Things to Consider When Hiring a Structural Engineer

Hiring an Engineer to help design your home can feel overwhelming. Not because it is a complicated process, but because most homeowners would find it difficult to distinguish a good Engineer from a bad Engineer.

Whenever we go to buy something, we often look at the price, then read some reviews and ultimately make a decision. Retail giants make the process even easier, because if you don't like the product, you can simply return it for a full refund. However, this wouldn't work in a service oriented industry. You can't just hire someone to perform a task, then ask for your money back if you don't like the result. Another example, you can't go to a restaurant, eat the food, and then tell the Manager you will not pay for the food because you didn't like it. Thus, hiring an Engineer is a big decision.

Here are some things, aside from price, that a homeowner should consider before hiring an Engineer:

1. First and foremost, is the Engineer licensed and insured? There is an epidemic of outsourcing going on in the design industry. An unlicensed person can get hired and outsource the design work, the Engineering stamp, or both. Don't be afraid to ask the designer whether or not they are licensed and insured, if they will be the ones actually designing the structure, and if they will be the Engineer-On-Record.

2. What relevant design experience does the Engineer have? Did you know that Structural Engineering is typically performed by a Licensed Professional Civil Engineer. But Civil Engineering has multiple disciplines. For example, Civil Engineering includes Structural Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, Transportation Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Hydrology, Surveying and more. While Licensed Civil Engineers carry the Civil Engineering Seal, it doesn't necessarily tell you what specific discipline they work in.

3. Communication is often overlooked when someone is looking to hire an Engineer. It is important to know that the Engineer will be there to respond and answer questions when you need them. Poor communication can lead to mistakes and delays. Imagine having to call your doctor for a week straight before someone even answers the phone. Or asking questions and having to wait days to get an answer. It can be frustrating, especially when construction work has to stop and wait for a solution.

4. How long will it take for the plans and calculations to be ready for submittal? Is it worth saving some money if that means you will need to wait several months before the Structural Design is ready to submit? The permitting process can be a long and difficult process, because it can take months for the Building and Safety Department to review the plans and calculations. Any corrections issued must be addressed before everything can be resubmitted for review. Every round of reviews can take weeks or even months.

Make sure to take the time to speak to prospective Engineers. Get to know them. Tell them your situation, what you are trying to accomplish, what matters most to you, and ask questions. Make an informed decision that considers all factors, not just the price. Don't just judge Engineers solely on the price, because the scope of work and outcomes do vary from Engineer to Engineer. If you're already willing to invest the money to modifying your home, do you really want to jeopardize the outcome by saving 1% or even 2%?

What separates German Engineering Design and Consulting Services from our competitors? Well for one thing, we focus on customer services. We pride ourselves in educating our clients. We respond to phone calls, messages and emails. When designing, we focus on quality, because we know how much your home means to you. At German Engineering Design we treat every client like family and design every house as if it were our own.

Should I hire an Engineer for my ADU?

ADU's, short for Accessory Dwelling Units, are in high demand in California. Property owners are adding ADU's in order to generate additional income. With housing in such high demand in California, it's never been easier to turn a single-family property into multiple units. Imagine a guest house, except that it comes with its own address, electrical meter and water meter. Some property owners are also converting their garages into Junior ADU's. Essentially they are taking an existing single-family home, and building a detached ADU plus an attached Junior ADU. This allows them to rent out all 3 units. While almost all jurisdictions are permitting one additional unit, some are allowing two or more additional units. German Engineering Design is currently working with a client to add 10 units to their property in South Los Angeles.

So the question that constantly comes up, does adding an ADU require an Engineer? The short answer is almost always yes. Whether you are converting existing space or adding space for the ADU, an Engineer is responsible for ensuring the space is complies with the current structural code requirements.

To build an ADU or Junior ADU, one of the first things needed are plans and permits. Engineers are responsible for designing and analyzing a structure to resist gravity and earthquake loads. They perform these calculations and reflect them in plans, also referred to as Construction Documents or Blueprints. The calculations and plans are then submitted to a Building and Safety Department for review. After the Building and Safety Department has reviewed the calculations and plans, they will almost always issue some corrections or requests for more information. This is not uncommon. Local jurisdictions often have additional criteria specific to the city or town. These criteria are typically called "local ordinances". Once all these corrections have been addressed to the satisfaction of the Building and Safety Department, the city will issue a building permit.

These permits almost always require an Architect-On-Record or Engineer-On-Record. Those responsible parties will be required to perform inspections at various stages in construction. These inspections are in addition to the required inspections that are performed by Building Officials employed by the city. Some examples of inspections performed by the Engineer-On-Record are foundation inspections before the concrete is poured, diaphragm inspections before the roof and/or floor are covered, framing inspections before the walls are closed. These inspections ensure that the construction is being performed in compliance with the approved Construction Documents provided by the Engineer.

Hiring an Architect and Engineer for the design and permitting process is essential to ensure that whatever is built is done in compliance with the current building codes. A good set of plans will save the property owner time and money during construction. Good Engineers will suggest minor changes to make construction cheaper and easier to build. Good Architects can maximize the usefulness of the allowable space while making sure that all those aesthetic components comply with the current building code. Good Contractors build structures more quickly and efficiently, and are the last line of defense between a good structure and a bad structure. Even the best set of plans does not include 100% of the information needed to build a home. It is up to the Contractor to make these decisions during construction and ultimately the Contractor is responsible for quality control.

When an ADU is built without permit or a garage is converted without permit, it opens the property owner to several potential problems. The city can issue fines to the property owner until the work is permitted. In those cases, the property owner must hire an Architect and Engineer to create a set of plans to reflect the current conditions. An Architect will be responsible for making sure that the size and layout is within the allowable limitations. An Engineer will be responsible for making sure that all the structural components have been built in compliance with the current codes. Even after the permit is issued, all those elements will need to pass inspections, which means opening them up for the Architect, Engineer and Building Official to inspect. These headaches imposed on the homeowner are intentional and meant to be costly and time consuming to deter the homeowner from doing any future work without proper permits.