412-770-7590

Reliable Structural Engineers Blog

Are Foundation Cracks Normal? When to Worry and When to Call a Professional

Jan 22, 2025 2:34:33 AM / by Bob Mason, P.E.

0 Comments

Understanding Foundation Cracks

Foundation cracks are physical separations or breaks that develop in a building's concrete foundation. These cracks can range from tiny surface fissures to significant structural defects that compromise a building's stability.

Read More

The Connection Between Foundation Cracks and Structural Instability: What’s at Risk?

Jan 22, 2025 2:27:15 AM / by Bob Mason, P.E.

0 Comments

Your home's foundation is more than just concrete and steel - it's the bedrock of your property's structural integrity. Foundation cracks can be the first warning signs of serious structural issues that might compromise your home's safety and value.

Read More

The Role of Structural Inspections in Preventing Property Damage in Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania

Jan 10, 2025 2:17:41 AM / by Bob Mason, P.E. posted in Structural Engineer

0 Comments

Pennsylvania's diverse architectural landscape faces unique structural challenges that demand specific  attention. From historic buildings to modern structures in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, property owners must prioritize regular structural inspections to safeguard their investments.

Read More

5 Signs Your Building Needs Immediate Attention from a Structural Engineer

Jan 10, 2025 2:01:03 AM / by Bob Mason, P.E. posted in Structural Engineer

0 Comments

 

Your building's structural integrity is like your home's backbone - it keeps everything stable, secure, and safe. Just as you wouldn't ignore persistent back pain, structural issues in your building demand immediate professional attention.

Read More

Do you have an elevated garage slab in your home?

Feb 10, 2024 7:56:41 AM / by Bob Mason, P.E.

0 Comments

While elevated garage slabs are relatively rare compared to the overall housing stock, they are a lot more common than most people think. There are a lot of reasons why they are built this way:

Read More

Residential Wood Decks

Nov 14, 2022 9:11:58 AM / by Bob Mason, P.E.

0 Comments

Wood decks are a complicated subject. Almost every house has a front porch or a rear deck that is wood-framed, especially houses built after 1970. So why are wood decks built 30 years ago a lot different from those decks that are built to code standards today? The answer involves understanding a little bit of recent history about the changes that have occurred over that timeframe.

Read More

Ugly House

Jun 13, 2020 3:50:24 PM / by Bob Mason, P.E.

0 Comments

I have another case study for you. Actually, it’s something I had not seen before, or maybe it was the first time I noticed it! I’ve done structural inspections for hundreds of houses and buildings varying in all kinds of conditions. Some are really nice, million-plus dollar homes. Some are Class A, trophy-type office or apartment buildings. And some are houses worth less than zero dollars they are in such bad shape. This photo is of the third type. 

Read More

Load Bearing Walls

Jun 13, 2020 3:47:20 PM / by Bob Mason, P.E.

0 Comments

The issue was whether or not a suspected load-bearing wall could be removed on the first floor level. This is a question I get a lot, but the method for sorting out the load-bearing capacity of a particular studwall is far from straightforward. The short answer is that typically I figure out the load path of the structure from the roof and floor levels down to the foundation. Of course, the interior drywall or plaster covering all of the structural framing doesn’t make this easy on me! Many times, I rely on my prior knowledge of what that type of house looks like when it’s been gutted. Admittedly, I see older, pre-WW2 houses gutted more often than newer housing, and this was a 1970’s, two-story Colonial.

Read More

Foundation Wall Repairs

Jun 13, 2020 3:44:17 PM / by Bob Mason, P.E.

0 Comments

I’d like to share a case study of a recent inspection I completed. Recently I was asked by a homeowner to evaluate their rear basement foundation wall and, in addition, to review the five different foundation repair proposals they had obtained from different foundation repair contractors. Their house is a common two-story Colonial with an unreinforced 8-inch thick Concrete Masonry Unit (CMU) wall. When I say unreinforced, I mean that it did not have any steel reinforcing bars (rebar) in the wall like what’s required in new construction today and since the 2000’s. The rear yard sloped towards the rear foundation wall. Because the basement was finished, the wall bowed approximately two inches before they removed the drywall to find the cracked and bowed foundation wall. 

Read More

Subscribe to Email Updates

Posts by Topic

Recent Posts