Residential Services Available Services Structural Evaluations Foundation Evaluations Insurance Claim Evaluations Problem Evaluations Major Structural Defect Evaluations Repair Designs Litigation Support/Expert Testimony Basement/Water Problems Manufactured Home Foundation Evaluations EIFS Evaluations Home Plans Dispute Resolution Condominium Reserve Studies riterium-Rommes Engineers provides a wide range of residential building services. Most engineering firms will not even consider working with homes or residential structures. However, we specialize in them. Since we know residential construction better than most engineering firms or home inspectors, we are able to provide a variety of services. Some of our most requested services include: Structural Evaluations When something isn’t right or there is a concern, we can tell you what is wrong or if it is a problem. We can also evaluate the general condition of a structure or one of its components if you would like to know if a home is structurally sound. Foundation Evaluations When there is a crack, a bowing wall, or other problem, we can tell you what caused it and what repairs are needed. Insurance Claim Evaluations Since we are familiar with all residential building systems and components, we can evaluate conditions and tell you what likely caused them. Some of the more common conditions we evaluate are: Cause and Origin Blasting Damage Hail Damage Foundation Failures Vehicle Impact Damage Roofing Problems/Leaks EIFS Problems Basement Water Problems Moisture Problems Problem Evaluations If you are buying a home or if you own one, we can examine and evaluate several different types of problems. Major Structural Defect and Repair Designs We can examine structural concerns and determine if a major structural defect exists. We have worked with most major warranty companies to assist them in determining whether or not a condition is covered. If a problem exists, we can design the repair for it so contractors have specific instructions and a plan to follow. Litigation Support/Expert Testimony For those difficult situations that cannot be resolved by other means, we can evaluate problems, prepare reports, and appear in court to testify about the problems. If necessary, we can provide estimates of cost to cure. We can also assist your attorney by advising on strengths and weaknesses of a case. Basement Water/Moisture Penetration Problems Moisture and water problems are a nuisance. Mold is a common problem associated with such conditions. We can evaluate basement water and other moisture penetration conditions to identify the sources of the water/moisture and the needed repairs. Manufactured Home Foundation Evaluations Many lenders and underwriters are requiring engineer’s reports for these. Whether you need an evaluation to satisfy Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, HUD, VA, or other conventional loan requirements, we are familiar with the standards and can provide you the necessary report. If you are a dealer or someone who is purchasing a home, we can design a foundation to meet whatever lending and/or state requirements it needs to meet. EIFS Evaluations Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems (EIFS), also know as “synthetic stucco”, are known to be leak and problem prone. Homes with these types of exteriors require close inspection and evaluation to determine whether or not problems exist or what repairs may be needed. As engineers, we can both evaluate the problem and provide an authoritative recommendation on repairs. Why settle for an inexperienced home inspector who tests these systems on the side or an EIFS contractor who may have a vested interest in finding problems to fix when you can have a straightforward opinion of the EIFS condition and installation? If you are selling a home, our reports can be used to answer one of the questions on the Tennessee Real Estate Disclosure Form. Roof Evaluations If you have a problem, we can help you determine why it exists. If you would like to know about the condition of a roof, we can tell you that also. Crawl Space Problems Crawl spaces are areas where most homeowners and/or buyers rarely ever go into yet they can contain the most problems. We can inspect crawl spaces to confirm what conditions exist. Home Plans This is one of our newest services. When you buy a set of house plans, most lack details and most refer you to a local engineer to detail structural components and their sizes. Some draftsman and home plan designers also provide minimal detail. Why not have an engineer experienced in all phases of residential construction prepare your plans instead? For a small additional fee, you can get plans that are thought thorough, reviewed for constructability, have adequate structural details and specifications, and provide enough information so you do not have to rely on your builder’s interpretations. Dispute Resolution Alan L. Rommes, P.E. is Rule 31 trained in General Civil Mediation. We can help you resolve disputes between builders, owners, buyers, sellers, and realtors.