How does an engineer know if an
existing wood building has serious
structural problems? We make educated
guesses about the strength of existing
buildings based on our experience
and on what we see. The same type of
structural evaluation can help a contractor
too. If you think the way an
engineer thinks, you'll spot problems
early. You'll know why you're putting in
those extra joists. And on buildings
that are in really bad shape, you'll be
prepared to deal with change orders or
structural collapse.
When you have a question about the
structural capacity of a wood member,
you're trying to find out two things:
• What is the current strength of that
member? (This is so you