Lighthouse Assisting with Post Storm Assessements

Lighthouse has engineers on the ground in Louisiana, Texas and Florida assisting with post storm investigations. Our team has experience with residential, commercial, industrial and marine investigations to determine the extent of damage, differentiate between preexisting and storm related damage and prepare repair recommendations. We have the experience and resources to provide fast response and short turn around times. We utilize sub-meter GPS for documenting locations, aerial drones for providing overview of site conditions, sonar imaging and underwater video for investigating marine assessts including seawalls and bulkheads. Specialized equipment along with our experience sets up apart.

Lighthouse mobilizes to Iowa to assist with inspections following derecho storm

Lighthouse personnel have deployed to Iowa investigating property damage after the derecho storm that passed through in August. 

Lighthouse personnel include engineers licensed in most of the midwest, south and east coast. Our personnel inspected over 300 properties in Texas after Hurricane Harvey for both wind and flood claims. We have inspected buildings with a variety of roofing materials including metal roofs, asphalt shingles, aluminum shake, clay and cement tiles. Lighthouse personnel responded similarly in Florida after Hurricane Michael working on both residential properties as well as large highrise towers with wind related damage to the structure and roof covering.

We regularly perform roof inspections both during new construction of commercial structures as well as in response to wind events. Our lead personnel have each have over 30 years of experience in building structures, design and construction. We have worked on both flat roofs and peaked roofs and have a significant resources available for completing investigations.

Other disaster experiences include investigations of structures for flood damage along the Mississippi after heavy rains and flooding, flood recovery efforts in Thailand after massive flooding in 2011, investigation of properties after the EF5 tornado in Joplin, MO in 2011 and more ordinary wind and flood events that occur regularly on a smaller scale.

Our staff is also ready to assist with claims in Texas, Louisiana, Florida associated with upcoming storms Laura and Marcos.

Seawall Inspections in Detroit, MI

Lighthouse performs seawall inspections around the country and has experience with seawalls in Detroit. If you received a notice requiring inspection of your seawall, give us a call. We can assist with preparation of seawall inspection reports as required by the City of Detroit.

Dust monitoring and control

Lighthouse has recently assisted several contractors meet their obligations set forth in permits issued by the City of Chicago Department of the Health for crushing operations.

Dust monitoring and control is an important part of construction and demolition operations. In Many parts of the country dust monitoring is required by permits issued to allow crushing of construction and demolition debris. Lighthouse can assist with navigating all aspects of dust control and monitoring.

Natural Disasters - Hurricane Barry

Our thoughts go out to those in the path of Hurricane Barry in the south. The timing couldn’t be worse with the water already elevated in the Mississippi River. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you need help.

Bluff and Ravine Stabilization

Lighthouse is excited to be part of the team working on several bluff and ravine stabilization projects. The work includes design, permitting and installation of new retaining walls, water front revetments, and slope stability analysis of both the existing and proposed conditions.

Due Diligence Services in Hawaii

Lighthouse is excited to be providing comprehensive due diligence services for a commercial real estate transaction in Hawaii. As part of our services, Lighthouse is preparing a Property Condition Assessment (PCA) and Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (Phase I). The PCA includes an opinion of costs for short term / immediate repairs as well as a 10 year capital expense estimate, and preliminary American’s with Disability Act assessment. The Phase I evaluates the potential for environmental concerns due to past or present operations of the property and nearby properties. Lighthouse is also preparing a zoning analysis of the commercial property to verify the current configuration and use of the property are confirming with the zoning ordinance. Finally, Lighthouse is evaluating the operations of the on-going business at the property for conformance with regulatory compliance.

Lighthouse adds offices in Hawaii

The Lighthouse Companies, Inc. is pleased to announce the addition of an office in Hawaii. Our new office is focused on providing real estate due diligence services on all the Hawaiian islands. We are excited to offer utilize our experience to provide Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments and Property Condition Assessments.

The Lighthouse Companies announces launch of Continuing Education Group

The Lighthouse Companies is excited to announce the upcoming launch of our Education Group, www.tlceg.com. The new site provides online, on-demand, interesting, and high quality continuing education courses for engineers.  We are inviting you to take a sneak peek and try one of our courses free of charge before the full site launch. 

Simply contact us and we will send you a code for a free course.  All we ask is that you complete a quick feedback survey after you finish the course. We look forward to providing you with the education you need to continue to grow your engineering career.

For more information, visit www.tlceg.com.

Monitoring vibrations during construction can protect surrounding buildings

Drilling, bulldozing, and other construction activities can rattle windows and shake the ground in buildings surrounding a construction site. The vibrations from these activities can be more than an annoyance—they can cause both cosmetic and structural damage to nearby buildings and equipment. Monitoring vibrations can be an important step in protecting surrounding structures during construction. Read the full story.

Underwater inspections key to maintaining waterfront properties

For many people, owning waterfront property is a dream come true—but it also comes with unique maintenance challenges. Keeping waterfront structures—including seawalls, revetments, intakes and outfalls, wildlife habitats, and bridges—in good working order can be both difficult and costly. At the Lighthouse Companies, we perform a wide range of inspections aimed at ensuring that your underwater structures are sound now—and will remain so in the future—so you can enjoy all your waterfront property has to offer. Read the full story.

Inspection of fire prevention systems highlights the value of due diligence

If you are buying or selling commercial property, due diligence should be an important step in your real estate transaction. At The Lighthouse Companies, we perform a wide range of due diligence services aimed at helping you understand and plan for the risks and capital needs associated with any property. We invite you to read the following case study that highlights the important role our due diligence services played in a client’s recent purchase of a commercial property with an outdated fire prevention system. Read the full story.

New regulations target underground storage tanks

If your facility stores petroleum or other hazardous substances in underground storage tanks (USTs), you know the importance of keeping your tanks safe and well-maintained.  Poor maintenance practices can lead to contamination of groundwater, the main source of drinking water in many areas, resulting in costly cleanup and legal fees for your business. At The Lighthouse Companies, our expert engineers can help you ensure that your UST operation is safe, environmentally friendly and compliant with the latest regulations at the federal and state levels. Read the full story.

Proposed changes to the EPA’s Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan Requirements: How will they affect your construction projects?

As you know, construction sites are required to develop and submit a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) that complies with stormwater runoff requirements established by the Clean Water Act and the EPA.  Educate yourself on the proposed changes to the EPA's Construction General Permit and how it will affect your SWPPP compliance in 2017.  Read the full article here.  

Insurance claims investigators get to the root of commercial loss

The Lighthouse Companies offers independent insurance claims investigations for a wide range of commercial damages, losses and failures

 If you are a commercial insurance claims professional, you know how challenging it can be to determine the cause of workplace injuries, mechanical failures, property losses or other damages in a commercial or industrial setting.  The right insurance claims investigator is key to successfully resolving a complicated commercial or industrial insurance claim.  At the Lighthouse Companies, our expert investigators provide accurate, impartial and conclusive investigations that get to the root of your loss, damage or failure. Read the full story.

New OSHA regulations focus on reporting workplace injuries

Every year, more than three percent of American workers are injured on the job, with many of these injuries occurring within construction, manufacturing and other high-risk industries. In an effort to improve the safety of workers across the country, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently passed new regulations that call for employers to electronically submit workplace injury and illness data.  At the Lighthouse Companies, we have been closely following the development of these new regulations, and can offer guidance and practical support to ensure your facility is in compliance with all OSHA standards. Read the full story.

The Lighthouse Companies supports youth music program

We at The Lighthouse Companies are excited to announce our support of the International House of Blues Foundation (IHOBF). Founded in 1993, IHOBF creates performance opportunities for young and emerging musicians; educates youth about the role of music and culture in social change; and inspires young people with practical experience in the music industry.  We wish IHOBF continued success is helping underserved teens reach their goals through music!

Performing due diligence: case studies

Proper Due Diligence is an important part of any real estate transaction. I t equips you with an understanding of the capital needs of a property over the life of the investment.  Whether buying or selling a property, performing a complete set of due diligence allows you to accurately assess certain risks before either the purchase of a property, or preparation for its sale, and provides for more informed negotiations, decision making, and planning. 

Here are two Case Studies from our clients at The Lighthouse Companies that clearly illustrate the importance of due diligence in any real estate transaction. Read the full story.

New regulations focus on seawalls as a 'first line of defense' in flood protection

This spring, government officials in Ft. Lauderdale proposed new regulations that would require property owners to raise their seawalls at least eight inches over the next twenty years as protection from rising sea levels.  Although the city ended up backing down from this proposal amid concerns from waterfront property owners, officials are now focusing on regulations that would require the repair of damaged or poorly maintained seawalls. As Florida official Nancy Gassman stated,  "We have to look at sea walls as one of our first lines of defense against rising seas.” Read the full story.

Underwater Robotics Competition

Our very own Alan Levine will be a judge in the Underwater Robotics Competition taking place June 23-25, 2016 at the NASA Johnson Space Center's Neutral Buoyancy Lab in Houston, Texas.

This a student competition in which underwater robots, also know as remotely operated vehicles or ROVs, are used to engage students in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) and prepare students for technical careers.

Alan has a lot experience with ROV usage, here at The Lighthouse Companies we regularly use ROV's as part of our Seawall Inspections.