When a major storm sweeps through North Texas or a pipe bursts in a commercial warehouse in Oklahoma, the immediate aftermath is chaotic. Once the dust settles, property owners are often left with a complex question: What actually caused this damage?
Insurance adjusters and contractors often disagree on the answer. An adjuster might claim a collapsed wall was due to “long-term rot” (not covered), while your contractor insists it was “wind damage” (covered).
This is where Tompkins & Associates steps in. As Forensic Engineers, we act as the “CSI team” for your building structure.
What is Forensic Structural Engineering?
Forensic engineering is the application of engineering principles to the investigation of failures. We don’t just look at what broke; we scientifically determine why and how it broke.
We provide Damage Analysis for failures resulting from:
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Water: Flooding, plumbing leaks, or drainage failures.
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Fire: Structural compromise of steel or wood framing after high-heat exposure.
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Storms: Wind shear, hail impact, and tornado damage.
The Critical Question: “Sudden Event” vs. “Age”
The most common dispute in property claims is causation. Was the foundation failure caused by the storm that hit Addison last week, or was it a 20-year-old settlement issue?
Our team conducts special investigations to separate pre-existing conditions from acute damage.
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Timeline Verification: We analyze crack patterns (fresh vs. weathered) to pinpoint when the movement occurred.
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Load Path Analysis: We calculate if the wind loads during a storm were sufficient to cause the specific failure observed.
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Material Testing: We assess if water damage has compromised the load-bearing capacity of your framing or shear walls.
Why You Need a Sealed Engineering Report
In the world of insurance claims and litigation, an opinion is only as good as the credentials behind it. A quote from a repair contractor is often viewed as biased because they want the job.
A report from Tompkins & Associates is different.
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Unbiased Authority: We have no financial interest in the repair work. Our only job is to report the truth of the structural failure.
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Litigation Support: If your claim is denied or underpaid, our sealed reports serve as powerful evidence used by home and building owners to substantiate their claims.
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Commercial & Residential: We handle everything from single-family homes to large industrial complexes.
Don’t Leave Your Settlement to Chance
Whether you are a commercial developer facing a denied claim or a homeowner unsure if your house is safe to inhabit after a fire, you need facts.
We serve clients throughout the DFW metroplex, Central Texas, and South Oklahoma.
