When Do You Need a Structural Engineer?

The structural engineer is the specialist who focuses on the project’s design and physical integrity including bridges, buildings and tunnels. Mainly they ensure that the physical structure can handle the loads. The Residential structural engineer focuses on only the building projects for townhome/condo associations, residential and commercial.

They have to work with a lot of people including architects, designers, realtors, homeowner associations and Realtors. They superintend existing structures and new Structures in residential buildings, construction defects, storm damage, home purchase transactions and additional structural needs in commercial buildings.

What types of Work Do They Handle?

The specialists have to handle almost every step of the building process. First, they create the design of the building so that it can be durable and structurally sound. They also help the architects if there is any type of problem occurring during the design. They also focus on the building process so that it can pass the inspection easily. The residential structural engineer mainly focuses on the feasibility and safety of every building project.

Other Tasks

Apart from the design process, they also do a lot of things throughout the building process. For example, they calculate the capacity of load stresses such as snow or gravity to see whether the design can fulfil all the conditions. The residential structural engineer also gives advice to the house owners about which type of material should be used to provide the required structural integrity.

Residential Building Projects

1. Main Renovation

After getting the budget and timespan, the homeowner hires a designer for designing a plan for the renovation. After that, they make sure that the designer works with a structural engineer so that the expert provides advice about environmental loads including wind, thermal, live load, and dead load.

2. Secondary Renovation

The residential structural engineer also does minor renovation such as they can remove a load-bearing wall between the kitchen and great room. They do not need any architectural plan for this type of work. In that case, the house owner contacts the engineer who has working experience with contractors, architects, and designers. After that, the specialist has to do an engineering inspection and determine whether the wall is load-bearing. Next, the contractor uses the inspection report to get a building permit from the city and remove the load-bearing wall.

What to Do Next?

If you want to do an inspection for your foundation or repair it, then contact Ram Jack in OKC. They will help you in this matter.