Any architechts/PE here?

[alia176]

I need a drawing with a PE stamp for a patio deck cover that I'd like to make. This will be a simple patio deck cover with the traditional joists, joist hanger, support poles, etc. Heck, I can make the drawings but need an engineering stamp for Bernalillo county. If you can do this or know someone who can do this for a reasonable price, let me know please. I'll look in CL to see if anyone is offering such services.

Next step is to figure out how to get a home owner builder license to build this thing. Guess I need to take a test or something. Has anyone done this before?

 

[marcfj60]

I thought Steve and Larry were PEs

 

[Rudical]

Just do it like they do in the south valley. Park the biggest RV/trailer you can find to block the view, then build it. Skip all the technicalities. I know someone that added a 1200 sq. ft. room that way.

 

[Voodoo FJ]

I like Rudical's idea. I would trust your design. : )

 

[gr8wrk]

Don't you just get an Owner/Builder Permit, not a License? I did it some time ago: do drawings, get engineer stamp if necessary, submit to Plan Check (give your county money), get a permit, start building. Or have they changed the rules?

 

[SteveLCetc]

If it's just a residential improvement to code I don't see why you'd need a PE.

 

[alia176]

If it's just a residential improvement to code I don't see why you'd need a PE.

Any time there's snow/wind load involved, it seems a PE needs to sign off on the design. The future plan includes solar panels on top of this structure so I might as well get a PE to sign off on it.

 

[SteveLCetc]

There is always snow/wind load involved - well maybe not snow elsewhere. However, the design will also depend on how much in the way of solar panels you put up. I'm not a structural engineer though - I'm civil.

 

[alia176]

Anyone have any recommendation for an architect and/or PE? Please speak up!

 

[pappy]

Just for the clueless ... P=what?

 

[Cruisergreg]

Just for the clueless ... P=what?

PE = Professional Engineer

 

[pappy]

Civil, electrical, mechanical, professional, nuclear, domestic. Good gawd, how many flavors of engineer are there?

 

[Cruisergreg]

Civil, electrical, mechanical, professional, nuclear, domestic. Good gawd, how many flavors of engineer are there?

You forgot "sanitation"

 

[Beowulf]

Civil, electrical, mechanical, professional, nuclear, domestic. Good gawd, how many flavors of engineer are there?

Interesting question.

Some others that come to mind.
Automotive, petroleum, chemical, aerospace, aeronautical, systems.

I was watching that documentary on what goes in to building BMWs and they had acoustic engineers tweaking the beeps, buzzes, and chimes that go into the vehicles built by BMW. The guy said he listens to a particular sound thousands of times and adjusts it ever-so-slightly until it is perfect. It appeared that his supervisor was sitting in the car with him and they would collaborate on the sound decisions.

Figgin' waste of time & money as far as I'm concerned.

-Mike-

 

[pappy]

List of engineering branches - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I should have figured that with engineers the K.I.S.S. principle does not apply.

 

[sl33p3]

well in this case PE means you have at least a bachelors degree in an engineering field and have passed the PE test. which has different focuses and such. most typical for civils (like bridge design, or commercial structural, etc), or an engineer doing consulting work (like in a consulting firm etc). sometimes engineers can use the PE of one of the Execs in the firm for legality etc, but it's not really their name. a huge amount more of legal liability gets assigned to your name with a PE.

it does all get complicated, but i blame litigation and our society more than engineers.

and of course you boys who have one can correct me if you want to spend the effort

 

[sl33p3]

List of engineering branches - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I should have figured that with engineers the K.I.S.S. principle does not apply.

you know what is funny and sad is that is not nearly the amount of "specializations" you can even get degrees for, especially if you start counting all the weird stuff in graduate schools.

and KISS does apply, we just all want to be special

 

[Devil Frog]

county ordinance


http://www.bernco.gov/upload/images/zoning_building_planning/BuildingOrd.pdf


i would review:

104.2 Additions, Alterations or Repairs:

43 ...Alterations or repairs to an existing building or structure which are
44 nonstructural and do not adversely affect any structural member or any part of the
45 building or structure having required fire resistance may be made of the same materials of
46 which the building or structure is constructed, and shall be subject to the approval of the
47 building official.


My interpretation is that you would not need a building permit until you mounted the solar panels on top. One could argue that the covering could be structural to provide a snow/wind loading, but conversly it could be a temporary shade. I think you would have a valid arguement though if you were cited.
If it were me I would just over engineer (use at least 2x6 framing) the covered porch and build it without a permit. A PE's loaded rate will range from $150-400/hr and would likey charge at least 4 hours for something like this.

 

[Cruisergreg]

Begin rant:

I have been a professional environmental constultant for 17 years. In my opinion the requirement for a PE stamp on certain documents is a function of professional snobbery and lobbying, and not a verification that the document has been developed with "good engineering practices". As an example for 20 years or more an EPA-required document called a Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasures plan (SPCC) required a PE stamp to be valid. It didn't matter what sort of engineer you were, you could approve the plan. Even though I would write these plans often I always had to get a PE stamp to complete it. I usually used my friend and coworker, an EE, who had no experience in aboveground storage tank containment design. But that was good enough for EPA.

End rant.

 

[SteveLCetc]

It didn't matter what sort of engineer you were, you could approve the plan.

Part of being a PE is knowing your limits in understanding the physical sciences involved in your specialty
(ies). There are a lot of people out there who can parrot pre-existing designs - the difference is in copying what one has seen before and knowing what will work and apploying it in a certain situation. Or so the theory goes. Here is the list of specialties in NM:
New Mexico State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Surveyors