ASCE Foundation Evaluations – Structural Inspections

ASCE Foundation Evaluations – Structural Inspections

Our firm proudly practices both CIVIL ENGINEERING AND STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING.  We also practice forensic engineering and testify in the Texas courts when called to do so.  We are experienced, seasoned professionals.  At any given time, we are providing expert testimony, designing commercial building facilities, and providing civil and structural consulting services to our customers.
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Texas Section, provides guidance for three foundation evaluation types: Level A, B and C Residential Foundation Evaluations (inspections).  Each need the combined skills of a civil engineer, a structural engineer, and various civil engineering sub-specialties such as geotechnical engineering, earth science, coastal engineering, surveying, and construction engineering.  The one-dimensional practice of structural engineering may not be adequate to satisfy the education, training, and experience requirements to complete a level A, B, or C foundation evaluations, inspections, or assessments.
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline covering the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment. Civil engineering includes works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings. Civil engineering is the oldest non-military oriented engineering discipline. In fact Civil engineering was defined to distinguish non-military engineering from military engineering.
Civil engineering is traditionally broken into several sub-disciplines including environmental engineering, geotechnical engineering, Geophysics, Geodesy, Control engineering, structural engineering, biomechanics, nanotechnology, transportation engineering, earth science, atmospheric sciences, forensic engineering, municipal or urban engineering, water resources engineering, materials engineering, Control Engineering, coastal engineering, surveying, and construction engineering. Civil engineering takes place on all levels: in the public sector from municipal through to national governments, and in the private sector from individual homeowners through to international companies.
Conversely, structural engineering is usually considered a specialty within civil engineering, but it can also be studied in its own right. It is a field of engineering dealing with the analysis and design of structures that support or resist loads. Structural engineers are most commonly involved in the design of buildings and large non-building structures.  They can also be involved in the design of machinery, medical equipment, vehicles, or any item where structural integrity affects the item’s function or safety.  Structural engineers must make sure their designs satisfy given design criteria, predicated on safety (e.g. structures must not collapse without due warning) or serviceability and performance (e.g. building sway must not cause discomfort to the occupants). Structural engineering theory is based upon physical laws and empirical knowledge of the structural performance of different materials and geometries. An engineering design uses a number of simple structural elements to build up structural systems that can be very complex. Structural engineers are responsible for making creative and efficient use of funds, structural elements, and materials to meet these goals.

 ASCE Foundation Evaluations – Structural Inspections  ASCE Foundation Evaluations – Structural Inspections  ASCE Foundation Evaluations – Structural Inspections

ENGINEERS’ CONDUCT & ETHICS SERIES: Part 1-Protecting the Public

ENGINEERS’ CONDUCT & ETHICS SERIES

Whether it’s San Antonio, Austin, or any Texas city or county, the de facto last line of defense for preventing engineering system failure is the professional engineer. When a local city building department needs help to assure their citizens are safe and secure from the devastating impacts of structural system failure, they hire an engineer. Similarly, when a private entity needs to know their their built project is safe or not, the seek the services of a professional engineer. Why? Because in the final analysis, its stands to reason that a competent disinterested party, with no “skin in the game”, should assure the technical integrity of any engineered system that could potentially impact public safety.  ENGINEERS’ CONDUCT & ETHICS SERIES
Both public and private entities throughout the world universally rely upon the education, training, and experience of professional engineers to provide advice and consent confirming the efficacy of the engineered system. For example, in the state of Texas, Chapter 137, subchapter C of the Texas Administrative Code entitled “Compliance and Professionalism” entrusts Texas licensed professional engineers to “Protect the Public”. The TAC, which is law, states: “Engineers shall be entrusted to protect the health, safety, property, and welfare of the public in the practice of their profession”. “The public” as used in this section and other rules is defined as any individual(s), client(s), business or public entities, or any member of the general population whose normal course of life might reasonably include an interaction of any sort with the engineering work of the license holder.
The law also requires that professional engineers shall not perform any engineering function which, when measured by generally accepted engineering standards or procedures, is reasonably likely to result in the endangerment of lives, health, safety, property, or welfare of the public. And, Any act or conduct which constitutes incompetence or gross negligence, or a criminal violation of law, constitutes misconduct and shall be censurable by the board.
A key responsibility of a Texas professional engineer is to first notify involved parties of any engineering decision or practice that might endanger the health, safety, property or welfare of the public. The specifically states: “When, in an engineer’s judgment, any risk to the public remains unresolved, that engineer shall report any fraud, gross negligence, incompetence, misconduct, unethical or illegal conduct to the board or to proper civil or criminal authorities”.
Finally, the law requires Engineers “should strive to adequately examine the environmental impact of their actions and projects, including the prudent use and conservation of resources and energy, in order to make informed recommendations and decisions”.

ENGINEERS’ CONDUCT & ETHICS SERIES

Source Note: The provisions of this §137.55 amended to be effective May 20, 2004.

Structural Engineer Inspection-San Antonio: Under 2500 sf

ASCE Level A Investigation.  Evaluates residential foundation using the Texas ASCE guideline. Engineer will collect data, compare data against the standard, and report any differences.

Victoria Foundation Repair: Epoxy Inject Cracks

Concrete Crack Repair – Epoxy Injection Concrete Crack Repair – Epoxy Injection

By Aaron Kuertz

Concrete foundations can develop cracks over time. These cracks can then let in water and damage the interior contents of the basement. In severe cases, cracks in a concrete basement wall can signify that there is a structural defect with the wall. Whether it is to stop water or to structurally reinforce the concrete crack, epoxies can be injected into it.

Causes of Concrete Cracks

The most common is that the concrete actually shrinks as it cures. This curing process reduces the amount of water in the concrete and it shrinks in volume. This shrinkage causes stresses to occur and to relieve this stress, the concrete cracks. This is a normal process and it is not to be a cause of concern. However, they can still let in water and damage the interior contents of a basement. Shrinkage cracks usually are less than 1/16″ in width and remain a constant width throughout the life of a foundation.

A more serious concern is when the concrete has been structurally damaged. This could be occurring for a number of reasons. One of which is that the house is settling into the ground. Or the house may be sliding down a hillside. A very common reason, especially in older homes is the lateral force exerted by the soil onto the foundation. This will be evident by a bowing in of the concrete wall.

How to Determine if a Crack is Structural

There are a few easy ways to determine if a concrete crack is the result of a structural compromise in the foundation.

  1. The crack runs on a severe diagonal
  2. Horizontal cracks in a foundation wall indicate a serious problem
  3. Crack widths that increase over time.
  4. Cracks with widths in excess of 3/4″

If you are not sure or are concerned, you should contact a professional to determine if the crack is structural in nature and how to fix it.

Epoxy Injection

Whether it is a shrinkage crack or a structural crack, epoxies can be injected to make the repair. Epoxy injection is done from the interior of the basement, so no excavation on the outside needs to be done. The epoxies hardened in the crack and reinforce the concrete. They will fill the crack entirely from the bottom to the top and from front to back. In many cases, the epoxies are stronger than the concrete itself. The concrete crack will no longer be able to allow water to enter the basement.

This article is written by Aaron Kuertz with Applied Technologies. Aaron has been in the waterproofing industry since 1998. Applied Technologies is a manufacturer and supplier to professional waterproofing contractors and homeowners in the United States. To learn more about epoxy concrete crack repair visit Applied Technologies on the web.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Aaron_Kuertz
http://EzineArticles.com/?Concrete-Crack-Repair—Epoxy-Injection&id=2463767
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Structural Engineers and Your Home

Structural Engineering is the Basis For Residential Dwelling Construction
By J A Parker

Structural engineering is a complex process that is vital to the construction of any residential dwelling. The knowledge base of the structural engineer aids in the calculation the values and measurements of the construction materials, their placement within the structure, and the types of materials selected for the project.

Calculating Values
Calculating the necessary measurements and properties of construction materials for a residential dwelling is a complex and time-consuming process.

For example, when calculating the necessary size of I beams in residential buildings, you must consider multiple factors:

* maximum bending moment of the beam

* maximum deflection of the beam at the center of the span

* width, length, and depth of the beam

* moment of inertia

* constant psi rating for the material the beam is comprised of

You must also consider the exterior dimensions of the home, the span if the beams and floor joists the dead and live loads for the structure, and the design style of the roof. If any interior walls will support the weight of the roof, this will affect the necessary I beam size throughout the residential dwelling.

Required calculations for determining the size of a residential steel beam include the allowable bending stress for structural steel, the moment of inertia, and the section modulus of the required beam.

A structural engineer generally performs these calculations. Certain computer software designed specifically for the calculation of

* beam design

* floor beam span

* rafter design

* header size and span

* floor joist load

* cantilever floor joist load

* residential I beam spans

are useful for quickly calculating these values.

Determining Building Materials

Steel and solid sawn wood are the traditional construction materials used in creating structures. Modern technology has resulted in the emergence of new composite materials and combinations of natural materials that improve the construction process, cost, weight, strength, and stability of a structure.

Solid sawn wood, structural composites, tube steel, solid steel, glulams (glued- laminated timbers), manufactured beams, and I joists are all used in differing combinations during the construction process.

Since each of these materials behaves differently under the stress of a load, calculating the required measurements and values for construction becomes even more complex. The physics behind the effects of weight, wind, water, temperature, and snow directly affect the construction process.

Residential dwelling construction requires a broad knowledge base, prior construction experience, and an understanding of the physics related to the construction materials and the forces that affect them.

Josh Parker is a staff writer for Strucalc – Stuctural Analysis Software Company. StruCalc is one of the most intuitive structural analysis and design programs available. With structural analysis software, you can Quickly size beams, columns, and footings with StruCalc 7.0 Software. Strucalc offers quality, professional software, built with strict engineering methods and specifications to every business in need of an easy to use, affordable software package.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=J_A_Parker
http://EzineArticles.com/?Structural-Engineering-is-the-Basis-For-Residential-Dwelling-Construction&id=1559146

Pre-Purchase Building Inspection

By Jamie Mitchell

MASONRY VENEER CONCRETE MORTAR CRACKINGPre-Purchase Building Inspection

No one should ever consider buying a property without having a building inspection done. More often than not, new home owners discover hidden flaws in the building that were cleverly camouflaged for the sale of the property, it can be very expensive and time consuming for the new owners should these flaws be serious.
No matter what sort of home you are looking at buying, whether old or new, do not purchase the home without having it inspected, or it could end up a costly mistake. A building inspector is specially trained to detect hidden problems that can cause you serious trouble in the future. These include structural problems as well as faulty plumbing and electrical. Termites for example can cause disastrous problems, it is not uncommon to find termites have eaten away an entire inside of a wall of floor, but leaving little trace to the untrained eye.
When you buy a house you need to be sure there are no hidden defects that could cause you unnecessary expense and hardship down the track. A building inspection will identify such problems if any, and you will be able to make a better decision on whether you should purchase the home or not. A lot of people think that studying the house plans will do, but the building inspector will tell you that there is much more you need to know.
It can be very exiting when you find a home that is just what you have always wanted. But no matter how excited you are, don’t rush into finalizing anything until you have had a building inspection completed. that way you’ll know whether the home you are want to buy is worth the investment you are about to make.
Effective Building and consultancy is fast becoming the number one choice for Pre-Purchase, Pest and Building Inspections in Sydney.
To find out more visited us at http://www.effectiveconsultancy.com.au
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jamie_Mitchell
http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Importance-of-a-Pre-Purchase-Building-Inspection&id=2481707

Five Tips To Quickly Recognize Serious Structural Problems

Five Tips To Quickly Recognize Serious Structural Problems – Home Inspection Tips For Denver-Boulder
By George Scott

Five tips to quickly recognize serious structural problems

Serious structural problems in houses are not very common, but when they occur they can be difficult & costly to repair. These tips won’t turn you into a home inspector, but it will give you some of the common indicators of structural concerns. In these cases, a structural engineer should be called out to investigate further and provide a professional opinion.

Tip 1 – Leaning House

Take a macro-look at the home from across the street – is the house obviously tilting or leaning, or one edge of the home separating?

Tip 2 – Exterior Walls & Entries

Look for areas of wall separation greater than ½” in size
Check the Chimney area well – is the chimney separating from the home?

Tip 3 – Doors & Windows

Do doors and windows open freely? Look for cracks around the edges of windows and doors, and for sagging lintels on brick homes.

Tip 4 –Floors & Walls

Are there drywall cracks > ¼” in size? Are there uneven floors near corners?

Tip 5 – Basement Foundation Crack

Look for significant cracks both inside and outside on the foundation, particularly near corners, around windows, and any cracks that run the full length vertically or a considerable length horizontally.

Summary

• Tip1 – Is the house obviously leaning?

• Tip 2 – Are there large external cracks?

• Tip 3 – Are doors & windows sticking?

• Tip 4 – Are walls cracked or floors uneven?

• Tip 5 – Are there basement cracks present?

Any of these may indicate a structural issue that should be inspected or reviewed by a structural engineer. Structural concerns when selling or purchasing a home are the most costly items you can be faced with. Look closely at these areas, or ask you home inspector to focus on these areas in a separate walk through of the home. If you aren’t sure about something you see, have a structural engineer look at it. The cost of an inspection will be well worth the peace of mind in knowing the severity and extent of the concern.

George Scott, Scott Home Inspection LLC,

http://www.scotthomeinspection.com/

Scott Home Inspection – A Colorado Professional Home Inspection company serving Denver, Boulder, Fort Collins, Greeley and surrounding areas, including Radon testing, Mold inspector.
http://www.scotthomeinspection.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=George_Scott
http://EzineArticles.com/?Five-Tips-To-Quickly-Recognize-Serious-Structural-Problems—Home-Inspection-Tips-For-Denver-Boulder&id=200948

Victoria-Dry Weather Can Crack Home Foundation

Mary Heidbrink, Express-News Staff Writer –

It appears like a route on a roadmap, a squiggly line inching from the corner of the door toward the ceiling. It gets wider, like an expanding thoroughfare.

Then, the door that had been a little stubborn won’t open at all.

Is it a sure sign of doom for a homeowner, the signal of foundation failure? Or is it just another sign of a long dry spell?

It all depends, and so does the action you take.

CONCRETE SLAB

•What’s under the slab? If it’s limestone, rest easy (unless you’re trying to dig a hole in the garden). If you’re not sitting on rock, investigate further.

•Clay soil is often the culprit in shifting foundations because of its plasticity. Think of a sponge that plumps up when it’s full of water and shrinks and curls when it dries. When this happens to the ground under your house, it can cause the foundation to heave or sink.

•Proper site preparation mitigates the effects of shifting soil. The builder should remove all soil and tree roots and replace it with nonexpansive fill material.

Signs of trouble

•Cracks that are 1/8 inch wide or wider.

•Floors that are out of level at least 1 inch per 10 feet.

•A crack in a wall or a sticky door indicates settling, not a cracked foundation. Of more concern: a combination of cracks inside and outside or cracks and jammed doors.

•If there are wide cracks in the walls or a door that won’t open, consult an engineer. An expert’s opinion will cost about $500.

To water or not to water?

•Watering around the perimeter of the foundation can help, but before hauling out the hose, use a carpenter’s level to check the floors inside the house.

•If the floor is fairly level, watering around the foundation can help keep it that way.

•To water, line the perimeter of the foundation with soaker hoses. The hose should touch the foundation. Turn water on a quarter turn and water two to three times a week for two to three hours, keeping soil consistently moist, not muddy.

•Water the side of the house that is lower than the rest.

•Monitor progress using a level on the floor, and be patient. It likely will take months to see results.

Repairs

•A foundation company will dig under the edge of the slab and install concrete piers 10 to 15 feet deep, leveling the foundation and isolating it from the problem soil near the surface. If work is needed under the middle of the foundation, workers will tunnel under the slab or install piers from inside the house.

•Leveling can cause additional cracks in drywall. Sometimes it can be patched; sometimes it will need to be replaced. New doors might be in order if existing ones had been modified to fit crooked openings.

•Foundation repairs average about $12,000, and typically have a lifetime guarantee.

PIER AND BEAM

Different underpinnings, same symptoms. Cracks and sticky doors still might indicate a faltering foundation.

Different care

•Standing water is the enemy, causing soil to expand or rotting cedar piers.

•Monitor the perimeter to make sure water drains away from the foundation.

•Pier and beam foundations don’t need to be watered because the crawl space under the house keeps moisture uniform.

Repairs

•Repairs, which usually consist of replacing piers, average about $8,000.

•Drywall can buckle in the leveling process. Doors might not fit, and windows might not open when the work is done.

•Repairs typically have a lifetime guarantee.

Victoria Foundation Repair: Get a Second Opinion

…Unfortunately, Foundation Repair can be very costly, so get a second opinion before you hire a repair contractor-if not by a Texas Licensed Engineer, than by someone who does not stand to gain financially from repairing your foundation system…

What kind of foundation system does your home have? Is it a slab with steel or cable? Perhaps a pier & beam? Is it doing its job? How do you know? How do you repair it? Will it be safe? Can I rely on what my builder or “home” inspector tells me?

A building foundation system separates your home or building from the supporting ground. It prevents your floor, walls and roof from moving along with the soil it sits on, and helps protect you and your family from the outside elements.

Foundation design types vary geographically. Local soil conditions, climate, and material and labor availability influence foundation design styles. Many homes in the Midwest and northeastern part of the U. S. have basements, while southern and western U. S. homes tend to be built atop solid concrete slab-on-grade foundations systems. Both foundation types are functional and respond to the needs of the locality.

Foundation performance varies from house-to-house, and from building-to-building. Foundation failure does not appear to be related to geography or locality. Often, a residential area with expansive soils may be interpreted as an area with a higher than average risk of foundation failure, where the failure is attributed to the poor soil conditions. In reality, the failure is correctly placed upon novice level design, construction and foundation evaluation techniques.

Foundation and wall cracks may suggest impending problems such as abnormal water infiltration or other structural irregularities. If your foundation is too rigid or too flexible, you may see signs of distress like brittle material fractures on the inside or outside of your home. This does not necessarily mean your foundation is physically broken. It may be that your foundation performs poorly due to improper design and construction.

But how do you know if your foundation is “broken” and needs repair? What type of inspector should you hire to inspect and determine if your foundation system has problems? To find out, ask your prospective inspector the following questions:

  1. What is your educational background? (correct answer: I have an accredited engineering degree from a four year college or university);
  2. What type of foundation inspection training do you have? (correct answer: I have a professional engineering license within the state of ________ and I have inspected over 500 foundations;
  3. How long have you been designing and building foundations? (correct answer: I have over ten years foundation design and construction experience).

If your prospective foundation inspector does not answer these three questions correctly as noted above, then it’s likely that inspector is a novice. Do you really want to trust the most important (and likely most expensive) part of your house or building to a less skilled “home inspector”?

The bottom line is this: If you suspect you may have problems with your foundation, hire a licensed professional engineer to evaluate it. That way, you’ll get a state licensed professional with the best combination of education, training and experience to diagnose and properly repair your foundation. Your piece of mind and the health of your home or building foundation are well worth it.

About the Owner:

Jeffery Lineberger's VisualCV

View Jeffery L. Lineberger, P. E.'s profile on LinkedIn

[mappress]

Victoria Foundation Repair: Get a Second Opinion

…Unfortunately, Foundation Repair can be very costly, so get a second opinion before you hire a repair contractor-if not by a Texas Licensed Engineer, than by someone who does not stand to gain financially from repairing your foundation system…

What kind of foundation system does your home have? Is it a slab with steel or cable? Perhaps a pier & beam? Is it doing its job? How do you know? How do you repair it? Will it be safe? Can I rely on what my builder or “home” inspector tells me?

A building foundation system separates your home or building from the supporting ground. It prevents your floor, walls and roof from moving along with the soil it sits on, and helps protect you and your family from the outside elements.

Foundation design types vary geographically. Local soil conditions, climate, and material and labor availability influence foundation design styles. Many homes in the Midwest and northeastern part of the U. S. have basements, while southern and western U. S. homes tend to be built atop solid concrete slab-on-grade foundations systems. Both foundation types are functional and respond to the needs of the locality.

Foundation performance varies from house-to-house, and from building-to-building. Foundation failure does not appear to be related to geography or locality. Often, a residential area with expansive soils may be interpreted as an area with a higher than average risk of foundation failure, where the failure is attributed to the poor soil conditions. In reality, the failure is correctly placed upon novice level design, construction and foundation evaluation techniques.

Foundation and wall cracks may suggest impending problems such as abnormal water infiltration or other structural irregularities. If your foundation is too rigid or too flexible, you may see signs of distress like brittle material fractures on the inside or outside of your home. This does not necessarily mean your foundation is physically broken. It may be that your foundation performs poorly due to improper design and construction.

But how do you know if your foundation is “broken” and needs repair? What type of inspector should you hire to inspect and determine if your foundation system has problems? To find out, ask your prospective inspector the following questions:

  1. What is your educational background? (correct answer: I have an accredited engineering degree from a four year college or university);
  2. What type of foundation inspection training do you have? (correct answer: I have a professional engineering license within the state of ________ and I have inspected over 500 foundations;
  3. How long have you been designing and building foundations? (correct answer: I have over ten years foundation design and construction experience).

If your prospective foundation inspector does not answer these three questions correctly as noted above, then it’s likely that inspector is a novice. Do you really want to trust the most important (and likely most expensive) part of your house or building to a less skilled “home inspector”?

The bottom line is this: If you suspect you may have problems with your foundation, hire a licensed professional engineer to evaluate it. That way, you’ll get a state licensed professional with the best combination of education, training and experience to diagnose and properly repair your foundation. Your piece of mind and the health of your home or building foundation are well worth it.

About the Owner:

Jeffery Lineberger's VisualCV

View Jeffery L. Lineberger, P. E.'s profile on LinkedIn

[mappress]