January is the time of year when we occasionally get calls regarding a service door that is binding or a garage door does not close or open properly. Subsequent examination of the situation often discloses that a portion of the… Read More
News & Resources
Snow Related Roof Collapses
The January 2013 issue of STRUCTURE magazine contains an interesting article, Snow Related Roof Collapse and Implications for Building Codes, regarding snow accumulations and roof collapses in the New England area for “the storm of the century” during the winter… Read More
First Thought of the New Year 2013
I received this email thought from Grace Gems. It seemed a good thought to start the year. We wish you all a Happy New Year!!! Character by J. R. Miller Reputation is what a man’s neighbors and friends think of… Read More
Post Christmas Blizzard a Bust (December 26 2012)
The long awaited day long blizzard for December 26, 2012 was generally a bust for the Cleveland area. Expecting up to 16 inches of snow, and then, blowing and drifting snow from prolonged wind gusts over 35 MPH children of… Read More
Why Celebrate Christmas? (2012)
Celebrate Christmas Take heart, dear Christian, celebrate, this season is for you; Not for the merchants, or the great, the famous or the strong, But ’tis to you, the lonely ones, the wounded and the weak, To sinners, poor… Read More
What Causes Caulking to Be Squeezed Out of a Brick Wall?
Have you ever seen the soft joint sealant (sometimes called caulking) squeezed out a joint in a brick wall? (See photo above). As a structural engineer, I have noticed this innumerable times. Now you know what we dull engineers do… Read More
Peak Wind vs Maximum Wind – What’s the Difference?
Weather records commonly show two different values for the measurement of wind speeds (see photograph above). What are the two different measurements and why are there two different values? The two values are commonly called the “maximum speed” and… Read More
“Thank” is a Transitive Verb
One of my many pet peeves regarding the English language is hearing someone, after they have avoided some disaster, say, “We are thankful.” I usually address the television asking, “To whom are you thankful?” This is first a grammatical issue. “Thank”… Read More