by Chuck McClain | Apr 21, 2014 | Uncategorized
Exterior Insulation Finish System (EIFS) is a type of exterior building wall cladding. It was developed in Europe after World War II and became popular in the United States building industry beginning in the 1960s. EIFS is a composite material system applied to a... by Chuck McClain | Mar 24, 2014 | Uncategorized
Property Condition Evaluations identify and quantify existing conditions and provide a framework for future facilities management. There are many reasons why real estate owners and investors perform systems evaluations. Depending on the reasons, the scope and depth... by Chuck McClain | Nov 11, 2013 | Uncategorized
Recently we were asked to clarify the various scopes of work available to a client considering an acquisition of the property. It could be said that there are generally three different levels of third-party engineering due diligence PCAs for properties: Level 1: ... by Chuck McClain | May 6, 2013 | Uncategorized
For the better part of a year, in between assessment projects for clients, I’ve been spending time updating a book I wrote back in the early 1990s called the Building Systems Evaluation Handbook. Initially, it seemed like and simple task to put out a 20th anniversary... by Chuck McClain | Mar 20, 2013 | Uncategorized
The scope and level of depth in diagnosing the structural system can vary widely. The system’s components are frequently reviewed superficially during a general ASTM-Standard PCA walk-through of the interior and exterior of a building. All going well, this... by Chuck McClain | Jan 10, 2013 | Uncategorized
One of the most exciting aspects of the past year has been the increasing quantity of portfolio work we’ve been involved in. From student housing complexes in AZ, CA and IL, and a group of large shopping centers in Las Vegas to dozens of retail stores throughout...