Stephen Cheatham: Why Most Structural Failures Are Not Surprises
Stephen Cheatham, a Florida-based structural engineer and independent consultant, explains why the buildings that fail in storms are usually the result of risks people chose to ignore.
The Problem Hiding in Plain Sight
Florida, USA, Jul 26, 2026, ZEX PR WIRE, A developer called Stephen Cheatham three weeks before hurricane season with plans to retrofit a beachfront property. The building had survived two decades of storms, but recent inspections revealed corrosion in critical structural connections. The owner wanted a quick fix to get tenants back in before peak rental season.
Cheatham walked the site and reviewed the original plans. The problems were not sudden. They were predictable. Salt exposure, inadequate protective coatings, and deferred maintenance had created exactly the kind of v...
