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  1. mkberry

    Writing an Engineering Proposal - Need advice

    If I understand you correctly, you don't need a business plan. (However, that 2nd link is great for all those posts that start with "I'm thinking of starting my own firm...") What you need are examples of the answer to the following question: "I'm looking for an engineer to ___. Can you...
  2. mkberry

    Project and Business Management Software

    Our firm is looking to expand out of quickbooks as well. I assume you are small (less than 20 people). I've never heard of "The Service Manager" but when I checked it out, it looks geared to a field intensive business. (i.e. most of your direct labor is out at job sites) We are strictly a...
  3. mkberry

    Cut Double Tee Stem

    Thank you all. I really appreciate the input. I will x-ray the strands at the ends of the tee and at the areas of cutting. Will the un-bonded strands be in a metal sleeve? I will obviously look at the ends of the cut to see if the strands are un-bonded, and monitor the tee's performance...
  4. mkberry

    Cut Double Tee Stem

    I didn't mean to imply the tee's were made like hollow core slabs, but rather, if the hollow core slabs are pre-stressed, cast in one long sheet, then cut to length; it is reasonable to expect a double tee with a straight strand pattern to be able to be supported in two places, have a small...
  5. mkberry

    Cut Double Tee Stem

    Thanks Spats. Maybe "draped" is the wrong word. The strand patterns for these members (8DT-24) in the PCI handbook indicate either straight strands, or, if you need greater strength, strands that are closer to the top of the stem at the ends and close to the bottom of the stem in the middle...
  6. mkberry

    Cut Double Tee Stem

    Has anyone sucessfully seen a cut stem of a double tee? I have a double tee roof that needs to have the stems of the tees cut for an elevator. The stems will be supported where they are cut and the span is signifigantly reduced. I have a design that considers the structural integrity of the...
  7. mkberry

    how to charge for tract home plansets

    Like I was implying, you may give a good client a break on the labor savings, but you need to get paid for the additional risk. Don't be that guy who rubber-stamps repeat sets for $100. It hurts everyone else in the short run and will hurt you in the long run. Along the lines of what csd72...
  8. mkberry

    how to charge for tract home plansets

    I don't have an easy answer, but was thinking...you should recover the additional hours that you will spend reproducing the construction documents for this new site: new title block, soils info, foundation steps (if required)... Then add enough extra fee to make sure you recover the same amount...
  9. mkberry

    Swimming Pool / Open Tank Slab Frost Depth

    Thanks Haynewp. We too seem to ignore any special treatment of slabs unless there is a special design consideration. The local building officials don't seem too concerned about swimming pools as they are considered acessory structures. I was just at a site visit the other day and saw that the...
  10. mkberry

    Swimming Pool / Open Tank Slab Frost Depth

    We have a debate about frost heave at the interior slab of a shot-crete pool or open tank. Example: A 20'x 40' pool that is 5' deep is well below our 30" frost depth, but if it were totally drained in the winter, what are the effects of frost on the slab in the center of the pool? Points...
  11. mkberry

    Tenuous Support of a truss?

    I have 2 ideas, both with some drawbacks - 1. Bear the truss on top of the wall and have the parapet be built into the truss. This may require a triple top plate, or studs located directly below each truss depending on your load. 2. Provide (2) 2x10 blocking between studs at the truss...
  12. mkberry

    Snow Load on Pergola

    vmirat, thanks for sharing your method. I agree with your load of 18psf. Was it arrived at by a use of engineering judgement, or some function of the 45 degree angle? Assuming a 45 degree chunk of snow falls out between the slats leaves around 29 psf of snow. I know more than a pound of snow...
  13. mkberry

    Snow Load on Pergola

    Thanks blake989. In my area the ice thickness is .25" while I have a snow load of 30 psf. With 2x6 framing at 6" o.c., the snow load controls at 3.75 #/ft versus 1.81#/ft for the ice. The support beams carrying the joists are the controlling members. Nonetheless, I am going to design the...
  14. mkberry

    Snow Load on Pergola

    Is there a code provision to reduce the snow load on a lattice type structure such as a pergola? (IBC or ASCE7) When the joist members are far enough apart, the snow only collects on the surface area of the members. Other times, however, the members are close enough together that I feel the...
  15. mkberry

    Hot-Tub on an Exterior Deck

    If the deck is too high to support the tub with a slab, analyze the deck framing with the Hot Tub in the worst places possible for each member. You never know if they might decide to position the tub differently than they indicated to you. This will involve several load cases. For a simple...
  16. mkberry

    TIMBER POST BASE MOMENT CONNECTION

    I recently had to do this for an octagon shaped gazebo. Here is a simplified description: I used a base plate with anchor bolts into the concrete foundation sized and spaced to resist the applied moment. Welded to the base plate were two 5"x24" vertical plates. My 6x6 post fit in between...
  17. mkberry

    Notched stair stringer

    bylar: Truss Joist makes several products. LSL material is a solid member and resembles OSB while Microllams are like plywood. My quick check indicates that the net effective member (1 1/2" x 5 1/8") spanning 10 feet fails in both bending and deflection using 100 psf. At 40 psf bending works...
  18. mkberry

    Existing 2x Sill Plate

    I sit on a board in my little town called the "Building Code Board of Appeals" with several other engineers, architects and builders to specifically address issues like these. You would make your case to our board and we would then recomend the building official accept or deny the request...
  19. mkberry

    Steel moment frames in a wood structure

    My post above is more applied to a braced frame rather than a moment frame. Sorry
  20. mkberry

    Steel moment frames in a wood structure

    Don't forget about the limits of your diaphragm. When I've mixed steel moment frames with wood, I've always been surprised at how long my drag strut needs to be to develop my frame. Not to mention the hold-downs. Rarely does a residential contractor have experience with precise locations of...

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