Forensic Engineering Experts in Hail Damage Assessment

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.

Who We Are

We are a Virginia-based 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.

Founder & Leadership

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.

Specialization & Methodology

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:

Determining the date of loss

Obtaining full site-specific hail and wind reports

Collecting geotagged location photos to document damage

Investigating news reports related to weather events

Conducting owner questionnaires

Scraping social media for hail event reports

Compiling all findings into a state-stamped engineering report

This structured approach ensures accuracy, transparency, and credibility, crucial in legal and insurance contexts.

Additional Qualifications

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.

You Can Count On Us For

Detecting concealed roof damage following a hail storm
Conducting factual, objective hail damage roof inspections
Offering storm damage evaluations supported by provable evidence
Validating insurance claims with state-sealed engineering reports
Assisting property owners to circumvent underpaid or rejected claims

Reasons to Choose Us

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.

What Our Clients Say

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

Get the Fair Evaluation You Deserve

Don't let biased assessments impact your claim. Trust a licensed expert with proven experience.