J. Martin Pitts PE LLC provides professional building forensic consulting and nondestructive testing (NDT) services for residential, commercial, industrial, and multifamily properties throughout the Gulf Coast region.
Our investigative services combine engineering experience, field observations, specialized testing, and documentation to help identify concealed conditions, evaluate building performance, determine the extent of deterioration or damage, and provide technically supported information for repair and restoration decisions.
Services include building forensic investigations, ground penetrating radar, ultrasonic concrete testing, concrete and corrosion assessments, infrared thermography, moisture investigations, coating and waterproofing testing, and drone inspection services.
Building Forensic Consulting
Our building forensic consulting services involve systematic investigations performed to identify the source, cause, extent, and significance of building-related problems.
Building problems are not always straightforward. Water intrusion, cracking, concrete deterioration, coating failures, storm damage, and construction deficiencies can involve multiple building components and contributing conditions. A forensic investigation provides a structured approach to documenting those conditions and determining appropriate next steps.
Building Forensic Consulting Services Include:
- Building-envelope investigations
- Water-intrusion and leak investigations
- Roof and waterproofing evaluations
- Exterior wall, window, and door assessments
- Concrete deterioration investigations
- Crack documentation and monitoring
- Coating and sealant failure investigations
- Construction-defect evaluations
- Storm-damage assessments
- Pre-loss and post-loss property documentation
- Repair recommendations and budgetary guidance
Ground Penetrating Radar
Ground penetrating radar (GPR) provides valuable information about concealed conditions within concrete and below-grade areas without unnecessary demolition or excavation.
GPR scanning can be used during structural investigations, renovations, repairs, and construction activities to help identify embedded objects and better understand existing conditions before cutting, coring, drilling, or modifying a structure.
GPR Scanning Services Include:
- Reinforcing-steel location
- Post-tension cable location
- Conduit and embedded-object location
- Concrete thickness estimation
- Pre-cutting and pre-coring scans
- Void and anomaly investigations
- Underground utility locating
- Private utility surveys
- Support for structural investigations and renovations
Ultrasonic Concrete Testing
Ultrasonic concrete testing can be incorporated into a broader structural or forensic investigation to evaluate concrete uniformity and identify possible internal inconsistencies.
Testing results can be compared between different locations or structural areas to provide additional information about existing concrete conditions and support a more comprehensive engineering assessment.
Ultrasonic Concrete Testing Services Include:
- Ultrasonic pulse velocity testing
- Concrete uniformity comparisons
- Identification of potential internal defects
- Relative quality assessments
- Crack and discontinuity investigations
- Comparative testing between structural areas
- Support for structural condition assessments
Concrete & Corrosion Assessments
Reinforced concrete structures can be affected by moisture, chloride exposure, corrosion, cracking, delamination, and other forms of deterioration.
These concerns are particularly important along the Gulf Coast, where coastal exposure and moisture can contribute to deterioration of reinforced concrete structures.
Our concrete and corrosion assessments use specialized testing, field observations, measurements, and documentation to evaluate existing conditions and provide information that can support repair planning, restoration design, and budgeting.
Concrete & Corrosion Assessment Services Include:
- Reinforcement location and cover-depth measurement
- Corrosion-potential screening
- Concrete delamination surveys
- Crack-width and crack-length documentation
- Concrete sounding
- Surface-condition mapping
- Repair-quantity documentation
- Support for restoration design and budgeting
Infrared Thermography
Infrared thermography allows temperature patterns to be documented across building components and surfaces. These patterns can provide useful information when investigating suspected moisture intrusion, missing insulation, air leakage, roofing conditions, and other concealed building-envelope concerns.
Infrared imaging is typically used as one component of a broader investigation and interpreted in conjunction with field observations and other testing methods.
Infrared Thermography Services Include:
- Building-envelope infrared surveys
- Roof moisture surveys
- Moisture-intrusion investigations
- Insulation-deficiency identification
- Air-leakage assessments
- Electrical and mechanical screening
- Post-repair verification
- Drone-assisted infrared inspections
Moisture Investigations
Water and moisture intrusion can travel beyond the location where damage first becomes visible.
Our moisture investigations combine visual observations, electronic testing, infrared imaging, and moisture mapping to document the location and extent of suspected moisture intrusion.
This information can assist in identifying potential sources, documenting affected areas, developing repair strategies, and verifying conditions following repairs.
Moisture Investigation Services Include:
- Roof moisture mapping
- Wall and building-envelope moisture surveys
- Concrete and flooring moisture testing
- Interior finish evaluations
- Leak-source investigations
- Documentation of moisture migration
- Repair verification and follow-up testing
Coating, Sealant & Waterproofing Testing
Coatings, sealants, and waterproofing systems provide important protection against moisture and environmental exposure. Improper installation, deterioration, loss of adhesion, or material failure can compromise their performance.
J. Martin Pitts PE LLC provides field testing and observations to evaluate the condition, application, and performance of these protective building systems.
Testing & Evaluation Services Include:
- Coating-thickness testing
- Coating and sealant adhesion testing
- Waterproofing inspections
- Sealant-joint evaluations
- Water-infiltration testing
- Wet- and dry-film thickness measurements
- Installation and repair observations
Drone Inspection Services
Drone inspection services provide efficient visual access to roofs, exterior walls, waterfront structures, elevated components, and other areas that may be difficult or impractical to observe using conventional inspection methods.
High-resolution aerial photography and video can provide valuable documentation for forensic investigations, condition assessments, storm-damage evaluations, construction monitoring, and repair planning.
Drone Inspection Services Include:
- Roof inspections
- Exterior façade documentation
- Elevated structural observations
- Storm-damage documentation
- Construction-progress documentation
- Waterfront and marine-structure inspections
- High-resolution photo and video documentation
Building Investigation & NDT Services for Gulf Coast Properties
Buildings along the Gulf Coast are exposed to demanding environmental conditions, including high humidity, salt exposure, wind-driven rain, hurricanes, flooding, and prolonged moisture.
Understanding the cause and extent of a building problem often requires combining multiple investigative methods rather than relying on a single inspection or test.
J. Martin Pitts PE LLC brings together building forensic consulting, nondestructive testing, structural engineering, and field investigation to provide clients with a clearer understanding of existing conditions and the technical information needed to make informed repair, restoration, and maintenance decisions.
Contact J. Martin Pitts PE LLC to discuss a building forensic investigation, NDT service, structural condition assessment, or specialized testing need.
