Help with engineering

[sjvicker]

Do you mind sharing the original drafted plans and what is currently there?

It sounds like your original permit was never signed off when work was completed by a previous owner. I'm starting to agree with Dig Doug that you should consider finishing the building as intended for final signoff then remodeling it into what you need.

 

[PoorUB]

you do have a case to sue the previous owner ( unless he died ) that pulled the permit and didn’t add the wing walls. A simple small claims suit would get you $10,000….

I doubt they disclosed anything in the selling of the property.

you can also take the previous owner into mediation but have a time line to conform to & need a lawyer

good luck

But the OP did a major remodel of the building since he bought it. Any liability of the previous owner is long gone.

 

[Dig Doug]

I didn’t catch his other thread, I thought he just cleaned it up.

 

[billconner]

But the OP did a major remodel of the building since her bought it. Any liability of the previous owner is long gone.

He did? Didn't see that. The facts of who did what when are not at all clear to me.

 

[PoorUB]

He did? Didn't see that. The facts of who did what when are not at all clear to me.

He isn't very clear about it here, but here is his thread about the remodel,

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/its-a-start-ca-30x63.347009/#post-6157125

 

[billconner]

Well, removing a wall and adding a garage door without a permit would probably put you on the wrong side. It sure would where I live.

 

[gsmith22]

Well, removing a wall and adding a garage door without a permit would probably put you on the wrong side. It sure would where I live.

Yes, but way worse in this case because that wall is his shear wall in the longitudnal direction for earthquake loads (which for comparison purposes essentially don't exist in NYS). what are the chances that both strength and all detailing provisions of the CA building code were followed when that work was done? soft story much (engineers will understand that)

And on top of that the OP wants to remove perpendicular oreinted shear walls (in the short direction) as if by magic the roof diaphram will transfer loads to the end walls 60' apart. As I said back in post 38, the minefield that any engineer is getting into here is likely not worth the aggravation unless they literally have nothing else to do. qualified people are busy. back to work ...

 

[Dig Doug]

Yes, but way worse in this case because that wall is his shear wall in the longitudnal direction for earthquake loads (which for comparison purposes essentially don't exist in NYS). what are the chances that both strength and all detailing provisions of the CA building code were followed when that work was done? soft story much (engineers will understand that)

And on top of that the OP wants to remove perpendicular oreinted shear walls (in the short direction) as if by magic the roof diaphram will transfer loads to the end walls 60' apart. As I said back in post 38, the minefield that any engineer is getting into here is likely not worth the aggravation unless they literally have nothing else to do. qualified people are busy. back to work ...

The actual Engineering ( make the drawings & calks ) will be an easy, walk in the park ! Most Engineers are proud of their work and overkill it !!

Now the cost to build out Most likely will be VERY Very expensive

 

[PoorUB]

Well, removing a wall and adding a garage door without a permit would probably put you on the wrong side. It sure would where I live.

In my city any structural changes need a permit.

I put in a deck a few years ago. For access from the house to the deck I put in a standard entrance door. There was not room for a slider patio door. I was fortunate as there was a window the correct size I removed. When the city was over for final inspection he asked about the door and I told him what we had done, removed the framing below the window and replaced the jack studs, he just said, sounds good and I will note it on the permit. He did say I should of had an inspection while the wall was open but beings I never removed or altered the header he was ok with it. it probably helped I got a flyer from the city on the requirements to build a deck and if anything slightly over built it instead of most guys trying to cut corners.

 

[duneslider]

Yes, but way worse in this case because that wall is his shear wall in the longitudnal direction for earthquake loads (which for comparison purposes essentially don't exist in NYS). what are the chances that both strength and all detailing provisions of the CA building code were followed when that work was done? soft story much (engineers will understand that)

And on top of that the OP wants to remove perpendicular oreinted shear walls (in the short direction) as if by magic the roof diaphram will transfer loads to the end walls 60' apart. As I said back in post 38, the minefield that any engineer is getting into here is likely not worth the aggravation unless they literally have nothing else to do. qualified people are busy. back to work ...

I honestly don't know how true this is. We do work that requires modifying the structural aspects of buildings all the time. In our case this is almost always structural steel stuff but still we are changing loads, sometimes significantly, on building columns and roof structures. When this work is performed we are not assuming liability for the entire structure, just the modifications that we are doing. In our case our in house engineers put together their plans and then we send out to various 3rd parties for checks which usually results in changes.

People tend to look at all this engineering like it is some black magic but it really isn't, its just numbers. l we get calls all the time from customers who did some sort of modifications without getting stamped plans and they want us to get them a "stamp" to get the city off their back. Almost always it requires additional work and would have been easier if they had done it the right way to begin with but we can always come up with a solution that will work. It always costs them money though. In fact, in most cases the city is coming down really hard on them and telling them they have to tear it all out, blah, blah, blah, and as soon as we get involved and go down to the city to chat with the inspector they are all cool and just wait for us to send in updated drawings and engineering and "payment". My experience has been as soon as you get a competent professional involved the cities are great to work with.

I am sure there are areas where it can be tough to find engineers available, I know even in my area some that we work with are several weeks out on looking at new projects.

 

[billconner]

Duneslider, I agree with an engineered plan, things go much smoother at building department. Problem here is availability of an engineer.

Also, California isn't Utah, and only guessing, much difference between urban and rural building departments. Where I lived before a screen door required a permit, and they regularly did walking inspections. Here, might get away building a house in the woods and if caught, it would be about septic system.

 

[Drill Sergeant Arc]

And my name is Buck Naked!

 

[duneslider]

Duneslider, I agree with an engineered plan, things go much smoother at building department. Problem here is availability of an engineer.

Also, California isn't Utah, and only guessing, much difference between urban and rural building departments. Where I lived before a screen door required a permit, and they regularly did walking inspections. Here, might get away building a house in the woods and if caught, it would be about septic system.

Seismic in Utah is pretty much on par with California. We also aren't rural here. Sure not quite as big as California but Salt Lake city is a major distribution hub, this is no small town any longer. In fact, several of the structural engineers we use are based out of California. We also do major work all over the country and Salt Lake City is one of the most difficult building departments I work with. Ohio has some pretty strict rules too, really just kind of odd stuff compared to most of the country. I have done a lot in Virginia and they have been super chill to work with. We do a bit of work in California and they are pretty standard in my experience.

A screen door needing a permit is just a money grab, gotta love that stuff! Permits for lots of stuff is just a money grab but that is very different than major structural changes and needing to follow the rules. We could rant forever about the money grabbing permits. I mostly take the stance that the govt should leave us alone.

 

[Norcal]

First of all, Cali is a city in Columbia, and secondly, we don't use attorney's for general real estate sales and transfers. We use a recorded deed system at the county level and title insurance which clears the property for liens, that's it. If something is not disclosed, the Realtor and the seller are on the hook. A statute of limitations exists, but I don't have the details on that.

Georgia has its own drawbacks but I don't call it "fucked up'. But you have your choice.

I was born here & have lived here all my life & would agree CA is effed up, & getting worse, California was the Garden of Eden, not anymore.

 

[HUSTLESTUFF]

I used this guy for my Barndo build in Orland.
https://ausmus-engineering.business.site/
The company the county used for plan check needed an engineers stamp even though it was pretty much a stick build inside an engineered red metal building. He did take away a sheer wall that would have been sticking out in the garage that the draftsman had to put in. He was very nice and pretty much on time. I would get your plans scanned and do the whole thing via email. I don't know how busy he is but was 3 months out when I used him in 2019. Good luck, Mike