Building and Construction - new 3200 sq ft 2 storey, all brick. How well built is my home?

Author

new 3200 sq ft 2 storey, all brick. How well built is my home?

creamripper@gmail.com

2006-03-17, 11:21 am

Hi there,
Built my own home with help of a family friend who's been building for
many (around 25 ) years. A friend built similar through commercial
builder, and I noticed that my basement has few support walls while his
has many. But I have many I Beams while he has perhaps 1 or none
(visible).

My home was designed by my wife, drawn by a local construction
engineering technologist (not an p-eng, don't think). It's all 2x6
constuction, 12" centers for main floor (1700 sq feet) with 4 large
I-beams across (back to front) the foundation (9" thick). There are
cut-outs in the foundation keeping the beams flush with the foundation.

Most of the beams have mental jack posts around the middle or so. It
looks more than strong enough vis-a-vis my friend's place, but it made
me think -- how do I know the supports are strong enough for the home?
Presumably the local building authority ensures that the plans are
adequate and the draughtsperson would be similarly knowledgabe (he's a
local building inspector). But how do I know, as home owner? Do I
actually have to hire a p-eng to review the plan or inspect the home?
Anyone here who can say that seems like more than enough or not enough?

I have no reason to be concerned, the question popped into my mind
while I was reviewing other new construction and aside from spending
money, I thought I'd do a bit of homework

Thanks folks.

RicodJour

2006-03-17, 12:21 pm

creamripper@gmail.com wrote:
> Hi there,
> Built my own home with help of a family friend who's been building for
> many (around 25 ) years. A friend built similar through commercial
> builder, and I noticed that my basement has few support walls while his
> has many. But I have many I Beams while he has perhaps 1 or none
> (visible).
>
> My home was designed by my wife, drawn by a local construction
> engineering technologist (not an p-eng, don't think). It's all 2x6
> constuction, 12" centers for main floor (1700 sq feet) with 4 large
> I-beams across (back to front) the foundation (9" thick). There are
> cut-outs in the foundation keeping the beams flush with the foundation.
>
> Most of the beams have mental jack posts around the middle or so. It
> looks more than strong enough vis-a-vis my friend's place, but it made
> me think -- how do I know the supports are strong enough for the home?
> Presumably the local building authority ensures that the plans are
> adequate and the draughtsperson would be similarly knowledgabe (he's a
> local building inspector). But how do I know, as home owner? Do I
> actually have to hire a p-eng to review the plan or inspect the home?
> Anyone here who can say that seems like more than enough or not enough?
>
> I have no reason to be concerned, the question popped into my mind
> while I was reviewing other new construction and aside from spending
> money, I thought I'd do a bit of homework

A bit late in the game to be asking this question, what with the house
being already built and all.

Your friend's idle comment about the basement bearing walls means
nothing. Basements rarely have bearing walls as metal (mental?!) posts
supporting beams is pretty much standard.

The local building authority does not conduct a structural review of
the plans. It's up to the person who signed off on them. The plans
were stamped by a professional architect or engineer, weren't they?

If you hired a local building inspector to draft up the plans, the odds
are very good that he at least conformed to code, which is a minimum
basis of construction, but adequate. The 12" centers indicates that at
least in some areas your construction surpasses the norm.

You probably have nothing to worry about, but if it will make you sleep
better, hire an engineer to check the drawings and/or conduct a
walk-through.

R

m Ransley

2006-03-17, 7:21 pm

If you dont have any settling or doors and windows that dont close have
a beer and sleep well.

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