Building Experts Canada Ltd

Our structural engineering building condition inspections and assessments of existing buildings are conducted by our licensed professional structural engineers to ensure their structural integrity has not been compromised.

To conduct structural engineering building condition inspections and assessments of existing buildings, our licensed professional structural engineers visit the buildings and carry out, with due diligence, visual inspections of:

• the condition of building structure to identify types of structural defects, signs of structural distress and deformation, and signs of material deterioration;
• the loading on building structures to identify deviations from their intended uses, and/or misuse and abuse, which can result in overloading;
• additions or alteration works affecting building structures to identify additions or alteration works that can result in overloading or adverse effects on structures; and
• non-structural components that might affect structural systems.

If signs of structural deterioration or defects are present, our licensed professional engineers provide opinions on the severity of the deteriorations or defects and recommend appropriate actions to be taken. Such actions might involve repair works or full structural investigation to parts or the whole of buildings. If there are signs of structural distress and their causes are not apparent, structural analyses would be warranted to determine whether original designs were adequate or if structures have since become overloaded.

Our licensed professional structural quantify observed structural deterioration or defects and analyze their potential impact on structures, as well as provide engineering opinions on the potential impacts of the deterioration or defects.

Typical structural engineering building condition inspection and assessment report includes

• descriptions of buildings’ main usages
• records of, and comments on, observations of loading conditions, indicating usages at different parts of buildings, and identifying misuse, abuse or deviations from intended uses;
• records of and comments on findings of additions and alteration works to building structures;
• records of observations of signs of structural defects, damage, distress, deformation or deterioration;
• engineering opinions about whether existing usages and loading conditions are compatible with structures’ intended usages;
• engineering opinions on the extent, possible causes and seriousness of identified problems;
• engineering opinions about whether identified problems are defects of no structural significance, defects requiring remedial action and/or monitoring, or suspected defects of structural significance requiring full structural investigation and immediate action;
• recommendations on remedial actions and/or monitoring to be undertaken by clients to ensure buildings’ structural integrity,
• additional recommended tests or investigations.

We provide expert commercial building condition assessment stamped by our licensed professional structural engineers with more than 30 years of commercial building inspection experience.  Commercial and Industrial Property Condition Assessment fees are based on the size, age and usage of the building.  Our commercial building inspection includes:

• Narrative description of current condition of the building and its major components including all accessible Structural Frame, Building Envelope, Roofing, Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning & Ventilation, Electrical, Life Safety & Fire Protection, Interior Elements, Site Topography, Storm Water Drainage. Ingress & Egress, Paving, Curbing & Parking, Landscaping & Appurtenances and Utilities (Water, Electricity, Natural Gas).
• Detailed list of deficiencies, including those that require immediate repair and/or replacement,
• Recommendations for required short term and long term upgrade, repairs or replacement,
• Cost estimate for the repairs and renovations that are considered beyond the normal maintenance of the building and property,
• Estimate of component remaining life of building components including roof and heating & cooling units,

Our Commercial Building Inspections stamped by our licensed professional structural engineers meet ASTM Standard E 2018 and approved by all the banks and private lenders in Ontario. The Commercial Property Condition Assessment can be arranged within 2 business days. We also work outside of normal business hours including evenings, weekends and holidays. A building condition assessment is a part of the due diligence required to make an informed decisions that can significantly affect the purchase or leasing of a building. Our structural engineering building condition assessment identifies the deficiencies and associand provides a cost estimate for the next ten years to maintain the building.

A structural engineering building condition assessment report stamped by a professional licensed structural engineer in Ontario is required by the banks for buildings over $2.5 million in apparaised value. Typically if the strutural engineering building condition assessment identifies the items which will soon need costly repair or replacment, the repair and replacement cost could be factored into the financing.

Our fee for a Professional Licensed Structural Engineer stamped and certified Building Condition Assessment Report with the cost estimate for repairs and renovations that are considered beyond the normal maintenance of the building and property, estimate of component remaining life of mechanical components including heating & cooling units, assist in prioritizing building maintenance items and recommendations to increase the energy effectiveness of the building and ways to increase the value of the property which is suitable for financing purposes and/or due diligence for purchase and sale of the property is $895 plus $90 per 1,000 sq ft or part of.

Our licensed professional structural engineers take photos during the building condition assessment, estimate the lifespan of the building’s elements and systems and prepare written documentation on each component, including the deficiencies they observe.  Our building condition assessment reports indicate the required repairs in the short term, as well as what will be required in the longer term, complete with a list of recommendations for repair or replacement, with estimated costs. 

Our service area for structural engineering building condition assessment includes Toronto, Hamilton, Kitchener, London, Oshawa, St. Catharines, Niagara Falls, Barrie, Guelph, Milton, Brantford, Peterborough, Belleville, Welland, Pelham, Chatham, Georgetown, St. Thomas, Woodstock, Bowmanville, Stouffville, Orillia, Stratford, Orangeville, Bradford, Keswick, Bolton, Midland, Innisfil, Owen Sound, Fergus, Lindsay, Collingwood, Cobourg, Alliston, Wasaga Beach, Tillsonburg, Fort Erie, Strathroy, Simcoe, New Hamburg, Angus, Borden, Ingersoll, Port Hope, Paris, Beamsville, Uxbridge, Elmira, Caledonia, Acton, Port Perry, Bracebridge, Newcastle, Crystal Beach, Shelburne, Port Elgin, Aylmer, Sutton, Listowel, Hanover, King, St. Marys, Huntsville, Parry Sound, Port Dover, Brighton, Dunnville, Tay, Gravenhurst, Tottenham, Mount Albert, Meaford, Tilbury, Picton, Exeter, Mount Forest, Rockwood, Nobleton, Mitchell, Walkerton, Blenheim, Caledon East, Delhi, Ayr, Vineland, Stayner, Beeton, Southampton, Bobcaygeon, and Campbellford. 

Environmental Site Assessment is one of the services of our ongoing business. Assessments have been performed on a range of property types, including gas stations, medium sized industrial operations, residential apartment buildings and multi-tenant commercial plazas.

As described by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA), in Standard CAN/CSA-Z768-01, a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment is a systematic process by which an assessor seeks to determine whether a particular property is subject to actual or potential contamination.

The scope of the Phase I Environmental Site Assessment will consist of the following four principal components of the CSA Standard:
•    Review of historical land use, occupancy records, and aerial photographs.
•    Visual assessment of the site and surrounding properties including

•     Identification of any liquid or chemical storage, PCBs, ACM, Lead and other designated substances, spills or soil and building contamination.
      Identification of surrounding land use in order to identify possible impacts to the subject site.

•    Interview with persons having knowledge of past and present site activities.
•    Evaluation of Information and Reporting

Site visits can be arranged within 6 to 8 business days.   Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment reports are ready within 10 business days after completion of site visits. Our cost of carrying out the Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment work is $2,490. RUSH phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment – site visit within 3 business days and Phase 1 Environmental Report within 5 business days after the site visit will cost additional $495.

Our service area for Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment includes Toronto, Hamilton, Kitchener, London, Oshawa, St. Catharines, Niagara Falls, Barrie, Guelph, Milton, Brantford, Peterborough, Belleville, Welland, Pelham, Chatham, Georgetown, St. Thomas, Woodstock, Bowmanville, Stouffville, Orillia, Stratford, Orangeville, Bradford, Keswick, Bolton, Midland, Innisfil, Owen Sound, Fergus, Lindsay, Collingwood, Cobourg, Alliston, Wasaga Beach, Tillsonburg, Fort Erie, Strathroy, Simcoe, New Hamburg, Angus, Borden, Ingersoll, Port Hope, Paris, Beamsville, Uxbridge, Elmira, Caledonia, Acton, Port Perry, Bracebridge, Newcastle, Crystal Beach, Shelburne, Port Elgin, Aylmer, Sutton, Listowel, Hanover, King, St. Marys, Huntsville, Parry Sound, Port Dover, Brighton, Dunnville, Tay, Gravenhurst, Tottenham, Mount Albert, Meaford, Tilbury, Picton, Exeter, Mount Forest, Rockwood, Nobleton, Mitchell, Walkerton, Blenheim, Caledon East, Delhi, Ayr, Vineland, Stayner, Beeton, Southampton, Bobcaygeon, and Campbellford. 

Generally, a Phase 2 Environmental Site Assessment is required when potential contamination has been identified through an initial phase 1 environmental site assessment.  As described by the Canadian Standards Association CSA Standard CAN/CSA-Z769-00 a Phase 2 Environmental Site Assessment involves sampling and testing of materials considered by the outcome of a phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment ESA or other investigation to be possible instances of environmental contamination.

The cost, scope and duration of a Phase 2 Environmental Site Assessment are dependent on many factors such as the size and location of the site, the number and type of suspected, contaminants, the type of material to be sampled such as soil, groundwater, etc., the methods used for sample collection and the time required to obtain laboratory results.

The most frequent substances tested are Petroleum Hydrocarbons in four fractions F1-F4, heavy metals, Volatile Organic Compounds VOC, Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons - PAH, Polychlorinated Biphenyl’s PCBs pesticides and solvents. Representative samples are mostly obtained from boreholes and monitoring wells. The boreholes placements are selected by an initial rationale as being the most likely locations of contaminations.

Prior to any sub-surface investigation, the locations of underground utilities and services are investigated and confirmed to avoid potential disruption to the utilities during the sub-surface investigation. The locations for sub-surface investigation are selected by an initial rationale of being the most likely locations of contamination.

Sub-surface soil and ground water sampling are completed in accordance with the requirements of Phase 2 Environmental Site Assessment Standard CAN/CSA-Z769-00. Proper chain of custody procedures are assured for the recovered soil and ground water samples. Constituents of concern are identified, sampled, analyzed and the laboratory results are compared to the applicable Ontario Ministry of Environment Standards.

If the Phase 2 Environmental site assessment identifies adverse environmental impact in excess of the applicable Ontario Ministry of Environment Guidelines, additional assessment and/or remedial work may be required.

A Phase 2 Environmental Site Assessment is an investigation to confirm the presence or absence of contamination on a property. If contamination is identified, the Phase 2 Environmental Site Assessment findings are used to develop options for dealing with the contamination including removing the contamination, managingthe contamination in-place and or monitoring soil and groundwater conditions to ensure the contamination doesn’t worsen. The turnaround time for a typical Phase 2 Environmental Site Assessment is about 4 to 5 weeks.

Our cost of carrying out the Phase 2 Environmental Site Assessment work is $2,950 plus $990 per borehole. If a truck mounted drilling rig cannot be used for drilling and compact hydraulic drilling is required due to low ceiling height and/or narrow access, it will cost additional $900. To expedite the project to complete within 3½ weeks may cost extra private locator fee of $495 and additional “RUSH” laboratory analysis fee of $975. Core cutting of concrete slabs may cost $175 per borehole. 

Installation monitoring wells in the borehole will cost $245 per monitoring well.  Groundwater sampling and testing of existing monitoring wells may cost $245 per existing monitoring well.

Our service area for a phase 2 environmental site assessment includes Toronto, Hamilton, Kitchener, London, Oshawa, St. Catharines, Niagara Falls, Barrie, Guelph, Milton, Brantford, Peterborough, Belleville, Welland, Pelham, Chatham, Georgetown, St. Thomas, Woodstock, Bowmanville, Stouffville, Orillia, Stratford, Orangeville, Bradford, Keswick, Bolton, Midland, Innisfil, Owen Sound, Fergus, Lindsay, Collingwood, Cobourg, Alliston, Wasaga Beach, Tillsonburg, Fort Erie, Strathroy, Simcoe, New Hamburg, Angus, Borden, Ingersoll, Port Hope, Paris, Beamsville, Uxbridge, Elmira, Caledonia, Acton, Port Perry, Bracebridge, Newcastle, Crystal Beach, Shelburne, Port Elgin, Aylmer, Sutton, Listowel, Hanover, King, St. Marys, Huntsville, Parry Sound, Port Dover, Brighton, Dunnville, Tay, Gravenhurst, Tottenham, Mount Albert, Meaford, Tilbury, Picton, Exeter, Mount Forest, Rockwood, Nobleton, Mitchell, Walkerton, Blenheim, Caledon East, Delhi, Ayr, Vineland, Stayner, Beeton, Southampton, Bobcaygeon, and Campbellford. 

There is currently no legal requirement in Ontario to conduct structural engineering building condition inspections and environmental site assessments. However, there are very compelling reasons for commercial banks including RBC, CIBC, BMO, TD CanadaTrust, Scotia Bank and private lenders who provide mortgages, guarantee mortgages or invest in real estate to insist on a structural engineering building condition inspection and an environmental site assessment before committing themselves to a transaction. Commercial lending institutions including RBC, CIBC, TD, BMO and Scotia Bank know that it is essential to be concerned about the structural status of building with which they are associated. More and more commercial bankers and private lenders are requiring structural engineering building condition inspections and environmental site assessments as a condition for real estate transactions. The best time to determine if a structural problem and/or a environmental contamination is present is during the purchase of the building. Ultimately, structural engineering building condition assessment and environmental site assessment may become universally accepted as an essential component of responsible asset management.

Structural Engineering Building Condition Inspections and Assessments in Ontario including Our service area includes Toronto, Hamilton, Kitchener, London, Oshawa, St. Catharines, Niagara Falls, Barrie, Guelph, Milton, Brantford, Peterborough, Belleville, Welland, Pelham, Chatham, Georgetown, St. Thomas, Woodstock, Bowmanville, Stouffville, Orillia, Stratford, Orangeville, Bradford, Keswick, Bolton, Midland, Innisfil, Owen Sound, Fergus, Lindsay, Collingwood, Cobourg, Alliston, Wasaga Beach, Tillsonburg, Fort Erie, Strathroy, Simcoe, New Hamburg, Angus, Borden, Ingersoll, Port Hope, Paris, Beamsville, Uxbridge, Elmira, Caledonia, Acton, Port Perry, Bracebridge, Newcastle, Crystal Beach, Shelburne, Port Elgin, Aylmer, Sutton, Listowel, Hanover, King, St. Marys, Huntsville, Parry Sound, Port Dover, Brighton, Dunnville, Tay, Gravenhurst, Tottenham, Mount Albert, Meaford, Tilbury, Picton, Exeter, Mount Forest, Rockwood, Nobleton, Mitchell, Walkerton, Blenheim, Caledon East, Delhi, Ayr, Vineland, Stayner, Beeton, Southampton, Bobcaygeon, and Campbellford. 

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