News & Resources

Cinder Concrete Floor Deck

Posted by in Concrete, Steel | July 13, 2015

Cinder concrete was an early development in concrete floor construction.  It was appeared about one hundred years ago or so, when engineers and builders started combining steel and concrete to frame a floor.  It was a method that used a… Read More →

What Causes Siding to Become Loose in the Middle of the Wall?

Posted by in Siding | July 07, 2015

We have often seen a loose course of siding in the middle of an exterior wall of a dwelling (Figure LS-1 and LS-2).  In fact, I have seen it on my own home.     What causes this? If you… Read More →

Happy Birthday, America!!!! (2015)

Posted by in Commemoration/Celebration | June 29, 2015

Every day, but especially the 4th of July, is good day to remember Who has provided us with Life, Liberty, & the Pursuit of Happiness (see Declaration of Independence): Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the… Read More →

How many layers of shingles?

Posted by in Roof, Shingles, Wood | June 22, 2015

How many layers of shingles can be safely supported on a wood framed residential roof? Most building codes limit the number of layers of shingles to two.  As a structural engineer, I design for two, but I prefer one layer… Read More →

Things That Shouldn’t Be

Posted by in The Unusual | June 15, 2015

There are things that just should not be!!!! Here are a few.       The last photo was taken at an expensive hotel in Orlando! Disclaimer   Read More →

A Roofer’s Nightmare – Part 2

Posted by in Buying/Maintaining a Home, Roof, Shingles, Water Sources | June 08, 2015

Occasionally, we get to see a roof that causes us to say, “Yikes!” or some other such exclamation.  This week we have such a roof. Here, a large area of roof drains down into a small gutter and then onto… Read More →

How Does Sheltering Affect Wind Pressures?

Posted by in Weather Events, Wind Damage | June 01, 2015

The magnitude of the pressures generated by wind on a building are not only correlated to the speed of the wind passing by, but they are also affected by the degree of the exposure of the building to the direction… Read More →

Cracking from Lintel Lift on a Single-Family Dwelling

Posted by in Buying/Maintaining a Home, Cracking, Masonry | May 18, 2015

The above photograph shows a pronounced stairstep crack emanating from the upper corner of a window in a brick wall on the gable end of a single-family dwelling.  By pronounced I mean obvious, easily seen. In the subject case, a… Read More →