Blog | CSES Engineering

Seattle Queen Anne Addition

Written by johnapolis on May 8, 2012

Seattle Queen Anne Brick Home

The owners of this lovely old brick home on Queen Anne Hill in Seattle wanted to build an addition which would enlarge their dining room. It is difficult to do this sort of addition when the house has brick veneer, because you have to be very careful when you remove only some of the brick. We helped devise a scheme to protect the brick while the addition was constructed.

CSES provided consulting and design to accomplish that, as well as designing a new exterior covered deck, off the dining room, for that al fresco experience. Queen Anne neighborhood is normally pretty friendly, and kind of a hip scene right now. Sipping coffee on your deck as neighbors stroll by is the best of life.

Structural Assessment

Written by Publications Staff on May 5, 2012

Structural Assessment & Letter

This client, whose very nice family home is in a gated community, was attempting to refinance his loan. The bank required a structural assessment of various parts of the home prior to approving the loan. We were asked to evaluate the condition of the exterior foundation, as well as some of the interior footings, which were not properly constructed, requiring upgrade to prevent future settlement of the main floor framing. CSES provided this review, and repair recommendations, and a letter which resulted in his refinance being approved.

Elevated Roof Deck

Written by Publications Staff on April 13, 2012

Trellis-type Patio Cover

This client was eager to convert an existing trellis-type patio cover into an elevated roof deck, in order to take advantage of an improved view of downtown Seattle from that height. We provided the necessary design and drawings for his permit submittal. However, we never got to sip wine with him on the deck….”

Condominium Repair

Written by Publications Staff on March 16, 2012

Condominium Repair

CSES was called in to evaluate and provide repair recommendation (as well as drawings and calculations) for a condominium unit in a community in Federal Way.

We worked closely with the insurance adjuster and the contractor to provide the owner with the drawings and calculations he needed for his repair permit.

Improved Earthquake Safety

Written by johnapolis on February 21, 2012

Home on Queen Anne Hill

This client’s home is a typical older house located on the north side of Queen Anne Hill, and features a partially below-grade small garage. The garage was in poor shape, cracked and failing. CSES provided services to improve and repair the garage, while at the same time providing for a future planter garden, to enhance the attractiveness of the home from the street. We also advised him with regard to upgrading the home for improved safety during an earthquake.

Hillside Retaining Wall

Written by johnapolis on February 10, 2012

The tension apparatus and gauge

An update on the hillside retaining project we previously talked about. You may recall, our client contacted us because she was losing parts of her yard to landslides during heavy rains. We design a retaining system to stop the process. It involved driving about 80 pipe piles, held back by two rows of about 20+ tiebacks, each with a resisting tension of 4,000 to 6,0000 pounds. Each anchor has to be tested to a proof load of double the design load. These guys are getting very dirty.

This anchor was stressed with 12,000 lb force.

Lakeside Cabin Design

Written by Publications Staff on February 7, 2012

A peaceful lake view from the deck.

CSES provided design services for this beautiful lakeside cabin. It’s a simple plan, but with lots of perks for the owner. Some issues involved the water table near the lake, wind and earthquake loads, and avoiding any interior posts, as well as providing as much view as possible.

The cabin is one large space with a wood stove.

The roof is complex but the views are terrific.

New 8 Foot Basement Ceiling

Written by Publications Staff on February 5, 2012

The new 8 foot ceiling height

I met the contractor on site for some final questions and clarifications, and to solve one knotty problem involving the construction of the porch. Not raining for once! The clients are happy with their new high ceilings in the lower floor – “we no longer call it the basement! It’s a family living area, including play areas for the kids and a steam shower for the old folks”.

Final questions discussed on the porch

Roof Structure Strengthened

Written by Publications Staff on February 4, 2012

This client purchased a beautiful view home in Bellevue, and retained us to help with some improvements. He wants to remove a wall separating living room and dining areas, and relocate some windows to improve the view. Part of our work involved strengthening of some less-than-adequate roof framing. We also helped with an earthquake retrofit for greater safety.

We prepared the permit drawings for him and his wife and new baby, and helped control construction costs with our recommendation for contractors to bid on the job. He is quite satisfied with the result.

Wall to be removed

roof strengthened

Windows to relocate

Hillside Failure Remediation Part 2

Written by johnapolis on November 30, 2011

Muddy Conditions

This engineer visited the site again, to continue our structural observations, and to witness further installations of piles and tiebacks, and to help solve a few construction problems caused by the unfortunate site conditions, including poor soil, in concert with recent rather heavy rains.

The piles were installed using a really noisy 90 lb jackhammer, and I had to stand very close to the operation in order to check the movement of the piles. (Fortunately, I keep earplugs in the car for just such occasions.) The “piles” are 2 inch diameter steel pipes, installed in segments with screw joints.

Due to the very wet, loose soil, the construction process is slow and difficult. Any any soil that is dug away is quickly replaced with more wet soil, sliding down from above, and hence the contractor has to move efficiently in order to get the 2×12 wood lagging boards in place. Installing the “Manta Ray” anchors also proved difficult, as the clay layer we are relying on 9to provide an attachment point for the anchors) is very dense, it is nearly impossible to penetrate.

Installing Piles

We decided that installing lagging behind the piles, and pushing the lagging down as soil was removed from beneath, was the only way to get the wall in place without all of the soil falling away. Meanwhile, the contractor decided to drill pilot holes into the clay before attempting to install the manta ray anchors, in order to get an easier installation.

I’ll be going out to the site several times, during the next few weeks, in order to check on the progress using the new drilling approach.