360-927-0066
Bellingham, Washington
Bellingham, WA 98226
ph: 360-927-0066
dale
There comes a time when you are ready to design your home. Your aim is to come up with a structure that will keep your family and property safe during storms, earthquakes, and planned and unplanned events for many years to come. When the time comes for structural design, you need to enlist the services of an expert who has the necessary training and experience to handle your construction. This professional is known as a residential structural engineer.
What Does a Residential Structural Engineer Do?
When you are early in the planning stage for your residential building, the engineer will review your desired plan, analyze the construction site, review all applicable building codes, and review any desired or required modifications to determine what the financial and design impacts will be. Regardless of the type of project you are planning, the engineer will communicate with you to come up with a satisfactory design for the final structure to insure it is what you want and that it will be safe for occupation.
There are several aspects that a residential structural engineer will look into. These include the foundation, floors, insulation, columns, infrastructure, building envelope and more. The residential structural engineer will analyze these aspects thoroughly. The engineer will also be able to compare the actual building and the initial plans to make sure that the two correspond. Finally, the engineer will see to it that the residential building meets the structural regulations that relate to safety and construction in the jurisdiction that the building will be constructed.
Why Should You Hire a Residential Structural Engineer for Your Project?
One of the major factors that you need to consider when you are buying a home or building one is the structural integrity of the property. If you are buying the property, the soundness of the structure will determine the amount of money you pay.
An inspection that is done by a qualified structural engineer will go a long way in giving you a clear understanding about the condition of the whole structure. So, before you seal the deal, it is prudent that you enlist the services of a structural engineer to give you valuable advice. Other benefits that the engineer brings aboard include:
Get a Fair Estimate of the Property
The price of any residential building is determined by the condition of the building including the foundation, walls, doors, windows, hidden structural components and more. When you know the actual condition of the structure that make up the house, you are in a better position to get a bargain on the cost of the house.
Know What Repairs Are Needed
A residential structural engineer will assess the building that you are planning to acquire and identify the repair needs, both for the present and the future. You can use this information to know how much you need to put in the property before it becomes inhabitable. This can also assist you to haggle over the price so that you get a reduction.
Once the various repairs have been identified, the structural engineer will guide you on what to do so that problems with your property do not reappear. You will get advice on how to remedy some of the problems without hiring a foundation repair company that may cost you thousands of dollars.
How safe is Your House?
The residential structural engineer will make sure that the building in question follows all the safety requirements that are stipulated in the construction act of the state. When you buy a home that has passed a residential structural engineer test you are assured that it is 100% safe for occupancy. What this means is that you will be safeguarding your property by getting an engineer to survey your residential property before purchase.
How Do You Choose the Best Residential Structural Engineer for Your Project?
There are many structural engineers out there who can work on your project. It is your responsibility to choose the best from the available ones. This will make sure that you get quality services for your residence. Before you pick the one you will work with, there are several factors you need to put in mind.
The Qualifications of the Engineer
The engineer you pick needs to have all the relevant qualifications that match the project requirements. He or she needs to present the necessary academic qualifications that make him or her suitable for the job. The qualifications the engineer possesses need to be from a reputable institution and also of high level.
Remember that it is very important that the engineer you choose to do the work knows all the problems that are related to your residential building. It is ideal that you pick a qualified residential structural engineer that has extensive experience in the field.
The Types of Services the Engineer Provides
Every residential or commercial building is unique and needs to be analyzed to in a different way. The type of structure will dictate the type of services that are needed to make it fit for occupation. When looking for a structural engineer, make sure you have a rough list of the services that are needed so that you inquire on whether they are able to deliver or not.
It is always best to see some examples of past jobs handled by the engineer to get an idea of what to expect. What you need to do is to request for testimonials from previous customers that you can contact and get their opinion. This will help build your confidence and trust in the engineer.
The Solutions That the Residential Structural Engineer Provides
Different engineers use different approaches to handle a given problem. After the engineer has assessed and inspected your project, he has to come up with solutions to the problems that exist on the property. Let him or her explain in detail what steps will be taken to remedy the problems. It may be that the particular problem that you are encountering requires a specialized solution. Make sure you fully understand how the solution would be implemented, what the schedule is, and how much it will cost you.
Your residential or commercial property is a vital investment that needs you to be careful when planning, constructing, or retrofitting it. With the help of a structural engineer, you will be able to get everything that you need to have a house that is safe and well constructed. The building will also conform to the standards that have been set by the state and jurisdiction you live in.
Copyright 2009 Andert Engineering. All rights reserved.
Bellingham, WA 98226
ph: 360-927-0066
dale