You will most definitely be offered an opportunity to take a closer look at the property by way of a site inspection. During this initial visit, it benefits everyone if the Engineer [that's you] can take away the maximum amount of information possible. Unless of course you live just round the corner.
Again, if you are a fortunate Engineer, you may well have access to the services of a builder, who will help you access hidden structure during the investigation.
But what happens if you don't?
Quite often the projects can be simple and straight forward, and if the Gods of Engineering smile sweetly upon you, then like the Red Sea parting, access will be granted and all will be revealed.
If not, then pulling up a bit of carpet reveals the direction of the floor boards, and hence the joist span direction. Tapping on a wall may reveal a light weight partition, or a load bearing block work wall.
This is all well and good, but what if the floor has a floating timber floor over, or tiled? How about a dot and dabbed block work wall, when you are expecting an non-load bearing one?
The truth is, the initial site visit made by the Engineer can quite often be revealed to have been an opportunity not taken advantage of.
So we make educated assumptions, and extensively caveat our work - SUBJECT TO CONFIRMATION BY CONTRACTOR.
For everyone involved, this is less than satisfactory. It allows the contractor to adjust their costs [upwards], taking advantage of the proverbial 'foot in the door' position which they have. Also the Architect may [with good reason] withhold construction drawings until further investigation has taken place.
There isn't a single thing wrong with this process, it happens for most refurbishment projects. Although, from the clients point of view, it looks pretty wasteful, and frustrating.
So, what can we do? Not enough unfortunately, but we can be proactive, and give ourselves a better understanding of the building by being prepared. So I have learned.
"Fortune favours the prepared mind" Louis Pasteur
Below is a snap shop, and list of investigative tools which could very well push the odds back in our favour.
1. Collapsible step ladder. Trust me, not everyone owns an access ladder into their loft or roof space. If you carry some - you can actually look like you know what you are doing. [mine cost £80, you can buy smaller versions for around £50]
2. A million candle spot light/torch. When 999,999 candles just won't cut it... having this piece of kit with you will make you look like Superman. This is a great tool. [£3.99 from any petrol forecourt when you spend £30 on fuel]
3. Clip board. Simple, easy to use. Everybody knows that the guy or gal with the clip board is the one worth knowing. Kudos is only 50p away. Buy one.
4. Claw hammer and a few blocks of wood. Smash stuff and open up plaster board ceilings with one bound. [try and spend atleast fiver on this item]
5. Essential tool alert! Tape measure. [try and spend atleast fiver on this item]
6. Bonus weapon. Electric cutter. Can be very useful to cut accurate and tidy holes. Be careful though, pull out one of these and you start looking like a builder who turns up to work in a suit everyday. I like them, so I have one. [cordless will cost you around £100]
7. Wrecking bar. Tasty leverage, light weight and bullish. You can wreck all day with this tool without breaking into a sweat. [a good one will cost around £7]
8. Screwdrivers. An assortment of them will help out tremendously. [you could spend a minor fortune here, a fiver]
9. Pliers/pincers. I like them, you may not. [£5 from any good hardware shop]
10. Scissors or Stanley knife [other bladed knives are freely available]. Great at trimming and making good an edge. [£1 down Poundland]
11. Brush. Not absolutely necessary, but I keep one just in case I make a huge mess. [£1 down Poundland]
12. Digital Camera. I use the camera on my phone. Taking pictures during an investigation has helped me no end in the past and a serious investigator needs one. [Price? Where do I start?]
A number of other tools have not been included; for example a hand shear vane tester, engineers note book, reference material and calculator etc.
Please add to this as you see fit, and enjoy your new Super Engineer status.
Many thanks to Alexander from Building Doctors, and Brian Bonnett for the inspiration behind this post.
IMPORTANT ADDENDUM and warning
Please check your professional, employers and public liability insurances before personally taking on any of the invasive investigations mentioned over. If in doubt, always ask that a builder is present to open up structure. Thank you for your input Baz! [see below for Baz's comment]
Engine[er]
![Starting up an Engine[er]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_48ubt0myJl9Kc2av_Yix8HwEpZTit9DLMrmiRI2LjDYLbqNtxNz6VTsBNTgpDxOGErtF-SRLInkC-wRWFeM-LRL0N0VvpgtHxCBKGnpQ1CZBb5-wXP76Y-of8pZkYpAOR7iTm1OOE6c/s435/newblog.jpg)
Basic Process: Observe, Measure and Record. (do no harm)
ReplyDeleteDigital camera's are good for dark spaces. Amazing how adjusting gamma factor is like switching the lights on. Unfortunately software for is at office: but does save the trip back to site.
On measurement side also take steel rule, micrometer, vernier callipers, and directional compass, bevel, try-square and spirit level. Dumpy level only taken when specifically needed.
Which then results in make shift height gauge from geoliner, and any string and weight I can find. Not accurate but gets a ball park figure of the height to be measured with more suitable tools.
Some things also best left to trades in terms of liability and insurance. One thing to lift up concrete roof tile and replace, another thing to lift up sheet metal cladding spanning from ridge to eaves: the latter best left to roof plumber.
I guess depends on purpose of inspection, on whether need to restore and leave as found, or can leave as exposed to be fixed when renovation goes ahead: versus if it goes ahead.
Thanks Steve for the comments. Some good ideas there and I forgot the digital camera! Just added it - that's essential too.
ReplyDeletePublic Liability Insurance! Although not really required to be in your bag, it's a tool that is needed, nevertheless.
ReplyDeleteA standard office-based PL policy just won't cut the mustard: if you are digging holes, or lifting floorboards etc and you damage services, you won't be covered and the costs will all fall to your account. Check the policy wording closely and ensure that it covers out-of-office work of this type; you may well need to specifically mention this aspect of your work to insurers.
Don't forget to take into account the policy excess, too. Many moons ago, I lifted a floorboard and re-nailed it back down. Using the same nail, in the same nail hole, I nevertheless managed to pierce a heating pipe. I wasn't aware of this at the time, but I was, after the owner came back and reported the entire downstairs flooded. New carpets and ceiling were required and the policy excess was greater than the fee we charged at the time.
For this reason and not just for reasons of laziness, I don't do any knocking about, opening-up, refixing of floorboards etc. Instead, I always have a builder in attendance, with his own PL insurance. I limit myself to getting involved in digging trial pits/boreholes - but this is where my PL needs to cover me, of course...
Smashing comments Baz. I have amended my post to include your helpful points.
ReplyDeleteI work mainly domestic/commercial and very rarely, but now and again industrial. The best thing I find is collating basic/general info regarding the property as well as the neighbouring houses/buildings whatever, as dating something for me gives me a lot of info before I get there, not an indepth desktop study, just general research. The only thing I would add is a surveyors staff (although mentioned earlier posts comes with the dumpy level), handy on its own for measuring upto the eaves of high level cills or features, I use the best camera I can afford currently a 18mp x26 zoom they are about 150 quid now, great for outdoor long distance shots to inaccessable areas, and a small 10mp for places where I can only reach in with my arm, also a small pair of bino,s but with the camera I rarely use them but still great for instant on site investigation, I dont bother with trial holes much unless its a big job or a very old building and only then do I have the contractor with me,for a second opinion as much as for any other reason, as most of my specs regarding a new extension,beams & columns etc or refurbs where new construction is being used I spec elements relative for normal soil conditions, I also use a spirit level ruler with a bubble on both planes, combined with a a bit of trig to determine rafter angles (dont trust some of the digi ones out there), and lastly my trusty manhole keys a pair of 18" ones cost about 20 quid, again great for determining drain direction. I also on the vast majority of jobs specify in my conditions of engagement that the survey is a non destructive one, so if I can get by without and it doesnt stick out like a bulldogs testicles, I don't bother, but sometimes you have to open something up especially on old buildings, and on some new ones aswell, as with dot and dab on some new-ish builds you would of thought they where the timber frame.
ReplyDeleteCheers
Dave
Thank you Dave! Staff, spirit level and binocs. All great additions. I hear what you are saying about domestic projects and soils investigation - you can tend to get all the info you need from a well timed conversation with building control. Keep reading :-)
ReplyDeleteDoes anybody else wear a helmet ? Get lots of stickers for it, it makes you look experienced :)
ReplyDeleteI use a laser measuring device that has the ability to calculate trigonometry for height of things from distance to bottom and top of weall from one point. Out of consideration, I carry two 10M tapes, one for outside (dirty) and one for inside (clean). saves getting mud on the wallpaper!
ReplyDeleteHi Mubeen, thanks for the comment. I definitely wear a hard hat when on a building site. If the site which you visit is a building site already - then there definitely will be a builder there to open up the structure for you :-)
ReplyDeleteHi David, laser measuring devices are quite cheap nowadays aren't they? Might be a handy tool to add to the bag.
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