Allowable Holes and Notches in Wood Joists
There are very specific guidelines of where and how to drill holes and notches in conventional wood joists for plumbing and electrical. Taking out the wrong section of a wood… Read More »
Category: Home Repairs
Team Engineering Knows a lot About Spray Foam Insulation
Installing spray-foam insulation in your attic is a great way to save energy and cut down on heating bills. The technology is great, but the installation process can sometimes get… Read More »
Upside Down Joist Hangers
No, this picture is not upside down. These joist hangers were found to be installed upside down. Although the nails help keep the joists connected, the 2x wood member should… Read More »
Improperly Designed Garage Foundation Leads to Failure at 15 Years Old
We sometimes are in the unfortunate position of observing structural failures. Some, like this one, aren’t dramatic because the building has not (yet) collapsed. But we see and remedy the… Read More »
Properly Installed Lally Columns
Check out the new lally column and concrete footing installed in a recent basement renovation we helped engineer. It doesn’t look like much from the surface but, too many times,… Read More »
Building Permits and Safety
“We don’t need a permit for this, we are only ______.” We’ve all heard this sentence many times over the years. It is sadly driven by the desire to save… Read More »
Open Concept Floor Plans in Existing Homes
We get lots of calls every week at Team Engineering from people who want to remove an interior wall to create an open-concept floor plan in their home, usually near… Read More »
Concrete Wall Cracking
As structural engineers, one of the most common residential concerns we see are cracking concrete basement walls. Because concrete materials are very solid, we often think any cracks that appear… Read More »
Why Tile and Grout Crack
Why do tile and grout crack? It is easier to understand why a material fails if we first understand how it is made. Tile is clay formed into a desired… Read More »
Is this a Load Bearing Wall?
Are you dreaming of creating an open concept in your home? Are the walls between your kitchen and living room blocking what could be a fully integrated space like the… Read More »