Architect Expert Witness
An architect expert witness has a broad understanding of the construction process and all that is involved. The expert witness does not just take the stand to give evidence in court. If you are faced with a dispute on your project that you are unable to resolve with the parties involved, an expert can help you understand your case and whether the performance of those involved is to a lower standard than you are entitled to expect.
By engaging at an early stage with an expert in architecture, with construction law expertise, you can use them as an advisor, perhaps assist in assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the situation and determine whether it is worth taking forwards. Issues such as losses incurred, the potential costs involved and the changes of recoverability may all need to be weighed, with specialist legal advice as necessary. That same expert can then be engaged to produce formal independent reports as required for legal proceedings, as well as giving evidence and being cross examined at a hearing.
With small value disputes, the courts or the parties can decide to jointly engage an expert to prepare a report to assist the court to decide the matter. This can offer significant savings where each party shares the cost, although ultimately the losing party will eventually be paying the expert fees.
We can offer architectural expert advice in the following areas:
Design at Planning;
Specification and detailed design;
Cost control;
Contract administration;
Valuation and certification;
Completion defects;
Post-completion defects;
Listed Buildings.
The technical areas upon which are able to advise are as follows;
Roofing;
Structural waterproofing;
Doors and windows;
Cladding;
Glazing;
Stonework;
Floor tiling;
External rendering;
Floor tiling;
Plastering;
Soundproofing;
Fire control measures;
Masonry design.
We have advised to date on the performance of contractors, specialist sub-contractors; architects, building surveyors, quantity surveyors, architectural technologists and those providing construction and project services without specific qualifications.
