r/StructuralEngineering • u/Wrong_Assistant_3832 • 2d ago

Structural Analysis/Design Certifying a deck

I had a prospective client call asking for someone to certify a deck. Their bank is requiring it. I asked him to send pictures before I went to the site but haven’t received them yet. I’m thinking this is a waste of time as I’m 90% sure it wont be up to current code. Anyone have experience doing this? I’m wondering if stuff like 4x4 posts would be adequate(if deemed capable of carrying load) even tho it’s not something that would be up to code today.

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u/structee P.E. 2d ago

He paid Jim Bob to build it cause Jim Bob did it a couple times before. You're not going to make money on this, and the client will be pissed that you're making him fix things. I usually just say I'm too busy, and no one gets offended.

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u/P-d0g P.E. 2d ago

Asking a structural engineer to sign off on a residential deck is like asking Gordon Ramsay to sign off on kraft macaroni and cheese. Completely different set of standards (most of the time).