Residential Structural Design
Did you know that your builder has three options to build a home?
- They can follow the pre-engineered residential building code if the home fits the average models and environmental conditions it was written for.
- They can follow the manufacturer's installation instructions for any pre-engineered product.
- They can follow the building-specific directions provided by an engineer.
Notably, there is no option for a builder to simply rely on their own judgment for what they think is best or what they have done in the past on other buildings. As homes have become more elaborate, windows have become larger, and rooms have become more spacious, this leaves less and less of a skeleton to support your roof and floors against vertical and lateral loads. Fewer and fewer homes can be built following the prescriptive instructions of the building code. Thus, it is becoming increasingly common that a typical home construction requires direction from an engineer.
Given our experience investigating commonly observed poor construction practices, we know what to specify and how to detail to ensure your home is built from a proper plan.