What is the engineer's job? Construction question

[gsebast1]

I am working with a contractor and the architect recently finished the sketches for the new garage/workshop. I've never been through the building design process before.

The contractor said the architect's sketches now go to engineering. I asked the contractor who does the truss design and floor load calculations and he said "the truss company/lumber yard."

What should we be getting when the engineer does his job?
Is the engineer's job to do detailed drawings of the foundation and structure?

 

[Rock knocker]

The truss company engineers their own product, with clarification as needed from the engineer of record, the archy and the GC.

The engineer will spec the foundation, anchor bolts, moment connects, shear walls, siesmic and uplift connections, headers and their jack studs, posts, beams etc.

 

[ssdave]

The engineers job varies depending on how good the architect is at the structural aspects of design. The engineer checks the loads on the structure, and details the size and spacing of support members. He may also detail the foundations and the backfill procedures, compaction, and fill materials.

In general, the architect is the "idea man", coming up with a pleasing design that meets your stated needs. The engineers job is to make sure that the architects pretty picture can work. He truths out the architects drawing to make sure it is buildable and structurally sound.

Sometimes only the architect is involved, in that case, the contractor often has to modify things to actually work.

 

[rslaback]

The engineer makes sure it doesn't fall over/in.

 

[Rock knocker]

The engineer makes sure it doesn't fall over/in.

And that the guy with the palm nailer has somethiong to do for the next week

 

[ard]

Just to be safe, maybe your contractor wants you to hire a geotechnical engineer? I'm sure they can come up with 3 or 4 more professionals to hire....

Is this a complex building?

Yes, engineers make sure it stays up. But not every structure requires an engineering review- simple structures that fall within proscribed building methods may not need an engineer

 

[barnee]

Starts with your soil. If your area has known unsuitable soil for foundations you will may need a Geotechnical Engineer to test the soil and recommend a foundation design.

Then comes structure. If you have a second floor, are in a snow or wind load area, subject to special bracing, or have large openings you will need a structural engineer to specify materials/beams/joists. Sometimes Architects do this and sometimes they send it out.

Then comes the design for HVAC, electric and plumbing which again may be the Architect or may be a separate designer.

All of this depends on what your municipality requires to obtain a building permit or what document you want to create to obtain competitive quotes.

 

[Rock knocker]

And the OP is is in Texas where it is known they have expansive soils. If a concrete floor is poured, a PT (post-tensioned) slab is often used, which requires an engineer.

 

[My Old Tools]

What city are you in? Most of Texas doesn't require an engineer's stamp. We aren't in earth quake country. If you are near the coast, hurricane engineering maybe required. Foundation engineering is usually optional but many people opt for it in the expansive clay soils. Sandy soils almost never have it.

 

[bcoke]

Driving the TRAIN..........duh!

 

[Rock knocker]

Driving the TRAIN..........

High on cocaine

 

[tarmy]

Engineers certify a few things...

Building is in correct location, and within setback requirements...

Finished floor elevation certs for flood zone ratings...

Form board check prior to pour...

Soils report and structural section details for foundations...

Eartkquake calcs and design requirements and details...hurricane in some areas...

Design and loading calcs for the structure itself...second story etc...

Just depends on where you are, what your building, local requirements and if you like to sleep at night...or in the structure where you family may be...

Oh yeah...and to stop the train at the station...if desired.

 

[yeldogt]

It's getting crazy in some places -- even permits (soil disturbance) that once could be completed with a survey company ------ now require and engineer.

 

[ptgarcia]

Which engineer? There's civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, geotechnical, environmental, all of which could be involved in a garage/workshop build.

 

[kbs2244]

Many, many, many years ago I thought about becoming an architect.
I found out that at the end of the first year the studies branched into design or engineering.
One did the "looks" work with the customer.
The other the "so it won' fall down" work with the construction people.

 

[brownbagg]

the engineer of record is the ulitmate judge that nobody get killed

 

[oldwino]

And that the guy with the palm nailer has somethiong to do for the next week

BINGO

 

[JollyRgr]

If he is here in Central Texas, then there will need to be engineering done. The soils are quite expansive (expensive?). The boys and I were checking out the new subdivision behind us, and the 10-yr old noted that the slab foundation was not really a slab, but the top half of a waffle iron. In a past life I tied rebar for swimming pools, and did not know the name for the cables. Learning something new every day at GJ

 

[prostreetamx]

I didn't realize that I was building a bomb shelter when I drew up the plans for my 1200 sq. ft. garage with 14' ceilings. With the 4 windows, 2 man doors and 2 roll ups the amount of shear walls was a lot. The common wall attached to the existing shear wall on the 2 story house now has 3 layers of plywood along with 2x6" metal studs and a lot of blocking. It went from a quicky $25k garage to an $80k sinkhole.I am happy with my over engineered garage but the extra expenses have delayed my lift and some other things I really wanted it finish it out, like A/C. When the earthquake hits, I'm heading for the garage.

 

[bpjr]

In my area a Professional Engineer (PE) has to stamp the drawings before being submitted for approval of a building permit. Basically anyone can draw plans and make specs...I used to draw them and had a PE stamp them. The PE make sure the structure is designed correctly to meet standards and codes. The architect is supposed to know how to spec standard or custom sizes, what materials to use, etc.

 

[My Old Tools]

In most of Texas, unless you are inside the city limits of a town there are no permits required.

 

[1redTA]

Which engineer? There's civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, geotechnical, environmental, all of which could be involved in a garage/workshop build.

Just to add to this, civil engineers build targets/ Mechanical Engineers build the machines that destroy them.

 

[Zeke]

The engineers job varies depending on how good the architect is at the structural aspects of design. The engineer checks the loads on the structure, and details the size and spacing of support members. He may also detail the foundations and the backfill procedures, compaction, and fill materials.

In general, the architect is the "idea man", coming up with a pleasing design that meets your stated needs. The engineers job is to make sure that the architects pretty picture can work. He truths out the architects drawing to make sure it is buildable and structurally sound.

Sometimes only the architect is involved, in that case, the contractor often has to modify things to actually work.

More than once I've had to modify the location of a post, tie down or even a foundation to make it work because of how the engineer placed it on the plans. Worst part of that deal is that while one might get away with changing the plans to make it work AFA the architect goes, no way with the engineering.

And then these assholes come out and charge to change the plan when it was THEIR mistake to start with.

I don't build anymore mostly because of engineers. That and the ridiculous overbuilding that is called for because of earthquakes in CA. Last addition I did I spent $16,000 on materials and 4000 of that was metal attachments and anchors. This did not include the foundation or rebar.

 

[starquestMM]

The truss company designs the trusses, but they do so with the loading information created by the engineer. The engineered drawings will say how much live and dead loads and what/where point loads are. Its not impossible the truss company would offer both services, just depends.

 

[redneckcharlie]

The truss company designs the trusses, but they do so with the loading information created by the engineer. The engineered drawings will say how much live and dead loads and what/where point loads are. Its not impossible the truss company would offer both services, just depends.

In todays world very few truss companies have a pe on their payroll nor do they get calcs from a pe. In the 4-5 states I do business in they all use MiTek software. That software will do all the necessary calcs. Ive yet to come across a pe that doesn't simply rubber stamp a design from that software. This is referring to residential work.

 

[ard]

In todays world very few truss companies have a pe on their payroll nor do they get calcs from a pe. In the 4-5 states I do business in they all use MiTek software. That software will do all the necessary calcs. Ive yet to come across a pe that doesn't simply rubber stamp a design from that software. This is referring to residential work.

End of the day, its that engineers license on the line. I really dont care HOW it came to be on the line- him whipping out a sliderule and running calcs on paper or via software that someone else did and handed to him.

 

[James-W]

End of the day, its that engineers license on the line. I really don't care HOW it came to be on the line - him whipping out a sliderule and running calcs on paper or via software that someone else did and handed to him.

I agree totally. If it were my license on the line I would want to be damn certain everything was done correctly.

 

[barnee]

This is what leads to overdesign to protect licenses/insurance of the designers since its not their money they are spending. Nobody designs to what's needed any more, they throw in extra things "just in case".

I'm halfway through my build and had to have various engineers design pieces of the building, all of which were overdesigned. probably added $5K to my construction and wasn't necessary.

Geotechnical Engineer specified 24" of stone and commercial grade geotec fabric (only available in 5000 sf rolls) under the slab "just in case" soft clay soils were uncovered. I challenged him on his reasoning and he couldn't back it up and changed it to 12" and a lighter fabric.

Foundation designer designed the foundations based on my soil supporting 2000 lbs/sf even though the geotechnical report allows 2500 lbs/sf "just in case"

My framing designer added a third 16" LVL main beam even though his calcs show 2 would work "just in case".

Gotta watch these people. All designs have to have a factor of safety but to then throw a "cover your ****" on top of that is unnecessary. Its painful to have your inspector come out and laugh at the overdesign.

 

[jclem40c]

the Engineer is the guy who gets the blame when it all falls down and if you live in the land of taxes he is the one who gets sued.