STRUCTURAL SERVICES INC.
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR ENGINEER
These are questions you should ask your Engineer to make sure they know their stuff.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WORKING AS A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER?
The experience of a structural engineer is important. The types of projects and exposure to different parts of the building process, will significantly influence the length of time it takes for your drawings to be produced. Most engineers are fully capable of creating drawings and calculations, but the time it takes for them to complete them can vary drastically.
WHAT PROJECTS HAVE YOU WORKED ON IN THE PAST?
Engineering projects vary a lot. Projects vary vastly by their size and materials used. An engineer that is great at designing steel skyscrapers, may know very little about design for wood homes and vice versa. If you are getting work done on your home, you want to make sure that your engineer is familiar with timber design in your area of the country.
WHAT IS YOUR BACKLOG?
Knowing your engineer's backlog, will help you to plan your project. Many engineers will do a site visit with you or discuss your project with you on the phone, but that that does not mean they have the time to start on your drawings and calculations right away. Engineer's backlogs can be a month or two long and this could throw off your schedule.
MAY I SEE YOUR ENGINERING LICENSE?
In order for any work on your home to be permitted, the drawings and calculations need to be stamped and signed by a licensed civil engineer or structural engineer. Additoinally, licensed engineers are held to a strict code of ethics that makes sure they work with you in a truthful and informative way.