I have had various contractors contact me about overhanging the sill plate of a 2x6 wall 1.5 inches beyond the foundation to flush out the wall framing with the rigid insulation for the foundation. I have seen references for allowable overhangs of 1/3 the wall thickness and 1/2 the thickness of...
I have a client who is requesting to construct a log bleachers structure. The structure will have a viewing platform 10ft above the ground and would be open with a mono slope roof. I am concerned with the exposure of the logs to moisture/weather. There is the potential for snow and ice to be...
I am looking at doing x-bracing and just using the deck for vertical load. I was looking at the x-bracing layout. I have two separate options. The first option has continuous bracing throughout. The second option has x-bracing staggered every other joist space. The second option appears to...
I don't feel that screws from the bottom would be equivalent to screws from the top. I was actually told this by the deck supplier and SDI that it would not be considered equivalent. When you fasten from the top the head of the screw will provide some compression between the deck and the...
Thanks for all your feedback. The roof is a ballast roof so that will help for the uplift. I was thinking about the steel X-Bracing alternate as well. In order to adequately design for uplift, bracing of the bar joists and diaphragm forces I need to provide some type of attachment between the...
I have a project where the contractor did not puddle weld the steel roof deck to the bar joists with 5/8" puddle welds. The deck was just spot welded to the joists with a MIG welder from below. It was not noted by the inspector until after the roof had been completely constructed. I have...
I completely agree with the statements made. The contractor is saying other engineers use 4'-0" tall walls in there design why can't I specify a 4'-0" wall. I'm trying to make sure I am not missing something. At this point my only conclusion is that they are unaware of the frost requirements...
The projects are typically design build and are not always in an area where the code is enforced. The contractor typically puts together the architectural drawings and are typically not reviewed by an architect.
Is there a minimum distance that is required between a steel structure and grade? Section 2304.11 of the IBC addresses this for wood structures but I have not found anything for steel structures. The minimum soil cover for frost is 5'-0". I have contractors who want to use a 4'-0" tall wall...
Thanks for all the good information. The boathouse would be located in Minnesota. I have seen images of ice sheets 6-8ft tall on shore of large lakes around the area, which is what concerns me from a force/design standpoint. The boathouse will be on a smaller lake in a bay so it should be...
I have a client that would like to construct a boat house in approximatley 5-10 feet of water. They would like to use concrete or steel for the base of structure to minimize maintanence of the structure. This would be in a lake that would freeze over in the winter. My biggest concern with the...
I have had a contractor ask to use fab-forms on one of their projects. Has anyone had any experience with this product? Is there anything that I should be concerned about with a product like this? The only thing I can really think of is that they don't pull the fabric too tight which would...
I have been asked to design free standing silage bunker walls. I was just wondering what pressure I should design the walls for when the bunker is full as well as the surcharge applied to the wall by a tractor packing the pile of removing silage from the pile.
There is a covered portion of...
The walls are likely sheathed with plywood or osb for the shear walls. I agree that the most important factor is the fastening of the sheathing. I am recommending the wall sheathing be refastened. I was just looking for a tolerance at which to require the framing be plumbed and leveled.
I agree it seems high to me as well. There were a few drywall cracks, however most of the walls were covered with paneling so I wasn't able to view most of the walls. A few of the doors and windows did bind slightly.
I would like to include in my report an allowable tollerance if possible.
I recently reviewed a single family residence that was near or within the path of a tornado. The door frames were out of plumb by as much as 3/8" in the in-plane direction of the shear wall. I was just wondering in anyone knew the allowable tollerance for a wall being out of plumb in the in...
