Response from IDE Structural Engineers
Dear [Member Name Removed], By the time I was hired by the builder to assess the cracks in the right foundation wall and brick veneer, these items had already been inspected/assessed by three other engineering companies, one architect, and one foundation repair company. The opinions of these professionals varied greatly regarding the causes of the cracks and recommended repairs. The intention of the builder hiring our company was to hopefully provide a "final" assessment of the situation. Based on my observations and information gathered from some of the other reports, I concluded that the best course of action would be to add crack gauges and monitor the cracks for movement over the next year. In my opinion, at this time the amount of movement has not caused a structural concern. As I indicated to you on the phone call after you read the report, my opinion is unbiased and objective. If you had hired me yourself, I would have given the same recommendations. Once we have information on the movement over the next year, it can be concluded whether the movement has stabilized, or if some type of repair should be designed. I am sorry to hear that my opinion and report were not what you were anticipating, and I hope this explanation helps you. Regards, Daniel Rochester