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Structuralengineers.com is a specialized forensic engineering company focusing on hail damage assessment. Unlike most engineering firms that primarily work with insurance companies, Structuralengineers.com stands apart by advocating for fairness in the claims process. Many engineers engaged by insurance companies may unknowingly exhibit bias favoring claim denials. Structuralengineers.com addresses this imbalance by providing independent, objective engineering evaluations.
We are a forensic engineering firm specializing in the comprehensive analysis of hail damage. While many engineers take a formulaic approach—plugging in data and producing generic reports—we pride ourselves on going far beyond surface-level assessments. Our investigations consider critical external variables such as wind speed and direction, which can significantly amplify the destructive force of hail. By accounting for these dynamic factors, we deliver evaluations that are both scientifically rigorous and situationally accurate.
Our expertise is built on more than just field experience; it’s supported by continual research and a deep understanding of roofing systems. We assess the age and condition of roofing materials to determine their inherent resistance to hail impact, offering a nuanced perspective that one-size-fits-all reports often miss. We also engage in extensive study of hail damage assessment literature and engineering white pages, ensuring our knowledge is current, detailed, and authoritative. This commitment to thoroughness and accuracy defines who we are—and why clients trust us for expert hail damage evaluations.
The company was founded and is led by Raymond Gessner , a highly qualified engineer with a strong academic and professional background. Ray earned his Master’s degree in Civil Engineering from Old Dominion University in 1998 and holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Virginia Tech, obtained in 1991. He successfully passed the Professional Engineering (PE) exam in 1999 and maintains active PE licenses in multiple states, including Massachusetts, New York, Maryland, Washington D.C., Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Texas, Oregon, and Washington, View More States
Ray specializes in producing detailed engineering reports for legal litigation purposes, specifically documenting hail damage. He has developed a rigorous 7-step detail system to ensure comprehensive, site-specific documentation of hail-related damage. This system includes:
Click here to view the sample report
This structured approach ensures accuracy, transparency, and credibility, crucial in legal and insurance contexts.
Beyond his engineering expertise, Ray holds multiple trade and inspection certifications, including a Master Tradesman license in HVAC, Plumbing, and Gasfitting. He is a certified home inspector by InterNACHI and a certified residential roof inspector by HAAG. From 2008 to 2018, Ray owned and operated a licensed roofing company, giving him practical knowledge of roofing materials, manufacturer installation guidelines, and required flashing types.
As Virginia's respected forensic engineering professionals, we identify the cause of your damage, separating hail, wind, wear-and-tear, or previous repairs. Our founder, Ray Gessner, is a highly qualified engineer with active PE Licenses in multiple states, including Massachusetts, New York, Maryland, Washington D.C., Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Texas, Oregon, and Washington. He is an InterNACHI certified home inspector and HAAG certified residential roof inspector. With extensive experience on his profile, he holds hands-on knowledge of roofing products, manufacturer installation standards, and flashing specifications.
Our unbiased conclusions are designed to withstand inspection by insurance adjusters, conflicting experts, or in litigation. Through extensive knowledge in forensic engineering consulting, we make every evaluation precise, defendable, and specific to your building's conditions.
For roof inspection after hail, we chart the complete history of how, when, and why the damage took place.
Trusted by homeowners, attorneys, and contractors nationwide.
“The owner is super nice. Great company, excellent customer service. They do a very thorough job.”
— Trina Olson Keeny
"I highly recommend the Team at a Step in Time... the owner is a great person and person of integrity! Two thumbs up!"
— Martin Burwell
Don't let biased assessments impact your claim. Trust a licensed expert with proven experience.
Trusted engineering services delivered by highly skilled and qualified structural engineers. At StructuralEngineers.com, we specialize in hail storm damage inspections and are certified in Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, Maryland, Georgia, Washington, D.C., Massachusetts, Texas, New York, Washington, Oregon, Tennessee, Ohio, South Carolina, Louisiana, Iowa, Nevada, Nebraska, Mississippi, Arkansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, Kentucky, and South Dakota. We also provide residential and commercial structural engineering, structural inspections, foundation evaluations, load-bearing wall analysis, forensic assessments, and permit-ready engineering reports to ensure the stability and compliance of your property.
At StructuralEngineers.com, you will find the most reliable structural engineering services to help you achieve stability and compliance in any residential or commercial structures. We are a team of skilled engineers who work hard to deliver accurate inspection results, comprehensive reports, and practical solutions.
We are the best at providing inspections for hail storm damage. Our company provides assistance to homeowners, insurance adjusters, and real estate companies whenever they require information about structural damage from hail storms.
If you are a homeowner, we will assist you in making decisions regarding construction and repairs. Our main goal is to provide you with a full range of services with complete satisfaction.
You will need a professional engineer when you notice cracks in the walls or foundation, an uneven floor, or other signs of possible structural problems. We advise you to call a professional engineer when planning renovations, demolition, or additions to a house or building, or when filing a storm damage-related insurance claim.
As soon as you book a structural inspection with us, one of our expert technicians will visit your property at your preferred date and time. Once there, they will FaceTime Mr. Ray Gessner, a licensed structural engineer with over 25 years of experience. Along with a team of other experienced engineers, Mr. Gessner will virtually inspect the affected area of the property. Once the assessment or evaluation is completed, you will receive a state-stamped professional engineer report via email.
Structuralengineers.com provides unbiased, litigation-ready hail damage assessments backed by licensed expertise and real-world experience.
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