Invoice
Donan Engineering Co., Inc. December 29, 2015
11321 Plantside Drive Invoice No: 21-15110648-0 - 302618
Louisville, KY 40299
(800) 482-5611
TIN 31-1160377
Kirby McCartney
Precise Adjustments
4101 McEwen Road, Suite 300
Dallas, TX
Project 21-15110648-0 PRECI: Thompson, Dora
Claim Number: 43533
Professional Services
Labor
Quantity Rate Amount
SITE STUDY
Gibeaux, Jeff 12/3/2015 4.25 145.00 616.25
4.25 616.25
Total Labor 616.25
Report
Short 1.0 Report @ 495.00 495.00
Total Report 495.00 495.00
Other
Mileage 104.08
Total Other 104.08 104.08
Total this Invoice $1,215.33
Due upon receipt. Please include invoice number with payment. We accept payment by credit card.
John G. Donan, Jr., P.E.
Chairman of the Board
J. Lyle Donan, P.E.
President, CEO
CORRESPOND TO:
Donan Engineering Co., Inc.
11321 Plantside Drive
Louisville, Kentucky 40299
800-482-5611
502-267-6976 fax
December 29, 2015
Mr. Kirby McCartney
Precise Adjustments
4101 McEwen Road, Suite 300
Dallas, Texas 75244
SOUTH CAROLINA COA: 3991
RE: Dora Thompson
16136 State Hwy 215
Winnsboro, South Carolina 29180
Claim Number: 43533
Donan Project Number: 21-15110648-0
Dear Mr. McCartney:
At your request, on December 3, 2015, a study was made on the house at
the above-referenced address. The purpose of the study was to determine the
cause of a chimney separating from the house. Ms. Thompson was present to
point out areas of concern and to provide firsthand information. Pursuant to your
instructions, this letter, with the enclosed digital photographs, is the summary
report of my findings and conclusions. Additional information will be retained in
Donan’s project file.
For purposes of this report, the house is considered to face north toward
State Hwy 215 (Photographs 1 through 4). The house is a single-story structure
supported on a concrete slab-on-grade foundation. The exterior walls are covered
with brick veneer, and the roof is clad with three-tab shingles. The house was
built in the 1950s, and the Thompson family has owned it since then. Ms.
Thompson stated that the chimney has been settling for a long time, however, had
gotten worse, and she was concerned it may fall over.
Precise Adjustments
Claim Number: 43533
December 29, 2015
Page 2
Summary of Observations
The chimney and the east exterior wall of the house are separated and a gap
exists at this interface (Photograph 5). The east exterior wall and the chimney are
not plumb (Photograph 6). Evidence of a prior repair attempt to seal the gap is
present (Photograph 7). The gap is over 2 ½ inches wide near the roofline
(Photograph 8).
A previously repaired masonry crack is present on the south side of the
chimney (Photograph 9). The east wall is deflected and is out of plane near the
chimney. The chimney brick is not stitched within the east wall brick. The fascia
and the chimney step flashing is deflected and gapped at the chimney/roof
interface (Photographs 10 and 11). The east wall of the house near the chimney
has sealant repairs around the fireplace (Photograph 12).
The floor surface in the east end of the house was checked using a 4 foot
carpenter level. The floor is measured to be out of level approximately 1 ½ inches
over 4 feet, sloping downward toward the chimney.
Summary of Conclusions
In summary, based on what is known at this time, I am of the opinion that:
The floor of the east end of the house is not level and the east wall and
the chimney are not plumb. A separation of over 2 ½ inches is present
at the chimney roofline interface.
The chimney brick is not stitched into the east wall brick, and therefore
was likely added after the original house was constructed. The chimney
is therefore supported on a separate foundation than the house.
The separation of the chimney from the east end of the house is a result
of historical, independent differential movement of the foundations
supporting both the chimney and the house. The differential movement
is a result of soil consolidation and seasonal changes in the moisture
content of the supporting soils. Evidence of multiple, prior repair
attempts supports this conclusion.
Precise Adjustments
Claim Number: 43533
December 29, 2015
Page 3
This report is based on relevant information known to Donan at the time the
report is issued. Donan reserves the right to amend or supplement this report if
additional relevant information becomes available.
We appreciate your confidence in our professional services.
Sincerely,
DONAN ENGINEERING CO., INC.
Jeff Gibeaux, P.E.
Forensic Engineer
South Carolina PE: 32889
Expires: June 30, 2016
Precise Adjustments
Claim Number: 43533
December 29, 2015
Page 4
Photograph 1: North (front) side of the house.
Photograph 2: South (rear) side of the house.
Precise Adjustments
Claim Number: 43533
December 29, 2015
Page 5
Photograph 3: West side of the house.
Photograph 4: The east side of the house showing the separated chimney.
Precise Adjustments
Claim Number: 43533
December 29, 2015
Page 6
Photograph 5: Masonry crack in the east wall near the separated chimney.
Photograph 6: East exterior wall is out of plumb.
Precise Adjustments
Claim Number: 43533
December 29, 2015
Page 7
Photograph 7: Prior repair attempt to seal the separation.
Photograph 8: Separation is over 2-1/2 inches near the roofline.
Precise Adjustments
Claim Number: 43533
December 29, 2015
Page 8
Photograph 9: Previously repaired masonry crack on the south side of the east wall at chimney.
Photograph 10: Chimney at the roofline. Note the displaced fascia at the separation.
Precise Adjustments
Claim Number: 43533
December 29, 2015
Page 9
Photograph 11: Displaced and gapped step flashing at the chimney/roof interface.
Photograph 12: Repairs to the interior east wall at the chimney. The trim is separated and gapped around
the fireplace.