LCM Engineering, PLLC.

10/15/2026

Recognize Your Community Association’s Service Partners!

Dear LCM Client and Friends

The 2027 Readers’ Choice Awards are presented to Service Providers who provide Florida’s condominium and homeowner associations with exemplary levels of service.

You are invited to cast ballots for companies serving your community association. Voting runs through Dec 31.

https://www.fcapgroup.com/readerschoice/vote_classification.cfm?CID=21

Please (ctrl+click) on the Construction, Engineering, Building Services and VOTE for LCM Engineering, PLLC.

We appreciate your assistance.

Click on"
Construction, Engineering, Building Services

Vote for LCM Engineering PLLC

10/15/2026

“Trust the process” means having faith in consistent effort and a structured plan to reach a long-term goal, even when immediate progress is difficult to see or setbacks occur.

Believing that small, daily actions add up over time is what builds the continuity and consistency we need in our everyday lives and businesses. Success rarely happens overnight. It comes from showing up, doing the work, learning along the way, and continuing to move forward.

Embrace the setbacks. Challenges, delays, and failures are a normal part of growth, both personally and professionally. They are opportunities to learn, adjust, and become better at what we do.

Focus on what you can control and accomplish today instead of obsessing over what the outcome might be. You cannot always control the circumstances, but you can control your effort, your attitude, and how you respond.

Encourage yourself and those around you. Whether you are building a career, learning new skills, growing a business, or working through difficult times, a little encouragement and a willingness to keep going can make a difference.

In the end, trusting the process is about more than reaching a goal. It is about building character, developing a strong work ethic, and becoming someone others can rely on.

Consistency builds confidence. Honesty builds trust. And showing up, even when things get difficult, builds a person and a profession that others can count on. TTT

10/15/2026

Over the years, we have had an ongoing battle over whether spending additional money to waterproof concrete in Florida is necessary, and more importantly, when it makes sense.

Waterproofing concrete can be an important part of protecting your building. However, it is not a substitute for proper concrete design, drainage, maintenance, or repairs.

Waterproofing will not repair deteriorated concrete. If a system is installed without first inspecting the concrete and identifying existing conditions, it may hide symptoms without correcting the underlying problem. If the necessary repairs are not completed before waterproofing, the system could trap moisture, interfere with drying, or make an existing problem worse.

When Properly Selected and Installed, Waterproofing Can:

Help protect reinforcing steel from corrosion by limiting water and chloride intrusion.
Reduce water intrusion into occupied spaces.
Assist in managing groundwater and soil moisture.
Protect vulnerable building components and potentially extend their useful service life.

The key words are properly selected and installed. Not every waterproofing system is appropriate for every application, and not every concrete surface requires the same level of protection.

What Should You Consider Before Spending the Money?

Waterproofing systems come with installation costs, service-life limitations, and maintenance requirements. Some require the removal of existing finishes, protective layers, or drainage components. Others may require periodic inspections, repairs, or replacement to maintain their effectiveness.

Applying a new system prematurely, without addressing existing conditions or establishing a long-term maintenance plan, can waste money and potentially create additional problems.

Every system should have manufacturer documentation explaining where it can be used, how it must be installed, what conditions it is designed to withstand, and how it must be maintained. Make sure you receive and retain these documents before approving the work. They are part of your building's maintenance records and may be important years down the road when repairs or replacement become necessary.

Before committing to the expense, understand what problem the proposed system is intended to solve, whether the concrete needs repairs first, and what happens if the waterproofing is not installed.

What About Building Exteriors, Balconies, Elevated Walkways, and Parking Garages?

These areas deserve particular attention because water intrusion can affect more than the appearance of the concrete. Moisture and chlorides can contribute to reinforcing steel corrosion, concrete deterioration, and damage to surrounding building components.

Applicable Florida Building Code provisions address waterproofing and impervious moisture-barrier systems in certain applications, including details and inspection requirements where these systems protect structural framing. The specific requirements depend on the building, the assembly, and the applicable code provisions.

This is where professional evaluation matters. The decision should be based on the actual conditions, the exposure to water, the consequences of water intrusion, and the requirements applicable to that particular assembly.

The LCM Bottom Line

In Florida, controlling water and keeping it out of vulnerable building assemblies is important. But waterproofing every single piece of concrete is not necessarily good engineering or smart financial management.

Our job is to help property managers and Boards understand where the money needs to be spent, why it needs to be spent, and what can happen if the work is not done.

The goal is to control water where it matters, protect reinforcing steel, correct the sources of water intrusion, and select a system that can perform under the actual conditions it will face.

Sometimes waterproofing is an important investment. Sometimes other repairs or improvements need to come first. And sometimes the proposed system may not be necessary at all.

The answer should come from the building's condition, the engineering, and the facts—not simply from a recommendation to waterproof everything.

At LCM, we believe in helping Boards make informed decisions, protecting their buildings, and spending association funds wisely. It is not about spending the least amount of money today. It is about spending the money where it will do the best over the life of the building.

10/13/2026

10/13/2026

10/13/2026

At LCM Engineering, we take complex engineering concepts and turn them into practical, understandable solutions. We evaluate how structures perform, identify opportunities to improve their safety and efficiency, and explain the science behind our recommendations in everyday language. Our goal is to help clients understand not just what needs to be done, but why it matters, what their options are, and how to make informed decisions about their buildings.

Then, just like every other Engineer, we hope and pray they listen to what we are saying .....

10/06/2026

At LCM, we have always believed that engineering is about more than a report, a set of drawings or getting through a project. It is about the relationships we build along the way.

We try to be honest and open with people. If we see a problem, we tell you. If we don't think something needs to be done, we tell you that too. Not every problem requires the biggest, most expensive solution, and we dont believe our job is to create work just to create work.

We try to provide unbiased communication and advice. Sometimes that means telling someone something they don't want to hear. That is part of our job. Our responsibility is to give you our best professional opinion and let you make an informed decision.

We also believe in teaching and educating along the way. We don't expect a Board, Property Manager or Owner to know everything about buildings. That's why you hire professionals. We do believe you should understand what is happening, why it is happening, what your options are and what the consequences of those options may be. Sometimes, the most important thing we can do is listen.

We have worked with some of our clients for years. We have watched properties change, Boards change, managers change and, unfortunately, sometimes watched the same problems come back around. That history matters. Knowing the building, knowing the people and understanding what has already been done can save time, money and a lot of frustration.

We want to be the company you can count on when you need us. Maybe it is a major repair. Maybe it is an emergency. Maybe you just have a question and don't know who to ask. Honestly, we dont believe you have to be our client for us to try to help. If we can answer a question, point you in the right direction or tell you what questions you should be asking, we will. That's how we look at long-term relationships. Be honest. Listen. Give people straight answers. Teach when you can. Help when you are needed. And do what you say you are going to do. The rest tends to take care of itself.