MCGINNIS & ASSOCIATES

Jeff was very professional, friendly and prompt. The whole process took about 40 minutes. He seemed  honest. He told us he was familiar with the area and houses built around the time ours was built. He did not have a ladder with him to inspect areas of concern on the roof where the addition to our home attached to the house. It may be that going up on the roof is not typical during these types of assessments. Since this was my first and hopefully only experience with a structural engineer concerning our house I have no way to determine if going up on the roof was necessary.

Two years later. The crack that Jeff originally examined has expanded to the point to which I can see daylight through it. We've had three professionals out to look at it and give us estimates. All three of these "crack specialists" told us the same thing. The room addition is sinking. Three piers will be needed to stop the addition from sinking further. All three specialists informed us that they see this all the time in our area with room additions (not really an addition but an extra room up on posts set on a concrete slab - the basement of the house does not go under our room) like ours. All of this left me feeling like we had wasted our money for an evaluation by a structural engineer. I don't blame Jeff for the crack expansion. He did tell us to monitor the crack. However, for someone who said he was familiar with the area I feel like he could have mentioned the possibility of us needing piers. This never came up. Jeff only mentioned that the crack could be expanding and contracting with the seasons and that we should monitor it to determine if it was expanding. Perhaps we should have asked, "What do we do if it expands?" I just figured that for $250 one might get a little more information from a structural engineer. I do feel that it is only fair to report that we opted out of a $50.00 written report from Jeff. Perhaps piering would've been mentioned in the report but at the time Jeff told us the report would just be a write up of his evaluation. We did not want to pay an extra $50 for an official write up of, "just monitor the crack".

Called and made an appointment the same day for the following week. Engineer was prompt, professional and did a thorough job. He explained everything to me in layman's terms and followed up with a written email. We were very pleased with the experience start to finish. If we do buy the house and do an addition, we will us McGinnis as our engineers.

I made a phone contact and left a voice mail message, Jeff called me back the same day and we were able to schedule the work for the following week. He arrived precisely on time and I explained my concerns and related some history of the house. He then undertook his survey which lasted about two hours. I accompanied him to ask questions of him and to answer any questions he posed. Jeff was able to address my areas of concern and was very professional and courteous. Happily, there were no serious issues to be resolved. Jeff provided me with a letter stating his findings within a week of his analysis.

Jeff Austin is apparently the only engineer at this firm that inspects residential structures. Jeff made an appointment and came to my home (on time) the very next week. He made measurements and examined the problem areas very carefully. He took his time and then explained in terms I would understand his findings and what recommendations he would send me in writing. The next week the promised report arrived with the Missouri Professional Engineering seal.

Kent from McGinnis & Associates came and he was very polite and did a good job. He was honest and really explained things. He would say why we did or did not need something. Kent no longer works for McGinnis, but I would use them again. I think I would probably try to find Kent first though. He was very good at his job.

Excellent. He explained some of the warp in the floors (sagging joists) and made two suggestions for foundation cracks (crack repair and drain tile installation on exterior), but that, essentially, the structure was in good shape for old house.

Excellent. He explained some of the warp in the floors (sagging joists) and made two suggestions for foundation cracks (crack repair and drain tile installation on exterior), but that, essentially, the structure was in good shape for old house.

unknown

Kent McPeek performed the work, he was on time and very professional. He issued a report and handled communicating with our peering company. Overall, it was a very good experience.

McGinnis is extremely qualified and competent. Not only was he very thorough and good with the structural design and specifications, but he was always accessible and helpful with any questions that the general contractor had.

KENT MACPEEK WAS THE STRUCTURAL ENGINEER ASSIGNED TO THE JOB. HE WAS KIND ENOUGH TO AGREE TO A SATURDAY APPOINTMENT DUE TO MY HECTIC WORK SCHEDULE. THE HOUSE WAS BUILT IN 1957, IS BRICK EXTERIOR AND PLASTERED INTERIOR WALLS. HIS PROFESSIONAL OPINION RESULTED IN TELLING ME THAT PIERING WOULD BE A WASTE OF MONEY AND WOULD NOT SOLVE THE ISSUES, DO TUCKPOINTING ON ALL EXTERIOR WALLS AND EPOXY-INJECT ALL THE FOUNDATION CRACKS AND ALSO CAULK WHERE ANY CONCRETE MEETS THE FOUNDATION. HE WAS STATING THIS VERBALLY AND WHEN I STATED I WANTED IT IN WRITING, WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS GOING TO COST ME MORE MONEY. WELL, WHAT'S $250 COMPARED TO $26,000? I WAS NOT IMPRESSED WITH HIS MANNERISM NOR HIS COMMENTS.