Modify Structural Drawings – CSES Engineering

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Anyway, the best part of the work is the fabulous chicken curry his wife served me for lunch.

An addition to your home can be troublesome. Building department staff really just try to do their jobs and be helpful, but sometimes that leads to conflicts between what you want and what is possible. Trying to do things both right and cheaply, this man asked me to come out and suggest solutions to a couple problems he had with the inspectors, who wanted everything built exactly as shown on the drawings. He wanted to move a door, and eliminate a short wall, both of which I suggested alternatives to. I wrote a letter, made a calculation or two, and solved his problems. Engineers are awesome.

Anyway, the best part of the work is the fabulous chicken curry his wife served me for lunch.

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Two Sided Fireplace – CSES Engineering

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young couple wants to create a two-sided fireplace

Sometimes the smallest things can make a big difference. This young couple wants to create a two-sided fireplace, and at the same time, open up their living space. Most people these days like an open feel to their living areas, and these two were no exception. I guided them on how best to remove the bearing wall both sides of the chimney. In truth, I hated to see the red wall go.

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Fireproofing A Hydroplane Shop – CSES Engineering

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Hydroplane Shop

Hydroplane Shop

An addition to your home can be troublesome. Building department staff really just try to do their jobs and be helpful, but sometimes that leads to conflicts between what you want and what is possible. Trying to do things both right and cheaply, this man asked me to come out and suggest solutions to a couple problems he had with the inspectors, who wanted everything built exactly as shown on the drawings. He wanted to move a door, and eliminate a short wall, both of which I suggested alternatives to. I wrote a letter, made a calculation or two, and solved his problems. Engineers are awesome.

Anyway, the best part of the work is the fabulous chicken curry his wife served me for lunch.

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Perfect Structural Inspection

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The photos here I just like for their arty look.

Some folks are extremely cautious. This young man called me out to do a structural inspection for no particular reason other than a desire to be sure. There were some small problems, and I suggested fixes for those, but by and large, his home was pretty much perfect. A beautiful place, too. He did want some changes to his garage, and eventually CSES will create some plans for that. The photos here I just like for their arty look.

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Home Might Slide Down The Hill – CSES Engineering

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CSES provided the engineering to stabilize the foundation

This gentleman bought this house for its fabulous view, but was a little concerned that the home might slide down the hill. I think you can see why. CSES provided the engineering to stabilize the foundation, which was pretty badly undermined, right adjacent to the steep slope. Things are a lot more secure after such upgrades. Hillsides can be tricky, and one just waits for the earthquake…. Yes, the house did require a little work.

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Ceesy On The Outside Nice Inside – CSES Engineering

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Cheesy On The Outside Nice Inside

CSES often provides assessments for homes which someone is looking to purchase.  This is one of those homes that looks cheesy on the outside, but is quite nice inside.  There were a few problems – some dry rot, some less than adequate floor framing, and the big one, a carport roof supported by a stack of bricks.  All of these issues are fairly easy to address.  I provided them with a scope of work, with costs, so that the bank can approve their loan.  A young couple, excited to get their first home.

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Cracks In Basement Wall – CSES Engineering

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happy couple are in process of finishing off the basement

This happy couple are in process of finishing off the basement, to provide more room for their family, and to prepare for a possible second story addition. They were concerned about a number of cracks in their basement wall, and whether those indicated that something more serious was going on. I made an assessment of the foundation, and suggested repairs. No problems that are insurmountable.

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Garage Wall Knocked Out – CSES Engineering

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the building department red-tagged the structure

You think you have bad luck? This poor fellow inherited a home from his father, who did not keep insurance up to date. So the house was not protected, and was in a bad part of town. Then, of course, a drunk driver lost control of her car and knocked out the garage wall. Then the building department red-tagged the structure, and they are threatening to sue the fellow unless he spends the $30,000 necessary for the repairs. Shoot, this guy could write a real blues song….

70s Home Structural Upgrade

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This gentleman’s house was constructed in the 70s.  It is one of those tri-level houses popular then, and is well built, but the poorly thought-out floor plan results in a good deal of wasted space.  There are areas where the living space is effectively unusable because of this.  The owner’s goal is to remove a number of interior walls, in order to re-arrange the kitchen and dining room layout, creating the kind of open feel that most folks prefer today.

I met with him at his home, in during my brief site visit there, I was able to advise him with regard to which walls could be removed easily, and which would require some structural upgrade.  I presented him with several options, with informal estimates of construction costs for each.  This owner was pleased with the result.

 

Considering For Purchase Mercer Island

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These photos are of a house which our client was considering for purchase.  It is a large home on Mercer Island, and the house stands on the top of a steep embankment, on the edge of a green belt, with a wonderful and peaceful view of the raving and a lazy meandering stream.  Unfortunately, the rear of the home shows signs of settling, including sloped floors, uneven framing, and cracked concrete slabs.  We were called out to assess whether future problems might be expected, and provide insight into how to correct those.  Another task was to assess the condition of the exterior deck, with regard to earthquake safety.

The evidence we observed indicated that most of the sloping floors and other concerns were the result of foundation settlement which had occurred many years prior, most likely during or shortly after the construction of the home about 3 decades ago.  We suggested some relatively minor upgrades and improvements to the portion of the home nearest the embankment.  We provided our opinion that there is no indication of possible serious future problems with settlement and related concerns.  The house is a fine one, and our client did, in fact, end up purchasing.