When a Homeowner Needs to Consult With a Construction Engineer

Construction & Contractors Blog

Not every renovation or construction project on your property needs the services of an engineer; for example, a contractor can usually tell you if your home is a good candidate for skylights or granite countertops. These types of projects are often easy enough to manage on your own, but this doesn't mean that every renovation project should be handled without consulting engineers. Note when a construction engineer should be called and why their services are often necessary.

When you have a homeowner's association

If your subdivision, condominium, or other property is part of any type of homeowner's association, no doubt there are restrictions on what you can do to your home and your property when it comes to renovations and even repair work. You may not know how to interpret the HOA documents that come with your property, and how to apply those requirements and restrictions to your own project. A construction engineer can better understand those requirements and then also ensure your project will not get any interference from the HOA and will be sure to pass their inspections and the like.

When your property has soil problems

If your property has a lot of moisture in the soil or if your home is built on sandy soil, this can mean that adding any type of weight to your home can cause it to sink, settle, and shift. It may be that your home's foundation should first be underpinned to support that added weight, or that you should bring in lime, clay, or another material to make the soil stronger overall. A construction engineer can take soil samples if necessary and then note how to protect your project from potential damage due to poor soil conditions.

When your home already has structural damage

If your home has cracks in the walls, ceiling, or floors, or has any other signs of structural damage, you want to call a construction engineer before you do any work on the home. Adding weight to the home, removing a wall, or making any other such changes might cause more cracks and more settling or shifting; windows may start to stick as the frames are no longer straight, and you might see cracks form in the attic or even the rooftop. A construction engineer can note the cause of this damage and tell you how to address it before work begins, so your home is then structurally safe and secure.

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15 June 2016