strcutural engineer advice (nor cal)

18 years ago

Hi,

We're getting to the point where we need to get a structural engineer to identify a solution for moving a bearing wall. We live near San Fran, and I've heard stories from friends of structural engineers developing solutions that are "excessive". Our KD has a structural engineer that she likes and this company seems to have a good reputation. I was curious if there is anything else I could do to verify the structural engineer's solution. I don't want to add a steel beam unless we have to and I'm nervous because I think the engineer's incentive is to way over design the solution. Thoughts?

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Comments (4)

bluekitobsessed
18 years ago
SEs always overdesign. They use a factor of safety (not sure if that's the right term) multiplier: if the FOS should be 1, they try to engineer 1.2 or 1.5 or something like that. These simple looking numbers are the end result of pages and pages of calculations. About the only advice I can give you is (a) do follow the UBC, as that is a minimum; (b) ask about that multiplier -- if he wants it to be 1.5, maybe 1.2 is okay; and (c) get a second opinion from another SE (some, but not all, general contractors can also give a rough opinion). Having said all that, please also keep in mind the recent news re: official odds of another EQ above 6.7: 93% in NoCal!!!

"Nothing under 6.0 counts" -- one way to separate the Cal. natives from the rest of the world.
sarschlos_remodeler
18 years ago
I'm in So.Cal. We want to move some interior walls and change sizes of some exterior sliders/windows so a structural engineer is required. I have had a TERRIBLE time finding an independent structural engineer willing to provide an opinion. We finally FINALLY found an architect who is willing to take on smaller jobs (strange how a "small" job can still cost so much, isn't it?) who has several engineers she works with. But there was no one willing to give us an independent opnion. Maybe they work differently up in your neck of the woods. I surely hope so. I had no idea it was going to be so difficult to find professionals.
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overlyoptimistic
Original Author
18 years ago
Thanks for the advice. I've heard many unpleasant stories about the structural engineer and permit process, including from a close friend who is a civil engineer who was remodeling his house. I'm hoping it doesn't cost us an arm and a leg and take months...
caligirl_cottage
18 years ago
Hi, We live in the Bay Area and used Fulcrum Engineers in San Francisco. I think our contact was Mike. They were somewhat slow to get started but then worked very well and when we had challenges they were really reasonable, rational and helped talk it through with the Contractor (it was our Contractor who always wants to overdesign). I think they walk that line between good design and over-design.

Here's their contact info.
665 3rd St
San Francisco, CA 94107
Phone: (415) 543-0161