Structural Systems - Commercial Property Inspection and Property Condition Assessment Considerations

Structural Steel Condition Assessment

Building Structure Condition Inspection

Property Structural Condition Assessment

Building Structure Condition Assessment

Structural Steel Condition Assessment

In general, buildings which have been in place for several years and have obviously not substantially moved or collapsed, are likely not going to suffer catastrophic structural failure any time soon.  This is due in part to a long history of very strict building safety codes employed in most jurisdictions within the United States of America.

 However, it is not uncommon to observe structural elements in need of maintenance and or repair to ensure long-term functionality.  This may include cracking or settlement of concrete foundations, corrosion of structural framing, or possible physical damage caused by human interaction with the structure.  

In addition to looking at the physical condition of structural components a commercial property inspection or property condition assessment should look at it the rest of the building envelope which includes the façade components and associated doors and windows and a sealant systems.  The façade components may be structural as well or they may be some sort of exterior insulation finishing system or veneer or curtain wall system, each has its own specific areas of the issue to be inspected and reported upon for any notable deficiencies or damage. 

Two very typical issues requiring routine repair and maintenance would include cracking or mortar loss or washout in masonry systems or shrinking or deterioration of caulking in a curtain wall system.  The use of course can be corrected with proper mortar repointing and sealant re-caulking. On occasion serious structural issues may be found and those are always referred to a licensed structural engineer for in-depth analysis. 

As a with any building system commonly found on a commercial property routine inspection and condition assessment followed by application of proper maintenance materials and techniques is of utmost importance in ensuring the longevity of any structural system and façade.

Examples: structural steel, structural masonry, bearing walls, columns, beams, joists, foundations, footings, shear, loading, envelope, facade, windows, doors, sealants.

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