structural engineer

IceBergSLiM

Lifer
Jul 11, 2000
29,932
3
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I need a structural engineer to make a sketch of an extension to my deck. How much would that cost?
 

BlueWeasel

Lifer
Jun 2, 2000
15,944
475
126
As I am one, I'd make a rough guess of $100/hour. It might be more, might be less, depending if it's something he can hand down to a technician.
 

IceBergSLiM

Lifer
Jul 11, 2000
29,932
3
81
Originally posted by: BlueWeasel
As I am one, I'd make a rough guess of $100/hour. It might be more, might be less, depending if it's something he can hand down to a technician.

40 hours? 1000 hours?

I want to extend my deck out far enough to put a hotub on it.
 

michaels

Banned
Nov 30, 2005
4,329
0
0
Oh come one now, you don't really need a damn structural eng. to build a deck! LOL...any damn carpenter with experience will know how.
 

dquan97

Lifer
Jul 9, 2002
12,010
3
0
Originally posted by: IcebergSlim
Originally posted by: BlueWeasel
As I am one, I'd make a rough guess of $100/hour. It might be more, might be less, depending if it's something he can hand down to a technician.

40 hours? 1000 hours?

I want to extend my deck out far enough to put a hotub on it.

Planning to invite some of your employees over? ;) Be sure to add a webcam to your shopping list.
 

freakflag

Diamond Member
Mar 22, 2001
3,951
1
71
Originally posted by: michaels
Oh come one now, you don't really need a damn structural eng. to build a deck! LOL...any damn carpenter with experience will know how.

QFT.

Seriously, Dude, with the money you'd spend on an engineer you could just buy enough concrete and 4x4's to park a tank on the thing.


 

BlueWeasel

Lifer
Jun 2, 2000
15,944
475
126
Do you have some kind of city requirement that a structural engineer produce and sign off on a set of deck plans? Either, for a small deck, I wouldn't expect the time involved to be over 3 - 5 hours for simple, residential construction.
 

IceBergSLiM

Lifer
Jul 11, 2000
29,932
3
81
Originally posted by: BlueWeasel
Do you have some kind of city requirement that a structural engineer produce and sign off on a set of deck plans? Either, for a small deck, I wouldn't expect the time involved to be over 3 - 5 hours for simple, residential construction.

Yes we have a requirement for a structural engineer to produce and sign off. Thanks for your input I'll start calling around for bids.
 

Jeff7

Lifer
Jan 4, 2001
41,596
19
81
Originally posted by: IcebergSlim
Yes we have a requirement for a structural engineer to produce and sign off. Thanks for your input I'll start calling around for bids.
A locality thing with your township, or one of those damn housing community organization whatever they're called things? Homeowner's association, I think that's the term I'm looking for.
 
Nov 5, 2001
18,366
3
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Originally posted by: freakflag
Originally posted by: michaels
Oh come one now, you don't really need a damn structural eng. to build a deck! LOL...any damn carpenter with experience will know how.

QFT.

Seriously, Dude, with the money you'd spend on an engineer you could just buy enough concrete and 4x4's to park a tank on the thing.

In actuality, a hot tub filled with water can weigh a couple thousand pounds, so an engineer is a very smart choice in this case. In all likelyhood, the existing deck framing is no where near adequate for this application, and will require some reinforcement.

OP - look in the yellow pages under engineers. Look for an office near you hopefully with a simple name (i.e. John Doe PE, etc.) or something indicating it's a small office. A small office will be much better for you. If you call a large firm, they won't be too interested and will quote you a high price. A small outfit will have lower rates generally and be more interested in small projects.
 

BlueWeasel

Lifer
Jun 2, 2000
15,944
475
126
Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats
Originally posted by: freakflag
Originally posted by: michaels
Oh come one now, you don't really need a damn structural eng. to build a deck! LOL...any damn carpenter with experience will know how.

QFT.

Seriously, Dude, with the money you'd spend on an engineer you could just buy enough concrete and 4x4's to park a tank on the thing.

In actuality, a hot tub filled with water can weigh a couple thousand pounds, so an engineer is a very smart choice in this case. In all likelyhood, the existing deck framing is no where near adequate for this application, and will require some reinforcement.

OP - look in the yellow pages under engineers. Look for an office near you hopefully with a simple name (i.e. John Doe PE, etc.) or something indicating it's a small office. A small office will be much better for you. If you call a large firm, they won't be too interested and will quote you a high price. A small outfit will have lower rates generally and be more interested in small projects.

Excellent advice...you know, you sound like a contractor. ;)