Structural & civil engineering services
Structural design & drawings
RPEQ structural analysis and documentation for residential, commercial and industrial construction.
Renovations & wall removals
Load-bearing wall assessments, beam and lintel design, extension design, and structural advice for alterations.
Structural inspections & reports
Site inspections and clear reports for cracking, movement, defects, damage, compliance concerns and due diligence.
Retaining structures
Retaining wall and associated structural design suited to site conditions, loads and construction constraints.
Civil design & stormwater
Practical drainage, stormwater, site works and civil engineering input for development and construction.
Repair & rectification specifications
Engineering advice, repair details and specifications for damaged, deteriorated or non-conforming structures.
Tell us what you are planning or concerned about.
Clear engineering assessment of structural concerns.
Cracking, movement, corrosion, decay, storm damage or an unexpected building defect can be difficult to interpret without understanding the structure and its load path. Elite provides site inspections and engineering reports to identify the available evidence, explain the likely significance and recommend appropriate actions.
Common reasons for an inspection.
Elite scopes each inspection around the structure, the concern and the intended use of the report.
Movement and cracking
- Cracking in masonry, concrete, plasterboard or finishes
- Suspected footing or building movement
- Sagging, deflection or distortion
Damage and deterioration
- Corrosion, concrete spalling or exposed reinforcement
- Timber decay, termite damage or connection concerns
- Storm, impact, water or accidental damage
Existing-building questions
- Alterations completed without clear structural documentation
- Pre-purchase or due-diligence concerns
- Builder, insurer, body-corporate or certifier requests
- Assessment before repair or renovation work
Inspection and reporting scope.
The required scope depends on the structure and concern.
Review and inspection
Review of supplied plans, photographs and reports; a site inspection and measured observations; identification of the structural system and visible load paths.
Engineering assessment
Assessment of cracking, movement, damage or deterioration; relevant moisture, level, drainage and external influences; preliminary calculations or structural checks.
Recommendations and reporting
Recommendations for monitoring, opening-up, testing, repair or further investigation, with a written engineering report where included in the agreed scope.
Define what a visual inspection can establish.
A visual inspection cannot verify concealed reinforcement, footing dimensions, welds, bolts, tie-downs, framing connections or subsurface conditions unless suitable evidence or opening-up is available.
Further investigation may include
- Targeted excavation
- Removal of small linings or finishes
- Material testing
- Level survey
- Drainage investigation
- Geotechnical information
- Monitoring over time
- Review by another specialist
Typical deliverables
- Inspection observations
- Photographs and marked-up images
- Assessment of apparent structural significance
- Probable causes where reasonably supported
- Recommended actions
- Repair concept or rectification scope
- Advice about further investigation
- Formal engineering report
What to send
- Project address or suburb and intended report use
- A concise description and when the concern was noticed
- Clear overall and close-up photographs
- Available drawings and relevant reports
- Council, certifier or legal correspondence
- Required timeframe
Important: An inspection report is prepared for the agreed purpose and client. It should not be treated as certification of the whole building unless that is expressly included and supported by the necessary investigation.
Contact Elite about a structural inspection or report.
Send photographs, the project location and a short explanation of what has been observed. Elite will advise the appropriate inspection and reporting scope.