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In this special episode of Take It To The Board, the podcast hits the road for its first-ever live taping at the Cooperator Trade Show & Expo in Fort Lauderdale. Host Donna DiMaggio Berger is joined by professional engineer Evan Swaysland, president of Swaysland Professional Engineering Consultants, for a clear-eyed discussion of Florida’s mandatory milestone inspections and Structural Integrity Reserve Studies (SIRS)—and what they really mean for the safety and longevity of multifamily buildings.

Donna and Evan break down the shift from visual inspections to comprehensive, post-Surfside evaluations, explaining why many aging buildings trigger Phase Two inspections and what “immediate” repairs look like in real-world practice. They unpack common trouble spots like balconies, waterproofing systems, and incidental damage during restoration, while offering practical guidance on reading inspection reports, budgeting with SIRS, and moving efficiently from inspections to repairs.

The conversation also explores emerging issues, including coastal subsidence research, construction-related vibration risks, and how monitoring and documentation can protect both buildings and legal interests. Listeners will learn how to hire the right engineer, scope projects intelligently, and focus on preventive maintenance—not just reactive fixes.

Conversation Highlights:

• How the industry has shifted from viewing inspections as a reactive measure to embracing a more preventative and predictive model of building safety
• The top three misconceptions boards or residents commonly have about structural inspections
• The first structural conditions an engineer typically evaluates, and what signals whether a building has been well maintained or neglected
• Warning signs that require monitoring, and urgent conditions that rise to the level of life safety concerns
• The typical cost range for a Milestone Inspection, and which factors most significantly influence that cost (i.e. building size, age, location, and structural complexity)
• What does a high-quality Milestone Inspection involve that most directors or unit owners may not fully appreciate?
• Differences between a Milestone Inspection and a SIRS
• Are the current Milestone Inspection and SIRS frameworks adequate to identify subsidence-related risks, or do policies and protocols need to evolve?
• Key differences between “settling,” “sinking,” and “sinkholes” from an engineering perspective
• Early signs of subsidence or sinkhole activity and what remediation typically involves
• How volunteer boards can become better, more informed consumers when selecting an engineering firm
• BONUS: If there is one essential truth about structural safety every Florida board should understand, what is it?

Related Links:

• Podcast: Everything You Need to Know About Concrete Restoration Projects with Alessandra Bianchini, of Carousel Development and Restoration Inc.
• Resource: Swaysland Professional Engineering Consultants