Every year homeowners dive head first into remodeling projects without understanding how general contractors and structural engineers work together. And guess what…
Your bank account will suffer the consequences.
Structural engineers and contractors have to work in harmony if your dream home renovation services are going to be successful. When they work together effectively, your project will go smoothly. When there is no collaboration…
Delays, budget blowouts and even dangerous structural defects are likely.
In this article you’ll learn:
- Why You Need Structural Engineers on Your Renovation Team
- How General Contractors and Structural Engineers Work Together
- When To Hire A Structural Engineer For Your Project
- How Structural Engineers Can Actually Save You Money
Why Contractors Hire Structural Engineers
Let’s look at a little stat first…
91% of homeowners hire professionals when completing remodeling projects.
But what many people don’t know is that general contractors aren’t structural engineering experts. They’re managers who oversee the project.
Structural engineers:
Assess how removing a wall will affect the structural integrity of your home. Create solutions that keep your family safe.
That is why ANY reputable Chicago general contractor knows they need a structural engineer on their team. They know the difference between when to hire an engineer, and when they can safely manage construction as usual.
Think about it:
The contractor is your general project manager. The structural engineer is ensuring your project is safely managed.
Let’s break down exactly why your home renovations need structural engineers:
- You want to modify a load-bearing wall
- You have foundation problems
- You plan on adding rooms to your home
- You want to change the roofline of your home
If you modify any part of your home and don’t have these things properly addressed by a structural engineer, your project may not pass inspection. Or even worse, have structural problems down the road.
How Do General Contractors and Structural Engineers Work Together?
Understanding how contractors and structural engineers work together is simple once it’s explained.
First things first, the general contractor reviews your project scope and plans. If your project involves any of the items mentioned above, there will be structural engineering involved.
Here’s the process:
Your contractor reviews your renovation plans and identifies potential structural issues. Then they hire a structural engineer to look at your home.
The structural engineer will do a comprehensive review of your home. They check for things like load bearing walls, foundation issues, and other structural integrity concerns.
From there, your engineer will send your contractor stamped drawings and specifications. These documents tell your contractor what has to happen to support your project.
Sound simple enough?
Your contractor will then use these engineering plans when renovating your home. The engineer may come out and do some site visits to ensure that what is happening aligns with their drawings and specifications.
This collaboration will continue until the project is completed.
When Do You Need A Structural Engineer?
Just because you’re remodeling your home doesn’t mean you need to hire an engineer. In fact, most homeowners don’t need one.
However, many homeowners choose not to hire an engineer when they really should.
Structural engineers are needed when:
- You’re removing or changing a load-bearing wall.
- You’re adding on to your home (rooms, second story, etc.)
- You have cracks in your foundation or your foundation has settled.
- You want to convert your basement or attic into living space.
- You have water damage or termite damage.
Homeowners who don’t hire an engineer when they need one are often forced to deal with massive budget surprises. 39% of homeowners exceed their renovation budgets because of unexpected issues during construction.
When you hire a structural engineer at the beginning of your renovation, they can catch these issues before they become giant money pits.
Here is an example of what happens when you don’t hire a structural engineer:
You decide to remove a wall in your home. Your contractor assumes it’s not a load-bearing wall. 6 months later, your ceiling is sagging. Not only do you have to fix the issue, but you have to pay your contractor back to make the renovation right.
That’s going to cost you 3 times what a structural engineer would have.
Don’t be that homeowner! Talk with your contractor about having a structural engineer review your home. Once you know it’s safe to remove a wall or make other changes, you can proceed with construction.
Hint: quality contractors will offer this information up to you before you start pouring money into your remodel. They know that saving you hundreds on an engineer can prevent you from spending thousands on repairs.
Structural Engineers Can Actually Save You Money
If you’re thinking hiring a structural engineer is going to increase your renovation budget. Let me explain to you why that thinking is completely wrong.
When general contractors and structural engineers work together, they can save you money through:
- Proper material specifications. (You aren’t overbuilding or underbuilding areas)
- Proper permit paperwork. (They won’t fail at the inspection stage)
- Proper installation techniques. (They won’t have to redo anything later)
- Verifying the renovation is up to code. (Protects your home value)
Partnering with a structural engineer at the beginning of your project can save you thousands. When everything is properly documented, signed, and sealed by a structural engineer, there will be no surprises.
Interior projects usually run smoothly. But as soon as you make changes to the structural integrity of your home, it’s a whole other ball game.
Don’t forget about how much time a structural engineer can save you.
Your building department will process your permits quicker when they have engineering documents submitted with them. Your project will face less inspections because contractors and engineers know what they are doing.
Without these documents, you’re left waiting for the building department to approve things. You’ll also get hit with fees to fix things that weren’t up to code.
Final Thoughts…
Homeowners need to understand that general contractors and structural engineers have to work together to give you the home of your dreams.
Failing to properly engineer your renovation can cause big safety issues. Not to mention, cost you more money as you have to redo things to meet code.
Here’s what you need to remember:
- General contractors help manage construction projects
- Structural engineers ensure your project is safe to construct
- Contractors need structural engineers when changes are made to the home
- Structural Engineers help you avoid costly surprises
Ask any contractor you’re working with what their process is when it comes to structural engineers. If they try to tell you that they don’t need one, run for the hills.
Professional general contractors know when they need an engineer. They have solid relationships with local structural engineers and can get them out to your home quickly.
Your home is your biggest investment. Make sure the people working on it know how to protect that investment.