HG Cornerstone’s Construction Expert Blog

Major Apartment Complex Fires. Must this Frequent Trend Continue?

During 2017, and already in early 2018, the United States once again saw some massive, catastrophic under-construction, wood-framed apartment complex fires. Are these fires getting larger and more frequent? Must this trend continue? According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), in their report titled “NFPA’s Home Structure Fires Report” (Updated 11/17), in almost four...
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Hurricane Sandy, Crane Collapse

Got Insurance?

One of the most iconic images of Superstorm Sandy’s wrath has been the collapsed tower crane atop the under-construction One57 Building, a 74-story tower located at 157 West 57th Street in Manhattan. When we think of the hundreds of billions of dollars worth of damage from severe storms over the past couple of decades alone,...
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Some Unfortunate Truths about the Tragic FIU Pedestrian Bridge Collapse

On March 15 at 1:47 p.m. Florida International University’s (FIU) $14.2 million UniversityCity pedestrian bridge suddenly collapsed killing 6 people and seriously injuring 10 others, crushing vehicles below, and requiring days to clear the scene. As originally proposed, the bridge was touted as a stunning architectural showpiece and its rapid construction method touted as efficient,...
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BEWARE: WATER-SOAKED-SNOW ROOF COLLAPSES, 231 COLLAPSES SO FAR, HOW TO DOCUMENT YOUR CLAIMS CORRECTLY!

The Boston Globe, on Thursday, March 5, 2015, reported officials said 231 buildings have collapsed or suffered serious damage so far this season due to heavy ice and snow loads. A total of fifteen collapses were reported on March 5 alone. Why so many? And, what careful considerations should be made upon inspecting the damage and...
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How to Melt Snow – Fenway Park Style

This has been a particularly harsh winter. What to do with all of the unwanted snow? A March 7, 2015 NESN.com post, written by Darren Hartwell, revealed the secret snow melting method used by Fenway Park groundskeeper David Mellor who is responsible for supplying a snow-free, grassy baseball field for the Red Sox season opener slated...
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FLOOD DAMAGE, WATER DAMAGE, & LEAKS: 10 SOURCES OF WATER DAMAGE LURKING IN YOUR BUILDING – EACH PREVENTABLE, REAL LIFE EXAMPLES, PART 1

Welcome to Part 1 of our blog on identifying and correcting potential causes flood damage and water damage. According to the Insurance Information Institute, the number two cause of property damage claims, second only to wind and hail claims, is water damage related claims. Water damage claims total in the billions of dollars every year....
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ALERT: FLOOD DAMAGE, WATER DAMAGE, & LEAKS: 10 SOURCES OF WATER DAMAGE LURKING IN BUILDINGS – PART 2

Flood damage or water damage can occur from any number of sources, any time of the year, and a small leak can become catastrophic instantaneously.
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Great News for Forensics Experts & Litigators: Significant Investment in Materials Science Research & Education Continues to Emerge

Whether it’s strength of materials testing, metallurgy, thermodynamics, or physical chemistry, the advancement of materials science and engineering is critical to our better understanding of how and why materials fail, our improved ability to forensically examine and test physical evidence, and our furthered capacity to furnish verifiable proof that can withstand even the most rigorous...
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Alert: Warning Signs before a Snow-Load Roof Collapse Occurs

With all of the snow we’ve had here in New England lately, we’ve already seen a number of roofs collapse from the added snow load. Already this month in Massachusetts alone we have seen roof collapses at the Piano Mill in Rockland, a commercial building in Rockland, an industrial building in Canton, a former sportsplex...
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Great Insight to Counsel on Expert Screening & Selection

This is a very well written article published by PropertyCasualty360.com and it addresses many of the most important aspects that counsel should be looking for when selecting and interviewing a potential expert witness. It also addresses one of the most common issues litigators face which is the fear of using the same specific witness on...
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Building Codes Ramping up in the South

This is good news as better codes will help protect life and property. As the attached article published by PropertyCasualty360 points out, just this past November the state of Mississippi implemented its first statewide building code, Texas held hearings to examine its coastal codes, and although the 2014 building code legislation did not pass in...
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Eliminating Construction Defects During Pre-Construction

Potential construction defects can be eliminated early on through sound project management techniques. Here’s one I like to use for private contracts. The period of time between when a contractor’s bid has been accepted and the signing of the construction contract presents unique opportunities and this “sweet spot” is typically underutilized. This is the period...
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The 2014 housing production numbers are in…

According to data from the Census Bureau and HUD, total housing starts for 2014 broke the 1 million mark for the first time since 2007, pushing total housing construction to 1,005,800 for the year. The peak was 2,068,000 in 2005 (seems like so long ago now, doesn’t it?). The bottom was 554,000 in 2009. Total...
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A Case for Construction Experts to Study —

Very interesting aspects to this case: 1) the plaintiff’s expert applied “total cost” methodology vs. “measured mile” (expert did not err in this per judge), 2) the judge found that the subcontractor-plaintiff suffered an “increased workforce” under a “compressed schedule”, 3) judge listed both design problems and project mismanagement as grounds for loss-of-productivity damages, and...
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Co-Defendant? Retain Your OWN Expert!

This is what can happen when a co-defendant rides along on the coat-tails of the primary defendant’s expert. In the event that the primary defendant settles out or is dismissed from the case, the co-defendant may not be allowed to utilize the services or prior testimony of the primary defendant’s expert if stricken. Chess match...
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Where do twenty- and thirty-somethings want to rent? A Boston viewpoint…

This past week I attended the Architectural Boston Expo 2012 a.k.a. ABX, held at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center—Nov 14-16. I brushed up on everything from social networking to the anticipated future of multifamily living. Topics addressed included: What are our twenty- and thirty-somethings looking for in apartment communities? Can we keep them in...
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