When a building dispute involves structural cracking, movement, damage, defective work or questions of causation, the opinion of an independent structural engineer can be critical.
Cornell Engineers provides independent expert structural engineering opinions for solicitors, QCAT matters, insurers and court-related disputes where a clear, technically sound opinion is required.
Our role is not to advocate for one side simply because they have asked for help. Our role is to inspect, review, assess and provide an independent structural engineering opinion based on the available evidence, site observations, engineering judgement and relevant technical principles.
That distinction matters.
In a dispute, a weak or poorly framed engineering opinion can make things worse. A good opinion should help clarify the real structural issues, identify what can and cannot be concluded, and assist the parties, their advisers or the tribunal to understand the engineering position.
Who we assist
Cornell Engineers can assist:
- solicitors acting for property owners, builders, bodies corporate, insurers or other parties
- QCAT applicants or respondents who require an independent structural engineering opinion
- insurers, loss adjusters and claims managers seeking an unbiased causation opinion
- parties involved in building, structural damage or construction defect disputes
- clients who require a review of another engineering report or opinion
- clients who may require expert report preparation and possible court or QCAT attendance
We are selective about the matters we accept. Dispute work requires care, proper scope, suitable records and enough time to form a defensible opinion.
Structural engineering opinions for disputes
Structural disputes often involve more than one possible cause.
Cracking may be related to footing movement, reactive clay movement, drainage, tree influence, poor construction, inadequate design, leaking services, impact damage, neighbouring works or long-term deterioration.
Damage after a storm, fire, flood, hail event or escaping water event may require careful assessment to distinguish between new damage, pre-existing damage, construction defects and unrelated building movement.
A structural engineering opinion may be useful where there are questions such as:
- What caused the cracking or movement?
- Is the damage structurally significant?
- Is the building safe to occupy or use?
- Is the damage likely related to an insured event?
- Has building work been carried out in accordance with reasonable structural engineering expectations?
- Is further investigation required before conclusions can be reached?
- Are proposed repairs structurally appropriate?
- Is another engineer’s opinion technically reasonable?
- What remedial design or strengthening work may be required?
These questions need to be answered carefully. Sometimes the correct engineering answer is not the answer a client was hoping for. That is part of being independent.
Services we provide
Cornell Engineers can provide a range of services depending on the matter, the stage of the dispute and the information available.
Preliminary structural review
A preliminary review may be useful before a solicitor, insurer or party commits to a full expert report.
This may include review of photographs, correspondence, previous reports, drawings, builder documents, insurance material and other available records.
The purpose is to identify the likely structural issues, confirm whether Cornell Engineers can assist, and recommend an appropriate next step.
A preliminary review does not usually replace a site inspection or formal expert report, but it can help avoid wasting time and money on the wrong process.
Site inspection and causation assessment
Where site conditions need to be observed directly, we can attend the property to inspect the relevant structural concerns.
This may include assessment of:
- cracking and movement
- footing and slab movement
- retaining walls and structural elements
- roof, wall and framing damage
- storm, flood, fire, hail or impact damage
- damage associated with leaking pipes or escaping water
- defective or incomplete building work
- structural concerns raised by builders, certifiers, insurers or other engineers
After inspection, we can provide a written opinion addressing the agreed scope.
Expert structural engineering reports
Where a formal report is required, Cornell Engineers can prepare an independent structural engineering report suitable for use by solicitors, insurers or parties involved in QCAT or court proceedings.
The report scope may include:
- background information reviewed
- site observations
- structural assessment
- causation opinion where possible
- comment on the significance of damage
- comment on previous reports or opinions
- recommendations for further investigation, monitoring, repair or design
- limitations and assumptions
The wording of expert reports matters. We aim to be clear, direct and technically defensible, without overstating conclusions beyond the evidence available.
Review of other engineering reports
We can review reports prepared by other engineers and provide comment on whether the conclusions appear reasonable from a structural engineering perspective.
This may be useful where:
- competing opinions have been provided
- a party does not understand the engineering basis of a report
- an insurer or solicitor needs a second opinion
- a report appears to miss relevant structural issues
- the conclusions do not appear to match the observed damage
- further investigation or clarification may be required
A review of another engineer’s opinion must be handled carefully and respectfully. The aim is not to criticise for sport. The aim is to identify whether the opinion is technically sound, incomplete, unsupported or requires further evidence.
Remedial design advice
In some matters, an engineering opinion is only part of the process.
Where appropriate, Cornell Engineers can also provide advice on possible structural repair options or remedial design requirements.
This may include advice on strengthening, replacement, underpinning, framing repairs, retaining wall repairs, footing movement, slab issues or structural rectification.
Where detailed design is required, this will be scoped separately from the expert report or causation assessment.
QCAT and court attendance
Where required, Cornell Engineers can attend QCAT, mediation, conference, hearing or court proceedings to assist with structural engineering evidence.
This may include:
- conference with solicitors
- preparation for giving evidence
- responding to questions about a report
- attendance at QCAT or court
- giving evidence as an independent expert
- reviewing affidavit or expert evidence material where appropriate
Court and tribunal work is charged separately and is usually based on hourly rates, including preparation, travel, waiting time and attendance.
Independence matters
In dispute work, the most valuable engineering opinion is usually the one that is independent, careful and evidence-based.
Cornell Engineers does not provide reports simply to support a predetermined position.
Before accepting a matter, we need to understand:
- who is requesting the opinion
- who will rely on the report
- what question needs to be answered
- what documents are available
- whether the matter is already before QCAT or a court
- whether there are deadlines
- whether site access is available
- whether another expert has already reported
- whether further investigation may be required
If the available information is incomplete, we may recommend a staged approach. That may involve preliminary review first, followed by inspection and formal reporting if appropriate.
Matters we may decline
Cornell Engineers may decline matters where:
- the requested timeframe is unreasonable
- the client is seeking an opinion to support a predetermined outcome
- the scope is unclear or unsuitable
- the available evidence is insufficient
- site access is unsafe or impractical
- the matter falls outside our area of expertise
- the likely cost is not proportionate to the dispute
- we cannot provide the required level of service within current capacity
This protects the client, the process and the quality of the engineering opinion.
What to send us
For an initial review, please provide:
- property address
- short summary of the dispute or claim
- photographs of the relevant damage or structural concern
- previous engineering reports
- building reports, insurance reports or expert reports
- architectural or structural drawings if available
- relevant correspondence from builders, insurers, certifiers, solicitors or other parties
- QCAT or court deadlines, if applicable
- the specific question you need the engineer to answer
The clearer the information provided at the start, the easier it is to confirm whether we can assist and what the appropriate scope should be.
Structural engineering opinion before the dispute gets worse
A structural engineering report does not solve every dispute.
But a clear independent opinion can often help parties understand the real technical issues before more money is spent arguing about the wrong ones.
For solicitors, insurers and parties involved in QCAT or court matters, Cornell Engineers can provide independent structural engineering opinions, report review, site inspection, causation assessment, remedial design advice and attendance where required.
To enquire about an expert structural engineering opinion, please contact Cornell Engineers with the property address, a short summary of the matter and the documents currently available for review.