Top 3 Reasons Why You Should Hire A Structural Engineer
If you think of your future house or structure as a human body, the structural engineers maintain the body’s backbone, making sure that it can properly stand up and stand alone. Structural engineers create drawings and specifications, do calculations and supervise and go over the work of other engineers through evaluating their work.
Even before planning and drafting of the blueprint starts, the structural engineers survey other factors that could affect the project. These extraneous aspects include soil conditions, environmental factors and overall geographical identity of the lot where you plan to build a home. Structural engineers have the final say whether a project is doable or not, given his/her evaluation of said factors.
So, do you need to hire a Structural Engineer?
You might think that having a general engineer can do the trick, but the mere existence of the profession says otherwise. Consider these reasons why you should hire a structural engineer:
- They have a complete knowledge on the site, among other things.
Structural engineers have devoted time and effort in knowing the geological and geographical aspects of their area. First off, they are the ones who make the determination whether a certain piece of land is capable of carrying the weight of a building, or if a lot is good for the foundation of a structure. There are many factors and possible scenarios to consider before the whole construction starts, and structural engineers are among the few people who get to decide whether a project is feasible or not.
Structural engineers assess and ensure that all essential factors are examined fully, allowing a structure to succeed.
Technical things Structural Engineers do:
- Salinity assessment
- Soil erosion assessment
- Design of pavements
- Slope stability assessment
- Subsurface investigation
- Management of acid sulphate soil, etc.
- They don’t let money influence their evaluation.
At the end of the day, it’s all business. Some contractors are under-qualified and some give incorrect assessment of lots, ignoring possible dangers just to earn some cash. Some can even take advantage of your lack of knowledge and make you purchase things you don’t really need. Hiring a structural engineer ensures that you have someone who is familiar with the nature of the business and will not let that happen.
Their opinions and advice are guaranteed to be unbiased, only based in facts and on their inspection and evaluation. Keep in mind that structural engineers give honest assessment and not a sales pitch. They wouldn’t gamble their reputation and years of hard work for a quick buck.
- They are creative problem solvers.
Unlike others, structural engineers are creative and resourceful. Their work ethic is always to build an environment which is continuously innovating and can withstand all kinds of stresses and strains. They are trained to look for the best solution and plan to allow construction even in the most challenging environments. As much as possible, they make it happen.
Seeking the help of structural engineers can be an asset to your future house or building. Just make sure that they are professional, licensed engineers with a good reputation and working credentials. Of course, consider their work ethic and personality as well. Remember that you will work closely with them, so it is important to have a connection and build a working relationship that can translate into a successful project.