Engineers in Knoxville?

[Richard]

Any structural engineers in this area willing to give a look on something?

Inspector came out for a final inspection (a week ago) and today at 5:30 my builder says "oh, the inspector says he wants a beam "here" (points) and of course "here" will put a beam right through the wifes chandelier"

The inspector said he would accept a letter by an engineer that the current design is ok, otherwise he wants the beam.

Wife does NOT want the beam since it would probably mean TWO beams so she can avoide tearing up her chandelier

Anyone around here willing to give a look see and perhaps get paid for a letter? (presuming the design in fact is sound)

?

 

[Richard]

Might add that what irks me about this is, had my builder mentioned this earlier today, yesterday or gasp, last week when he found out, I could have already done the legwork on trying to find someone.

Finding out on Friday at 5:30 doesn't sit well

 

[RonMar]

Arn't those things supposed to be worked out in the plans approval stage? Isn't there an engineering approval stamp on your plans? Who designed the house?

 

[Richard]

Interesting point.

The wife actually did the design and took it to the guy to transfer to blueprints. Beyond that, I don't know much about how that works. I guess given what you are saying, if some kind of stamp is needed, that would be necessary on the prints, prior to perhaps getting a permit or maybe actual construction beginning?




The wife & I also had a discussion as to... who's expense is this? Is this something that should have been figured out before (by our contractor)? Would this now be our expense?

She said he's simply planning on coming out and putting a beam up in spite of the potential for this letter to alleviate that need. I don't think he's going to install any beams until we discuss this all the way through.

I know she doesn't want it and frankly, if it's not needed (legitmately) then I don't want it. If in fact, it IS needed then I'm happy to work around it.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

A lot of areas only require PE or Arch stamp on commercial work designs. Even then, the inspector might want something different.

 

[Egon]

It would sound like you need to have your plans approved by someone who is qualified.

 

[Sigarms]

A lot of areas only require PE or Arch stamp on commercial work designs. Even then, the inspector might want something different.

In N.C, I've never known an inspector to "trump" a PE stamp.

Inspections departments are very interesting to deal with, and sometimes I do wonder how they go about hiring their people. That said, there are some very smart men who know their trade in different inspection departments, who have high standards and understands their "codes" and expect others to have those same standards.

General rule of thumb (and common sense) is if you have to deal with the inspections department on a regular basis, YOU are wrong, even if you are right, because even if you won the battle, you'll end up losing the war.

However, your inspector sounds more than reasonable, giving you an option other than his way. He's only covering his butt.

The wife actually did the design and took it to the guy to transfer to blueprints. Beyond that, I don't know much about how that works

Don't pull a permit, although it's too late now

Is this something that should have been figured out before (by our contractor)?

I'd say yes.

The wife & I also had a discussion as to... who's expense is this?

I'd hold the GC accountable.

Anyone around here willing to give a look see and perhaps get paid for a letter? (presuming the design in fact is sound)

Holding the GC accountable, I'd expect him to do this legwork. As long as the work he's performing is "sound", this may also be his least expensive route.

 

[MarkV]

I would have to disagree with Sigarms a bit on this one. The GC didn't do the design he built to the plans provided him. If the inspector feels the need for a beam I don't see how that is the GC fault. If there had been an architect involved I would see it as his fault but in this case Richard and wife took on the role of architect.

Now I do find it unusual that the beam wasn't brought up during the framing inspection rather than the final.

MarkV

 

[Sigarms]

The GC didn't do the design he built to the plans provided him.

I'd argue that any GC who follows homeowners plans without question wouldn't stay in business very long if permits are being pulled I didn't realize when putting up a new deck that the pickets had to be a certain width from each other due to the possibilty of a child getting their head stuck between them.

Now I do find it unusual that the beam wasn't brought up during the framing inspection rather than the final

That's part of trying to win a battle but losing the war.

Try dealing with an inspector who litterally changes his mind during the final (and fails you) and won't give you a reason as to why he changed his mind.

 

[Richard]

If there had been an architect involved I would see it as his fault but in this case Richard and wife took on the role of architect.

Remember that Kohler commercial...gal walks in, sets a faucet on the table and tells her architect "build me a house around this"

That is in essence what my wife did. She drew the lines she wanted along with the basic deck idea and went to an architect (or is he a draftsman?? I honestly don't know since I wasn't there) anyways, he then took her vision and put it to the engineering software.

For the record, we DO have a building permit...