Hiring a Structural Engineer is your best bet for Remodeling your home
If you are thinking to extend your home, or even to build a new one, you will need professional advice from a structural engineer, who will prepare drawings and designs considering the planning consent and building regulations.
Structural designing or building surveys is an art of understanding the flow of forces. The distribution of forces is initially understood diagrammatically and mathematically and then based on scientific understanding, sketches of buildings and connections are developed. Structures are divided into two major categories, reinforced concrete design, and steel frame structures.
Before the construction of any building, initial contaminated land investigation and building surveys of the construction sites is done. Expert civil engineers then ensure that your ideas are translated into an economic design which fulfils your requirements and complies with building legislation. Moreover, sewers drains and highways are of the core importance in any structural design, thus only a professional site investigation consultant can complete and approve set of plans before starting any construction project.
Every structure should be designed to resist the overturning effects caused by the lateral forces. The value for snow load, wind load and seismic load importance factors should be determined in accordance with International Building Code. For dynamic analysis for earthquakes, usually core shear walls are used to take the earthquake load. All these analyses are not in hands of any common man or builder. Only a professional structural design services company can create a safe, stable and economic design for any proposed structure.
Restore old buildings
Another service offered by these companies is restoring the old residential buildings. The structural engineering service companies usually include the expert analysis of the condition of the buildings. They are usually used when people want to restore or repair their old homes. These companies usually decide the best solution for repairing the steel, wood, concrete, or any other structural elements. Most of these companies also offer consulting services that are available to help clients, such as property managers, home owners, architects, or contractors to complete the restoration projects. This service usually includes the expert advice or assistance regarding design concept, project management, and complete documentations.
Design a new house
A new house needs a good design before the contractors or architects start designing the new buildings. The structural engineering service is usually needed to make sure that the structure of a house is strong enough. It also makes sure that the property structure is properly calculated. This is important to avoid any structural problems in the future. That is the reason why people use these services when they want to build new house buildings.
Buying/Selling Of A Home
In many instances, structural engineers are called to evaluate a potential problem un-covered after a home inspection. After a general home inspection is complete, sometimes a structural engineering inspection is also warranted. If this is the case, the home inspector will include this recommendation in his or her final home inspection report. Home inspectors are not qualified to assess and diagnose structural problems. Only a licensed, structural engineer can provide accurate assessments and solutions for a home buyer or seller.
Proposed Renovation Projects
If you are planning on renovating your home and it involves removing or cutting into load-bearing walls, adding living space by way of 2nd story renovation or addition with great rooms containing wide open spaces (no supports), a structural engineering consultation is warranted. If you are extending your living quarters, you will require design and engineering for permit documents. Your local building department will require a licensed, professional engineer stamp any new construction or major renovation.
Complicated structures or projects involving older homes (constructed before 1970) may also require early input from a structural engineer. Many times, homes constructed before 1960s-70s were built without prescriptive building methods. Today, state and local building codes exist to ensure contractors and home builders follow a set of pre-determined guidelines for building a home. A licensed, structural engineer is the best professional to assess the feasibility of any major home renovation project. A site visit can be conducted to evaluate potential, structural issues.
Some more reasons for the use of a residential structural engineer:
- In the event of a natural disaster which caused damage to your home
- Foundation wall cracks, settlement or movement
- Interior cracking and framing movement
- Sagging or bowing floors or walls
- Termite, carpenter ant or rot damage
- Undersized and damaged framing members
- Sink holes and soil concerns
- Roof failure
- Building collapse
- Flood, fire, water or high wind damage