“What does an engineer do?”
“How do I know if I need an engineer?”
These are questions that you ask probably when you need an answer to a problem, especially if you are in the process of purchasing a home.
For Buyers
If you are faced with a structural concern likely brought about during a home inspection, the best course of action is to retain the services of a licensed engineer in order to produce an unbiased opinion on the issue at hand, and to know what steps need to be taken to remediate the issue.
Not only is it important to ensure that this professional is licensed, but it is also in your best interest to ask about their experience and what they specialize in. The local firm of Imperial Design Services focuses solely on civil, structural, and geotechnical engineering with the bulk of their projects categorized in residential construction, including:
- Framing
- Floors (sloped), walls, and roof
- Foundations (including cracks in basement walls, crawlspace walls, and slab foundations)
- Failing retaining walls
- When in the process of buying a house, the first line of defense is your home inspector
However, should they come across something that reflects negatively on the dwelling’s structural integrity,
these professionals will tend to rely on a licensed engineer.
It is at this point that you will want your agent to contact a local engineer right away to schedule an appointment for evaluation. Generally, these kinds of inspections take 1-2 hours, and usually generating an engineering report within 1-3 business days after the initial site visit.
Hiring a Licensed Engineer
While hiring an engineer is not always part of the purchasing process, it is oftentimes one of the most important steps to avoid a financial black hole due to structural issues. It is best to get a local engineer’s initial opinion by explaining to them the situation and discuss it with them. “Don’t let reluctance and hesitation jeopardize the structural stability of your future investment,” stated Matthew Rembish of Imperial Design Services.