Foundation Repairs: Three Ways to Get it Wrong
Foundation movement is one of the leading causes of unsafe conditions. To ensure safe foundation repair, avoid these costly mistakes.
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Recent Blog Posts - Civil/Structural
The Impact of 5G to Commercial Structures
Recent advancements in technology and upgrades to the telecommunications infrastructure have made the promising 5G network a reality. These advancements have had a significant impact to the already impressive capabilities afforded by modern smartphones and at the same time they have also had an...
Spring Showers Bring … A Wet Basement
For homeowners in many areas, spring showers don’t just bring green grass and beautiful flowers, but also a wet basement. When water enters a basement, soaked carpets, wet wall coverings, and waterlogged baseball card collections stored in the basement are a common occurrence.
Demystifying Measurements - Or, Which Ton Are You Talking About?
In a past blog, I have discussed the background behind common phrases which originated in the maritime industry. [1] For your enjoyment, this blog will discuss various measurement terms, where some have originated from, and what the use of some more arcane measurements you may (or, hopefully, may...
Wildland Urban Interface & Mitigation Strategies
Every year, wildland fires destroy structures in the Wildland Urban Interface – defined as the line, area, or zone where structures and other human development meet or intermingle with undeveloped wildland or vegetation fuels. In 2021, according to the National Interagency Fire Center, a total of 58...
What Is the Relationship Between MPH and PSF?
You typically hear weather forecasts that include wind speeds in your neck of the woods. But how does a wind speed in miles per hour (mph) translate into a wind load in pounds per square foot (psf)? The general public is not aware of how strong (in the structural sense of the word) a 50-mph wind is...
Concrete Floats?
Have you ever heard of a concrete ship? The idea of a concrete ship may contradict your initial reaction – concrete doesn’t float. In fact, concrete can float. Objects can float in almost any medium under one of two techniques. The first, perhaps simplest, technique is: an object of lesser density...
A Place for Everything and Everything in Its Place
Today’s steel structures are often complex assemblies of components, such as beams and columns. Each beam and column have a unique place in the structural system, which makes the structure function. To ensure that each piece is erected where it belongs, every beam and column is labeled in the...
Crawl Space Inspections
Financial losses can be avoided with periodic inspections of the crawl spaces under residential structures. Oftentimes, a homeowner is unaware of issues in their crawl space until damages have progressed into the interior of their residence.
Why Is My Building Cracking?
The design and analysis of the foundation system are equally important to provide support to the building. However, more often than not, an adequate investigation, design, and preparation of the ground where the structure and its supporting foundation system are to be built are not taken into...
Does this Balcony Guard Meet Code?
I am often asked, “does this balcony guard meet the building code?” This question often arises in response to an injury or when a renovation is being contemplated. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), falls are the leading cause of nonfatal unintentional emergency...
Stay Dry, My Friends – Avoid Condensation in Your Building
Everybody has experience with condensation – On warm summer days, while enjoying a cold beverage, the outside of our red plastic cups have inevitably beaded up with moisture and dripped onto everything beneath them. The moisture on the outside of the cup is condensation that has formed from warm...