Spinghar + Zidan Engineers

Key Services

Specialist forensic engineering, engineered for speed and certainty.

We are not off-the-shelf engineers. SZE deals in complex claims and structural distress, with a process engineered for efficiency, not rushed conclusions. Every engagement is built to withstand insurer, builder, and legal scrutiny.

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Forensic Engineering

Defensible, evidence-based reports that identify the cause of distress and the rectification scope of works.

Pre-purchase Inspections

Independent property inspections before purchase to flag structural issues, defects, movement, drainage concerns, and engineering risks.

Pre-design Engineering Advice

Engineering advice prior to renovations or alterations to assess structural elements, proposal feasibility, site constraints, and suitable structural options.

Certificate of Compliance

Inspection and certification of completed building works to confirm alignment with the approved engineering design and current building regulations.

Site Inspections & Advice

Construction-stage advice to review works on site, identify issues early, and provide practical engineering guidance throughout the build.

Structural & Civil Remediation Design

Restoring structural integrity with precise, certified engineering solutions that prioritise safety and longevity.

SZE engineers reviewing structural plans on site

Forensic Masters

Specialist engineering, built to hold up under scrutiny.

Every SZE engagement combines forensic depth with practical construction knowledge. The result is clarity your builder can quote against, your insurer can settle on, and your legal team can defend.

Full Service Listing

The complete structural claims lifecycle, under one specialist roof.

From first response and forensic investigation through to causation reporting, remediation design, and dispute support, every service is delivered by the same specialist team and held to the same engineering standard.

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Identifies the engineering cause of damage using on-site evidence, photographic records, and forensic analysis. Delivered as a defensible report that links observed defects to a specific trigger event or ongoing mechanism.

Traces symptoms back to the underlying structural, geotechnical, or environmental driver. Separates primary causes from secondary effects so remediation targets the actual problem rather than the visible one.

Independent inspections of properties before purchase to identify structural issues, defects, movement, drainage concerns, and other potential engineering risks before you commit.

Engineering input prior to renovations or alterations: assessing existing structural elements, proposal feasibility, site constraints, and the most suitable structural options.

Inspection and certification of completed building works to confirm alignment with the approved engineering design and current building regulations, ready for sign-off.

Construction-stage site inspections that review works in progress, identify issues early, and provide practical engineering guidance to keep builds on track.

Determines whether damage stems from a sudden event, gradual deterioration, or lack of maintenance. Clarifies responsibility for insurers, owners, and builders, and supports coverage decisions with engineering evidence.

Assesses failed or failing retaining walls, footings, and slab systems. Determines whether the cause is ground movement, construction defect, or detailing failure, and specifies the correct remediation pathway.

A fully specified, buildable scope that turns findings into a quote-ready rectification plan. Defines materials, methods, and sequencing so builders can price accurately and insurers can settle without ambiguity.

Certified engineering design for rectifying failed or damaged structural elements. Covers footings, framing, load paths, and connections, with documentation suitable for permit, construction, and sign-off.

Independent technical review of existing reports and competing opinions. Identifies gaps in methodology, evidence, or conclusions, and provides an engineered position that resolves disputes without escalation.

Rapid engineering response following storm, flood, fire, or seismic events. Scales to portfolio volumes with consistent reporting standards, triage prioritisation, and coordinated site coverage across regions.

On-site assessment of immediate structural risk with recommendations for temporary stabilisation. Protects occupants, prevents further damage, and establishes a safe baseline before full investigation is undertaken.

Court-ready engineering evidence, expert reports, and testimony for legal and regulatory proceedings. Delivered under relevant expert witness codes of conduct, with findings defensible under cross-examination.

Independent review of proposed scopes, quotes, and repair methodologies. Confirms whether recommended works are necessary, proportionate, and engineered to resolve the actual defect rather than the symptom.

Practical engineering oversight through the rebuild phase, covering sequencing, staged inspections, and sign-off against the approved scope. Keeps repairs aligned with the original causation findings.

How It Works

Three steps from first call to final report.

Engaging SZE is intentionally simple. You tell us what's happened, our engineer attends site, and you receive a defensible report you can act on, typically within days, not weeks.

Step 01

Brief & triage

Share the issue and any supporting documents. We confirm scope, urgency, and site access, typically within the same business day.

Step 02

Forensic site investigation

A qualified SZE engineer attends site to capture measurements, photographs, and observations that underpin the forensic analysis.

Step 03

Defensible report & path forward

A plain-English report with clear findings, causation, and an engineered scope of works ready for your builder, insurer, or legal team.

By the Numbers

Measurable engineering output, not marketing gloss.

Our work is tracked, reviewed, and reported on. These are the figures we operate to every day, across residential and insurance portfolios, in Victoria and beyond.

State-Based Coverage

VIC100%
NSW72%
SA70%
QLD61%

Active service footprint across Australia.

Annual Engagements

1,200+ per year

Across residential and insurance portfolios combined.

Turnaround Time

4days

Average from site inspection to final report.

Report Revision Rate

1.2%

Consistent accuracy across every engagement.

Sectors We Serve

One methodology, tuned to every asset class.

From a single residential investigation to a national insurance portfolio, the methodology stays the same: investigate thoroughly, report clearly, and deliver an engineered path forward the audience can act on.

Residential

New builds, established homes, heritage properties, and owner-builder projects across metro and regional Victoria.

Insurance

Insurer-instructed causation reporting, scope validation, and portfolio surge capacity, delivered without sacrificing engineering depth.

Commercial

Offices, retail, and mixed-use assets where structural clarity underpins tenant safety and ongoing asset value.

Industrial

Warehouses, manufacturing, and logistics facilities where downtime is costly and make-safe decisions cannot wait.

Also Engaged For

Insurance portfoliosHeritage propertiesOwner-builder investigationsIndustrial & commercialResidential investigationsCatastrophe responseExpert witness & disputesBody corporate & strata

The SZE Difference

Why clients pick SZE over generalist engineers.

Six operating principles that shape every engagement. They are not claims on a brochure, they are how we structure the work, from the first site visit through to the final sign-off.

Defensible Reporting

Every finding is built to withstand insurer, builder, and legal scrutiny, so decisions made on our advice hold up.

Engineered for Speed

Inspection to delivered report in days, not weeks, without compromising engineering depth or accuracy.

Plain-English Clarity

Technical precision communicated without jargon, so home owners, insurers, builders, and legal teams act on the same clarity.

Consistent at Scale

The same engineering standard applied whether the volume is one file or a thousand, delivered by the same specialist team.

Practical Site Solutions

Engineering recommendations a competent builder can realistically price, sequence, and deliver on site.

End-to-End Pathway

From forensic investigation through to remediation design and reinstatement oversight, the whole journey in one specialist team.

Selected Projects

Engineering discipline, delivered across every asset class.

A snapshot of recent engagements where SZE was instructed to investigate, report, or remediate. The same forensic rigour applies whether the asset is a single home or a multi-site industrial portfolio.

Industrial Insurance Claim

Industrial Insurance Claim

Heidelberg, Victoria
Heritage Audit

Heritage Audit

Collingwood, Victoria
Early Construction

Early Construction

Truganina, Victoria
Structural Access & Rectification

Structural Access & Rectification

Clayton, Victoria
Water Damage Assessment

Water Damage Assessment

Craigieburn, Victoria
Roof Damage Assessment

Roof Damage Assessment

Prahran, Victoria

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Frequently Asked

Straight answers to the questions we hear most.

If your question isn't answered below, reach out directly. We'll respond with the same clarity we bring to every report.

Pre-purchase engineering inspections, pre-design engineering advice, forensic causation reporting, site inspections during construction, structural and civil remediation design, and Certificates of Compliance for completed building works.
Insurers typically instruct us for causation reporting, scope validation, dispute support, or portfolio surges following catastrophe events. We operate within your claims workflow and reporting standards, and can scale across multiple matters in parallel without compromising engineering depth.
For standard engagements, we typically attend within 48 to 72 hours of receiving the brief. Emergency make-safe and triage inspections can be arranged within 24 hours where the situation requires it.
A detailed site investigation summary, photographic evidence, root cause analysis, causation findings linked to specific events or timelines, and a recommended scope of works for remediation. Reports are written in plain English and structured to hold up under insurer, builder, and legal scrutiny.
Our core footprint is Melbourne and greater Victoria, with active coverage extending into NSW, SA, and QLD. For catastrophe events or large-scale portfolio work, we mobilise nationally.
Yes. Our engineers provide expert witness testimony, peer reviews, and technical evidence for litigation, VCAT, and dispute resolution proceedings, delivered under the applicable expert witness codes of conduct.
Yes. We inspect completed building works against the approved engineering design and current building regulations, and issue a Certificate of Compliance to support practical completion and sign-off.

GET IN TOUCH

The path to resolution starts here.

Experience the difference of a forensic partner that combines engineering certainty with operational speed. We have the capacity to handle your volume and the expertise to protect your reputation.

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