We provide objective and independent Expert Witness services related to the selection, installation and use of stone products and related infrastructure. Our testing is backed up by an externally audited quality-assurance system, providing added confidence in court.
Stone Initiatives is a NATA Quality Accredited testing laboratory. The principal has over 20 years of experience in materials testing and failure analysis.
We have provided expert reports for litigation related to:
- Building facade failures
- Commercial and residential stone installation failures
- Disputes related to the quality of supplied stone products
- Slip/fall accidents
Stone Initiatives can assist you in your litigation issues by providing a clear, comprehensive and concise Expert Witness report. Our experience has extended across Australia and the Asian region.
Like all building materials, dimension stone is subject to failure through improper use, installation or maintenance. Whether it is the failure of stone in historic buildings or the premature and dramatic failure of newly laid stone tiles, the identification of the cause of such failures is important to avoid recurrence of the problem.
To effectively correct these problems, the investigation needs to take into account more than the failure itself. Failures, such as the salt affected brick wall shown below, are the result of a complex interaction between the substrate, coatings and the environment including soil, rainfall and drainage. To determine the cause and develop the correct rectification method, the investigation must cover all aspects of construction and service life.
Tile and adhesive incompatibility: tile adhesive may contain too much water, or cure too slowly, which for some tiles can lead to dimensional instability, tile warping (curling), tile lipping, and eventually will lead to further damage.
Patchy discolouration: Cementitious pavers can release a significant quantity of efflorescence minerals during the normal curing process, often leading to the development of unsightly surface discolouration that requires the use of special cleaning product
Tile cracking: the improper use or misalignment of expansion joints can lead to a build up of stresses in a tiling system which commonly manifests as lineated crack type failures.
Stone Initiatives’ expertise in the field of failure analysis has assisted clients to determine the cause of failures in prominent buildings throughout Australia and overseas. Stone Initiatives can also assist in the development of a suitable rectification method. We can also determine the cause of failure of raw materials and finished products by determining its properties and by using established and innovative techniques to determine its performance and behaviour in service. The information gained is used to settle cases of litigation or to minimise the risk of future failure.
“When we’re brought into a failure investigation, the focus isn’t on assigning blame, it’s on understanding what’s actually gone wrong and why. At Stone Initiatives, we take a detailed, evidence-based forensic approach to assess stone installations, looking at materials, installation methods, and site conditions to identify the root cause. That work sometimes extends into expert witness services, whether it’s building façade failures, commercial or residential installation issues, disputes over the quality of supplied stone, or slip and fall incidents. Ultimately, our role is to provide clear, technically sound conclusions that help resolve disputes and ensure better outcomes moving forward.”
Thomas Baggs
Co-Director, Geomaterials Scientist – Mineralogy & Dimension Stone Testing Specialist