- FAQs
Answers To Your Most Common Questions
We get asked a lot of the same questions. Here are the answers. If you do not see yours, call us. We pick up the phone.
General Questions
Got a question? Start here. If you do not see what you need, call us.
Where are you located?
Fortress is headquartered in Rougemont, North Carolina, with a second office in Anderson, South Carolina. But we work nationwide. We have served clients in 27+ states in a single year.
How do I get started?
Call us or send us your information through the website. For attorneys, share your case details and we will review them before the first call at no cost. For testing clients, send us your project specs and we will provide a scope and timeline. For property owners, tell us your concerns and we will recommend the right assessment.
How quickly can you respond to a new case or project?
We understand that litigation deadlines and construction schedules do not wait. We respond to every inquiry within 24 hours and can mobilize to a site quickly when the timeline demands it.
Who will actually show up on my project or case?
Jeff Martin and Mark Stewart. When you hire Fortress, you get the principals. Not a junior associate. Not a subcontractor. The same people who review your case are the same people on site and on the stand.
What if you cannot help me?
We will tell you. And we will point you in the right direction. We have turned down work when we could not provide real value. That is how we have maintained a 100% client retention rate. Every client who works with us comes back or refers others.
Are you insured?
Yes. Fortress carries professional liability (errors and omissions) insurance. We can provide a certificate of insurance upon request.
Is everything we share with you confidential?
Yes. We treat all case documents, project information, and client communications as confidential. For litigation work, our engagement is typically protected under attorney-client privilege and work product doctrine.
FAQs for Attorneys
Whether you are evaluating us for a case or hiring us for the first time, these are the questions we hear most.
What type of cases do you handle?
We handle construction defect cases involving the building envelope. That includes roofing, waterproofing, exterior walls, windows, doors, and anywhere water is getting into a building where it should not be. Water intrusion is responsible for more than 70% of all construction lawsuits. That is our world.
Do you work plaintiff or defense?
Both. We follow the facts, not a side. That independence is what makes our testimony credible and what makes it harder for opposing counsel to discredit our findings.
What does the initial consultation look like?
Send us your case documents, photos, and details. We review everything before the first call to make sure we can actually help. That review is free. If we cannot help, we will tell you and point you in the right direction.
What are your qualifications to testify as an expert witness?
Jeff Martin and Mark Stewart have 60+ years of combined experience in commercial roofing, waterproofing, and building envelope systems. Both came from the contracting side before becoming consultants. Jeff holds RRC, RRO, CDT, CIT, CEI, REWO, and EDI Level I and II certifications. Mark holds RRC and CEI certifications with a degree in Construction Management. We have testified in cases across the country.
What makes you different from other building envelope experts?
Most building envelope consultants learned construction from textbooks or design offices. We learned it on rooftops. Jeff started in commercial roofing in 1987. Mark spent 31 years in roofing production and estimating. When we investigate a failure, we are not guessing. We have done the work with our own hands. When opposing counsel’s expert gives testimony that does not match field reality, we catch it.
What does your report include?
A detailed written report with our findings, methodology, supporting photographs, testing data where applicable, and our expert opinion on the cause of failure. Our reports are built for litigation. They are structured to be clear, defensible, and ready for deposition or trial.
What is your experience with depositions and trial testimony?
Jeff and Mark have been deposed and have testified at trial in construction defect cases across the country. They are comfortable under cross-examination because they are not guessing. They are testifying from decades of firsthand field experience.
Have you ever been disqualified as an expert?
No.
How long does it take to get a report?
It depends on the complexity of the case and the scope of investigation. We will give you a clear timeline at the start of every engagement. If you are up against a deadline, tell us. We understand how litigation schedules work.
Do you handle mediation and arbitration in addition to trial?
Yes. We support cases through mediation, arbitration, and trial. Many of the cases we work on settle before trial. Our investigation and report are built to be effective at every stage of the process.
Do you work with insurance companies?
Yes. We regularly work with insurance carriers and their counsel on construction defect claims. Our analysis helps carriers make informed decisions on coverage, liability, and settlement.
How much do you charge?
We bill hourly for litigation and consulting work with a minimum engagement of a half day. We do not publish specific rates because every case is different. What we can tell you is that attorneys never balk at our fee. When our analysis helps reduce a $2.9 million claim to a $700,000 settlement, the investment speaks for itself.
How far will you travel for a case?
Anywhere. We have worked in 27+ states in a single year, from Alaska to Hawaii. If you have a case, distance is never the issue.
Can you help me understand building envelope issues if I am not a construction specialist?
Yes. About half of our attorney clients focus heavily on construction litigation. The other half handle construction cases as part of a broader practice. We explain building envelope failures in plain language so you can ask the right questions in depositions and present the evidence clearly to a judge or jury.
FAQs for Testing Clients
If you need field testing during or after construction, here is what you need to know.
What types of testing do you perform?
Our core testing services are electronic leak detection (ELD) for roofing and waterproofing membranes, ASTM E1105 negative pressure testing for windows, AAMA 502.1 nozzle testing for storefronts and curtain walls, and infrared thermal surveys for roofs and walls. We also perform Tramex capacitance testing, AAMA wand testing, and pull tests.
What is electronic leak detection and why does it matter?
ELD uses an electrical charge applied to the roof or waterproofing membrane, then scanned with specialized tools to detect holes, voids, and damage invisible to the naked eye. It is critical before overburden like pavers, green roofs, or growing media goes on. Finding a defect before that point costs thousands. Finding it after costs hundreds of thousands.
When should testing be done?
During construction, before finishes or overburden conceal the work. For roofing and waterproofing, test before pavers, green roofs, or other overburden goes on. For windows and storefronts, test after installation and before interior finishes are complete. For existing buildings, test when you suspect a leak or before a purchase.
Is testing required by my project specs?
In many cases, yes. A lot of the testing we perform is specification-driven, meaning it is already written into the construction documents. If your specs call for testing and you skip it, you are creating a liability gap that could come back as a claim.
How long does a typical test take?
It depends on the size of the project and the type of testing. Most testing engagements are completed in one to three days. We can give you a clear timeline after reviewing your project specs and scope.
Can your equipment travel?
Yes. Our testing equipment can go on planes for most tests. We are based in North Carolina and South Carolina but we test projects nationwide.
What do I get after testing is complete?
A detailed report documenting what was tested, how it was tested, what was found, and what needs to be addressed. If everything passes, you have documented proof that the work was done right. If it does not, you know exactly where the problems are while they can still be fixed.
What happens if the test fails?
We document exactly where the failures are and what caused them. From there, the contractor can make targeted repairs and we can re-test to verify the fix. Finding a failure during testing is not a disaster. It is the system working the way it should.
Do you work with the contractor to resolve issues you find?
We identify and document the problem. We do not perform repairs ourselves because that would compromise our independence as a third-party consultant. But we work with the contractor and design team to make sure the issue is understood and properly addressed.
FAQs for Contractors and Construction Professionals
When should I bring in a building envelope consultant?
Before problems start. The best time is during preconstruction, when we can review details, attend the pre-roofing conference, and help every trade get on the same page. The second best time is during construction for quality control inspections and testing. The most expensive time is after a failure, when we are investigating what went wrong.
What is a pre-roofing conference and why does it matter?
It is a meeting before roofing work begins where the general contractor, roofing sub, architect, and other trades align on scope, schedule, and responsibilities. It is where you catch conflicts before they become change orders or defects. Most problems we investigate could have been prevented at this stage.
How do you help protect my work from other trades?
One of the most common causes of roofing and waterproofing failure is damage from other trades. HVAC, electrical, and plumbing crews use the roof as a work platform. They drop tools, leave screws, and puncture membranes. We document conditions, identify damage early, and help you establish protocols to protect finished work.
Can you help with quality control during construction?
Yes. We perform construction-phase QC and QA inspections to verify that roofing, waterproofing, and wall systems are being installed according to the specs and manufacturer requirements. We catch problems while they can be fixed for hundreds instead of millions.
What about mock-ups?
Mock-ups are one of the most important and most skipped steps in construction. The specs often require them for a reason. A mock-up lets everyone see the installation standard before it gets replicated across the entire building. When mock-ups are skipped, one bad detail gets repeated a thousand times. We can observe, document, and verify mock-ups to make sure the first one is right.
What happens when you find a problem during a QC inspection?
We document it, notify the appropriate parties, and provide clear direction on what needs to be corrected. The goal is to catch it while it can be fixed quickly and cheaply. We are not there to shut a job down. We are there to keep it on track.
What if my specs require testing but I am not sure what is needed?
Send us your project specs. We will review them and tell you exactly what testing is required, when it needs to happen, and what it will take. No guessing.
Do you do design peer review?
Yes. We review construction details and specifications before work begins to identify potential conflicts, gaps, or risks in the building envelope design. It is one of the most cost-effective ways to prevent failures before a single material goes on the building.
FAQs for Property Owners and Facility Managers
We primarily work on commercial, multi-family, and institutional buildings. If you own or manage a large property, here is what you need to know.
What is a building condition assessment?
An independent evaluation of your building’s exterior systems including the roof, walls, windows, and waterproofing. We identify current problems, potential risks, and what needs attention now versus what can wait. This is especially valuable before buying, selling, or planning a major renovation.
How long does a building condition assessment take?
It depends on the size and complexity of the building. Most assessments are completed in one to two days on site, with the written report delivered within two to three weeks. We will give you a clear timeline before we start.
How often should my commercial roof be inspected?
At least once a year. Most roof warranties require annual inspections to stay valid. A small problem caught early is a repair. The same problem caught two years later is a replacement.
What does a roof warranty actually cover?
Less than most people think. Most warranties cover manufacturing defects in the membrane material itself. They do not cover damage from other trades, improper maintenance, or failures caused by poor installation. We can review your warranty and tell you exactly what you are protected against and where the gaps are.
How do I know if my building has hidden water damage?
Signs include staining on interior walls or ceilings, musty smells, mold growth, peeling paint, and warped materials. But water can travel a long way from the entry point before it shows up inside. An infrared thermal survey can detect trapped moisture behind walls and under roofs without any destructive testing.
Can you help me plan and budget for a roof replacement?
Yes. We can assess your current roof system, estimate its remaining useful life, and help you plan the timing and budget for replacement. This kind of capital planning helps you avoid emergency replacements that always cost more.
Can you help with an insurance claim for storm or water damage?
Yes. We can assess the damage, document the condition, identify the cause, and provide an independent report that supports your claim. Having a third-party expert report can make a significant difference in how a claim is handled.
Do you work on single-family homes?
Our focus is commercial, multi-family, and institutional properties. We do not perform standard home inspections. If you have a large-scale residential project or a complex building envelope issue on a high-value property, we are happy to have a conversation about whether we can help.
Still have a question?
Every case and every project is different. If you did not find what you were looking for, call Jeff at (864) 965-8668, email us at [email protected], or send us your details. We will get back to you within 24 hours.