test cuts, plumbing and window wall openings, slab and foundation exposure.
In litigation, testing locations and protocols are agreed among the parties in advance, all sides are invited to attend, and we restore the openings afterward. Our own carpenters and laborers perform this work, so scheduling does not depend on a third party.
Scope of repair and cost development
First a written scope of repair describing what work is necessary, in what sequence, and why. Only then do the numbers get developed. Building the scope before the estimate is what keeps the estimate honest.
Pricing combines subcontractor bids solicited against our written scope, our own production rates for self performed trades, current material costs, and openly stated overhead, general conditions and profit. Access constraints, occupancy, phasing, code upgrade triggers and temporary relocation are priced rather than ignored.
Report, testimony or performance
The file ends in one of three places. A written report setting out findings, methodology, assumptions, exclusions and the cost of repair. Testimony at deposition, mediation, arbitration, settlement conference or trial. Or a signed contract, where the client asks us to perform the repair we have scoped.
When we perform the work, the final cost is measured against the estimate we produced. Over decades, that feedback loop is what has kept our numbers accurate.
What you receive, and when
Attorneys need to know what will exist in the file and what will be discoverable. We set that expectation at retention rather than at the discovery cutoff.
- A preliminary verbal assessment after the first site visit, before anything is written
- A written scope of repair that can be circulated to opposing experts
- A line item cost of repair with quantities, unit costs and markups shown separately
- A photograph log keyed to locations and dates
- A statement of the materials relied upon in forming the opinion
- A current curriculum vitae and testimony history on request
A note on early involvement
The single most common avoidable problem we see is being retained after the building has already been repaired. Once the stucco is back on the wall, the strongest evidence of cause is gone, and every opinion afterward becomes an argument about photographs someone else took.
If a property has suffered a loss or a defect has been identified, involve a construction expert before remediation begins, even if litigation is not yet contemplated. A short documentation visit early is worth far more than an extensive investigation later.
Retain early. The evidence does not wait.
The single most valuable thing you can do on a damage or defect matter is document the building before it is repaired. Call before remediation begins.
- Direct(619) 464-3997
- Toll Free(800) 619-4833
- Office7777 Alvarado Road, Suite 408A
La Mesa, CA 91942 - LicenseCSLB #345079