Flexibility in deviating from engineer’s plan?
I’m building a small guest house and hired a structural engineer to handle all the engineering for the plan. Said plan was then submitted for permit approval and passed. The foundation is completely done and now it’s time for the framing.
Alas, there are a lot of curious details in the structural plan that didn’t pop out during the initial planning phase. Some elements are just perplexing; some cannot physically work when the entire structure is taken as a whole; and some are ambiguous.
I would love to just have my engineer answer all of my questions but, well, I get the impression that he only grudgingly took on such a small job in the first place. Calls and emails nearly always go unanswered.
So here I am wondering just how much flexibility I have to deviate from his plan. For instance, there is a Simpson Strong-Wall Shearwall on the plan near the front door and for multiple cascading reasons, that won’t work. Silence from the engineer on the topic so maybe I could just install some bracing in that section and call it a day?
That’s just one example of several. I’m sure even more will pop up once framing starts, too.
So… how much can I deviate from the engineer’s plan? Not at all? Freely? Any amount if resubmitted for town approval? Only in cases where there is a “typical” replacement?
Thanks
Replies
Intentionally varying from the engineer's plans will potentially release them from any liability for their design and likely cause problems for you during framing inspection. I am not sure if engineered plans are required in your area, but "I just decided to change that, I'm sure it wasn't needed" will not fly with most inspectors.
Whether specifically required or not, you have paid for engineering services, and a constructable design that meets code is part of those services. The engineer may, or may not have a reason for those "perplexing" details, but only they can answer that. Regardless letting them off the hook for their design (both constructability and performance) is not doing anybody any favors, and opens you up to potential lawsuits and problems if performance issues arise.
I recommend carefully reviewing the plans with your framer and compile as complete of a list of issues as possible so that, once you are able to sit down with the engineer, you can hash out all the problems and find possible solutions all at once.
Okay, thanks. I was afraid of that.
I'll try a bit more with my ghost engineer but at this point, it's looking increasingly likely that I'll just have to hire a new engineer to re-do the plan. Very frustrating.
As a licensed professional engineer I can tell you that if you deviated from the essential details of his/her design you're taking it upon yourself if something goes South.
As RWW0002 suggested, compile as complete of a list of issues as possible so that, once you are able to sit down with the engineer, you can hash out all the problems and find possible solutions all at once. If he or she still will not respond, write a letter to the Board in the state issuing the P.E. license to advise them of the lack of responsiveness.
From an engineer's perspective, we all sometimes grudgingly take on small jobs knowing that our ability to exercise full authority over execution of the work will be hampered by our clients' propensity to listen more to the contractor he's engaged because of the likelihood of additional costs resulting from the engineer's clarifications, rather than listening to the engineer's explanation for the necessity of those clarifications.
This is why I avoid getting involved in residential or light commercial work. Seldom will the owner agree to absolute authority over execution, AND we can never realize a fee that covers the aggravation that goes with. Except perhaps for very high end work.
Make a detailed action plan.