Civil Engineer "shopping"

[robb1887]

I'm having a hell of a time getting a few civil engineers/firms to return my calls/info after initial contact except for one that is about 3x the price I was expecting. I'm half tempted to just pay him as he communicates quickly it seems unlike the other 3 that have either failed to answer or failed to return calls/follow-ups. All the firms I've reached out to so far are referrals from friends & coworkers.

Anyone have advice other than "google it" to source local reputable engineering firms to finalize plans?

I'm to the point where I may just be cold calling any and all with decent google reviews in the area to get some feedback on if the only engineer to return my messages is overpriced or on point.

Edited to CIVIL engineer in lieu of structural as I used the wrong term

 

[mogandave]

If there is an engineering school close by you might call and ask.

 

[nadogail]

I had the same problem a few years ago; those I contacted were afraid that my job wouldn't be large enough for them to make enough money to interest them. I wound up selecting a contractor and they had connections with appropriate professionals who were willing to take on my job.

 

[reader2580]

What state? I have a local structural engineer who works out of his condo and will do small projects.

 

[mcbane]

I'm having a hell of a time getting a few Structural engineers/firms to return my calls/info after initial contact except for one that is about 3x the price I was expecting. I'm half tempted to just pay him as he communicates quickly it seems unlike the other 3 that have either failed to answer or failed to return calls/follow-ups. All the firms I've reached out to so far are referrals from friends & coworkers.

Anyone have advice other than "google it" to source local reputable engineering firms to finalize plans?

I'm to the point where I may just be cold calling any and all with decent google reviews in the area to get some feedback on if the only engineer to return my messages is overpriced or on point.

No idea what state you are in but in CA, demanding a "structural" engineer will be more costly and is unnecessary. Unless you are building a high rise building or some other exotic structure, you may be able to hire a "civil" engineer at a more modest price.

 

[firebirdparts]

keeping your location a secret has backfired, that's what I'd say.

 

[robb1887]

South East VA.

Symantics I think at structural vs civil but sure. I need a guy with a P.E. stamp to finalize my plans that I've done 90% with a few questions I as a Mech Eng am not sure on and cannot stamp plans myself for my County requirements.

 

[vavet]

Have you tried DJG Inc in Williamsburg? I've never used them so I can't vouch for or endorse them, but I interviewed an EE who worked there.

 

[robb1887]

Have you tried DJG Inc in Williamsburg? I've never used them so I can't vouch for or endorse them, but I interviewed an EE who worked there.

I'll add them to the list for cold calls. I hadn't tried them yet.

 

[readhead]

It is a very busy time right now heading into major building season. You are a one time job and most of these people have regular clients that they are going to keep happy.
Your price expectations may be unrealistic. You have only one number. What if you hear back from two more and they are higher? If someone is ready to go I would engage them quickly. Structural and civil engineers are not interchangeable.

 

[vavet]

I just dug this one up too...not exactly in your neck of the woods, but if it's just a plans review and stamp, it'll work.

Struc-Tech | Home

Our attention to detail, high-quality products and obsession with service sets us apart.

www.struc-tech.com

They did the trusses for my home built in 2015.

 

[D100CMB]

Kevin Floyd @ KLF Engineering in Chesterfield. No website, but you can Google and find his office number.

 

[duneslider]

What are your plans that require a civil engineer? Are you doing a lot of dirt work on the property? With building my house even my structural engineer handled some retaining walls for us.

We did have a requirement for a civil engineer to do a soil evaluation but all that consisted of was a site survey when they dug the hole and he wrote a report to the city and charged us $500.

 

[robb1887]

What are your plans that require a civil engineer? Are you doing a lot of dirt work on the property? With building my house even my structural engineer handled some retaining walls for us.

We did have a requirement for a civil engineer to do a soil evaluation but all that consisted of was a site survey when they dug the hole and he wrote a report to the city and charged us $500.

My rough plan ideas are here: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/28x40-first-draft-plans-critique.492113/#post-9425044

Roughly:
-verify the truss design and modify the gussets to be hand built on site
-identify beam/column size/material for clear span floor
-any extra footer requirements for said beam support
-verify my rafters as I'm not 100% on them.
-Verify my headers

Everything else is basic building code stuff. I plan to do most of the work myself but sub out some aspects (concrete and roofing likely)

 

[Hank11]

In the past, I've had a couple of semi retired PEs who were happy for small jobs like this. Finding one may be difficult. I asked for such at several big firms before finding anyone. If you have anyone who works at any engineering company ask them for that old guy who retired a few years ago.

 

[brownbagg]

soil evaluation but all that consisted of was a site survey when they dug the hole and he wrote a report to the city and charged us $500.

that cheap, it would of been $2500 out of my office

 

[NUTTSGT]

Just curious here. Are you building the attic trusses and rafters on site ? Or just the rafters to match the trusses ?

I ask because when I built my small addition, I had about the same amount, cost wise, in materials as I would have in buying pre-built trusses to my needs. What I saved was the 4 week lead time and I had a small fortune in Simpson nailing plates and nails.

Have you actually priced out materials (all of them) vs having trusses made for your build ?

 

[duneslider]

My rough plan ideas are here: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/28x40-first-draft-plans-critique.492113/#post-9425044

Roughly:
-verify the truss design and modify the gussets to be hand built on site
-identify beam/column size/material for clear span floor
-any extra footer requirements for said beam support
-verify my rafters as I'm not 100% on them.
-Verify my headers

Everything else is basic building code stuff. I plan to do most of the work myself but sub out some aspects (concrete and roofing likely)

This is what a structural engineer does, not a civil engineer. In the case of my house I think they charged something around a buck a square foot but then we did have to have the engineer come out twice during construction to check some things and make a few changes/recommendations and those were charged an hourly rate.

 

[duneslider]

that cheap, it would of been $2500 out of my office

I say soil evaluation loosely, this was in a developed neighborhood that had detailed evaluations done a number of years ago, the guy did nothing more than get out of his truck and walk around the hole in the ground and then send us a letter to give to the city. No samples taken, no testing done.

 

[robb1887]

Just curious here. Are you building the attic trusses and rafters on site ? Or just the rafters to match the trusses ?

I ask because when I built my small addition, I had about the same amount, cost wise, in materials as I would have in buying pre-built trusses to my needs. What I saved was the 4 week lead time and I had a small fortune in Simpson nailing plates and nails.

Have you actually priced out materials (all of them) vs having trusses made for your build ?

All on site, so both.

Due to my lot layout I cannot have large trucks in the yard due to septic leach field locations which makes craning them on the walls hard. With my plans for the second floor, I can layout the attic truss sections on the floor deck, then only have to lift them 4-5 feet onto the high walls

 

[wake74]

You definitely need to be chasing the mom & pops engineering firms, or the single person type places. No meaningfully sized engineering firm is going to have any interest in reviewing and sealing a set of plans, for a small residential build particularly in this market. The recently or partially retired angle mentioned above is a good one.

Are you sure you can't seal your plans in VA? It's been quite a while since I had a PE license in VA, so I don't remember if they differentiate between the engineering disciplines, some states do, some don't. Of course, all boards dictate that you must be professionally competent in anything that you seal regardless of discipline.

 

[billspit]

A civil engineer won’t do jack about truss design. I worked for a moderately sized engineering firm and we did not do residential work except for a couple of large expensive houses. We got sued for an expensive lakefront house that we didn’t do any work for. We spent $.5 million defending ourselves and won. The judge should have thrown us out of the suit right at the start.

 

[speed bump]

Go on the state website and look up people with structural type PEs in your area. Then either LinkedIn creep or Google until you find one who fits your niche.

What it sounds like you is you need a couple hours with the wood handbook and a basic framing book, some time on Simpsons website, and 20 minutes with a basic concrete book to get you where you need to be though. Buy your trusses because unless you want to spend a lot of time for mediocre product it's not worth building them.

 

[NUTTSGT]

All on site, so both.

Due to my lot layout I cannot have large trucks in the yard due to septic leach field locations which makes craning them on the walls hard. With my plans for the second floor, I can layout the attic truss sections on the floor deck, then only have to lift them 4-5 feet onto the high walls

Well, I guess you have been doing some planning and thinking.

I built my trusses per what Menards had figured up on their truss builder application.

 

[brownbagg]

all you want is the report, once the pe sign it, its doesnt matter if he did any test or nor, he responsible. we see the same dirt over and over, everyday, we know what it does. all you need is the report