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Construction Business Review
A.C.Enterprises
The Destructive Testing Specialist
Andrew Chekene, Owner & Founder and Rafa Dominguez, Runs the Destructive Testing DivisionA crew of 350 field personnel that A.C. Enterprises employs is capable of working in multiple tracks simultaneously to expedite the destructive testing procedures. It ensures minimal disruption to tenants and residents—a reflection of ACE’s deep emphasis on customer service, largely atypical of construction companies.
The crew is known for prioritizing customers’ interests and keeping them informed by posting notices about ongoing construction activities. These notices communicate important details of the construction work’s progress with all stakeholders, including residents, tenants, homeowners’ associations (HOA), architects and lawyers. AC Enterprises understands that each customer has unique needs and they take a nuanced approach to ensure that expectations are met or exceeded in each case.
“We like to be the customer’s first call seeking a helpful ally for their construction needs,” says Heather Stevens, project manager. “We start with construction defect testing and then often become their first choice of contractors for other repairs and maintenance work.”
AC Enterprises’ highly knowledgeable destructive testing crew specializes in high-precision surgical demolition, providing experts with the necessary information for building successful construction litigation cases. They ensure that once the destructive testing is complete, the building looks untouched until repairs occur, helping maintain property value in the interim.
ACE provides litigation support throughout the defect testing process. Cost estimation support and an in-house safety department are also available for litigation procedures.
The crew specializes in waterproofing, including weather-resistive barriers as well as structural retrofit repairs and everything in between. This experience proved valuable when AC Enterprises handled a large-scale litigation project involving a multi-family residential property. The discovery of major structural waterproofing failures led to a $10 million lawsuit for the HOA. The crew successfully fixed all defective construction work following the successful litigation process.
We like to be the customer’s first call seeking a helpful ally throughout the course of their construction requirements
Often, unexpected construction issues or even regular defect cases put undue pressure on HOA management companies and their board of directors. The ACE team provides them comprehensive support through educational resources and contacts for additional services, including construction defect attorneys, architects, engineers, and general counsel.
The crew also manages Senate Bill 326 (The SB 326 California Balcony Bill) compliance for HOAs, which focuses on adherence to deck inspection regulations. It manages the entire process— conducting destructive testing and visual inspections, providing proposals for necessary repairs, obtaining permits, and completing the work in phases.
Long-term collaborations with top-rated forensic architects enable ACE to deliver high-quality services that meet or exceed customer expectations. If a service cannot be provided in-house, ACE points them toward the right experts to help.
ACE has made its name among the frontrunners of construction forensic services courtesy of the credentials and caliber of its founding partners and team of experienced project managers. Founder Andrew Chekene practically grew up in the construction industry, having a father who worked as forensic architect. Partner Rafael Dominguez, who has more than a decade of experience in destructive testing, heads the destructive testing side of ACE’s litigation division.
Along with multi-family residential projects, engagements with single-family homes yielded winning outcomes. A house in Healdsburg, California, where the crew was litigation services, was destroyed in the Kincade Fire. ACE was subsequently hired to rebuild the client’s custom home—complete with a large compound that included a barn, a caretaker’s cottage, and a guest house.
An exceptional crew and extensive industry connections enable the firm to address clients’ construction defect testing, reconstruction, and litigation needs. It is well-positioned as a dependable, long-term construction partner that clients can always rely on.
