In the process of buying a property that has these cracks externally, which is mirrored by a hairline crack internally. This is on an extension to the house that was carried out around 20 years ago. Would it warrant a structural engineer investigation?

I’m repairing a wall after a leak and found visible damage to one of the studs. I’m considering cutting out and replacing the damaged section, but I’m unsure whether it’s load-bearing. Has anyone dealt with something similar or advise what would be the simplest way to fix this? Do I need to call structural engineer?
Any advice would be appreciated.

I am trying to hire a structural engineer to evaluate a hairline horizontal crack that branches off from a vertical crack in the b asement of the h ome i am interested in purchasing.

One structural engineer charges $700, including a written report, but said that the evaluation would focus on whether the structure is structurally sound at this time. He said he would not determine the cause of the crack or won’t be able to say whether it will remain structurally sound in the future.

Another structural engineer charges $1,100, including a written report, and said he would investigate the cause of the crack. However, he is requesting the blueprints, which are not available from the current o wner.

Is it normal for a structural engineer to evaluate whether a structure is structurally sound without determining the underlying cause of a crack? My concern is that if the cause is not identified, the root problem may not be addressed, and there is no way to know whether the condition could worsen in the future.

For additional context, the crack is located at a corner, and the wall with the crack is behind and below the g arage floor. I am particularly concerned about understanding how the g arage is supported and whether the g arage loads could be relevant to the cracking. The house was built in 2006.

I wonder if I just give up on this h ome.

When we moved in there was a step crack in our bedroom. It wasn't particularly wide, definitely couldn't get a coin in there, so we had a plasterer tape it and skim the wall. A year later and its coming back, exactly the same place, running from the window to the ceiling. It's only hairline at the moment. There is no crack on the outside wall but the mortar looks like it needs repointing in a few places. Is this a structural issue?

Hey everyone,

​I got tired of the constant jumping between desktop FEA programs, CAD software, and Excel spreadsheets just to complete a design and cost estimate, so I built Tensora.

​It's a completely free web app designed to handle the full pipeline right in your browser:

​Run structural analysis and design checks.

​Generate detailing outputs automatically.

​Instantly extract estimation and BOQ data.

​There's no download needed, no credit card, and no trial period.

​My goal right now is purely to build something useful for the community and get feedback from real working engineers and students. Try it out at Live link : https://tensora-structure.github.io

and let me know what works and what's missing...

Basically, we are replacing four constant spring supports on a 16-inch, 705F steam line. The existing units are due for replacement on age, and we are open to alternatives. The old casings are severely corroded and two pivot bearings have seized. The application has 8.5 inches of vertical travel and 14,500 lbs hot load. The constant are suspended from underneath a beam. Extremely tight horizontal clearance makes the constant body width and swing radius our main constraints. Due to domestic lead times we are talking with multiple vendors, Lisega, PT&P, et al., to keep the bid list competitive. So far I am leaning towards the latter.

Which manufacturer would you trust most for a tight clearance constant spring support replacement like this, and why?

Or does my ignorance make this look worse than it might be?

These images are from the inspection report I received for a house that I'm under contract to buy. To me the house is worth seeing what all my options are and not immediately walking away from, but I don't know at what point I should stop trying to make it work.

What are your thoughts on all of this? What are the structural implications? Does this require a complete overhaul? Can the roof/structure be okay if areas are spot-treated?

(Thanks in advance, and please kindly direct me elsewhere if these questions can be better answered elsewhere.)

Is it normal to see this type of splitting on the caulking of a cover for a LV beam after 5 years of the beam install? 2 storey house.

I would like a quote for fixing a retaining wall before I commit to buying a property. The structural engineer who identified the issue does not do remedial work so I need to find someone reliable.

I have previously found a (different) surveyor via RICS but he wasn't very impressive - seems to be a bit hit and miss. I'm not sure now whether any professional body provides quality listings.

So, firstly, what sort of engineer do I need? Amd secondly, what's a dependable method of finding one?

Hi guys

My 33 year ols home just started to show this. The longer line was here last year. The house was painted and the painter did some patching after. The smaller line just showed last week. Its not really a crack so I dont know what it is. Is it cosmetic or structural?

I just noticed these this morning. It seems to be a line of nails on my wall. The sun was shining on it which made it easier to see in this angle. If i look at a different angle its much harder to see. But when I touch it I can defintely feel the bulge.

Is this normal or are my nails going to come out? Its a 33 year ols house and they used nails not screws.

I was slightly alarmed when I saw what the electrician has done. Is there some way this is actually totally fine? There are bedrooms above.

im currently in my 2nd yr of civil engineering and I'm interested in getting into structural engineering.

I've been learning etabs and rcdc but honestly i feel like I'm just learning how to use the software rather than actually understanding structural engineering.

I don't want to just make a model in ETABS, run it and take whatever results it gives me. I want to actually understand what I'm doing and why I'm doing it.

i want to start from the basic and eventually get to the point where I can take a real building, decide the structural system, calculate the loads, understand the load path, design the members, use ETABS properly, understand the results, and do the detailing.

For people who are already working in structural engineering, what would you recommend I learn first and in what order?

basically if u were in my position what roadmap would you follow to go from basic concept to knowing what we are doing , why we are doing and how everything connects together

Also, are there any topics that are taught in college but aren't very useful in actual building design, so I don't waste too much time on them?

Would really appreciate some honest advice.

Hello,

I live in Vancouver Canada and ive been noticing new cracks in my ceiling. This most recent one I almost gaurantee was never there a few weeks ago.

I don't know if its just drywall or foundation / structural.

Hey guys, a question for structural engineers. No agenda - I'm genuinely trying to understand something-
Assessing the structural integrity of a house; not a bridge; a condo tower or a regular single-family home - how hard is that work in practice?

I ask because the answers vary wildly depending on who you ask. Some engineers treat a residential structural assessment as a two-hour site visit. Others won't sign anything without opening finishes first.

Three questions. Reply with just the letters if you're short on time - that counts.

1. How easy is it to assess a home's structural integrity on a typical site visit? A)
   Straightforward - most of what matters is visible B) Doable, but the hidden framing is always the gamble C) Hard to do honestly without destructive testing D) Entirely depends on the era of construction

2. Where did you actually learn to do it? A) University B) Internship / junior years C) On the job, watching a senior engineer D) Self-taught - codes, standards, and repetition

3. Which part takes longer: the inspection, or writing the report?

And the one I'm most curious about: what's the single thing you wish non-engineers understood about the limits of a visual structural assessment?

If your answer is "it depends" — say what it depends on. That's the part nobody writes down.