Understanding the Difference Between a Contractor and a Structural Engineer

In the construction industry, structural engineers and contractors are two essential professionals, each with a distinct role. While their efforts converge to deliver successful projects, understanding their differences is key to appreciating their individual contributions.

What Does a Structural Engineer Do?

A structural engineer is a licensed expert who specializes in designing and analyzing structures to ensure their safety and stability under various forces and loads. Their primary responsibilities include:

• Design and Analysis: Structural engineers create detailed plans and calculations to ensure the integrity and safety of a structure. Their designs comply with building codes and regulations.

• Material Specification: They determine the best materials for a project based on factors like strength, durability, and cost-effectiveness.

• Problem-Solving: Engineers tackle complex structural challenges, such as ensuring a building can bear anticipated loads, resist external stresses and transfer load appropriately to prevent significant sags, cracks and in extreme cases collapses.

• Client Advocacy: Acting as impartial advisors, structural engineers prioritize safety and the client’s interests, ensuring designs meet project goals.

What Does a Contractor Do?

A contractor is responsible for managing the physical construction of a project, turning the engineer’s designs into reality. Their key duties include:

• Project Management: Contractors oversee all on-site activities, including labor, materials, and equipment. Some times these activities could be managed by an engineer or a project manager.

• Implementation: They follow the structural engineer’s designs and specifications, ensuring construction meets the required standards.

• Compliance: Contractors ensure that the construction process adheres to local building codes and safety regulations.

• On-Site Problem-Solving: They handle real-time challenges that arise during construction to maintain the project timeline and quality.

Key Differences Between a Structural Engineer and a Contractor

Aspect	Structural Engineer	Contractor
Focus	Design, safety, and analysis	Practical implementation of construction plans
Expertise	Physics, mathematics, statics, load distribution and material science	Construction techniques and project logistics
Role	Ensures safety, functionality, and compliance	Manages on-site execution and resource allocation
Client Relationship	Acts as an impartial advisor to clients	Ensures project delivery as per specifications

Collaboration Between Engineers and Contractors

A successful construction project requires seamless collaboration between structural engineers and contractors. Engineers provide designs, calculations and drawings, while contractors translate these designs into tangible structures. Open communication is crucial to address unforeseen challenges and maintain the project’s integrity.

Conclusion

While structural engineers and contractors perform different roles, both are indispensable in the construction process. Engineers ensure a project is well-designed and safe, while contractors bring these designs to life with expertise in execution. By engaging both professionals, clients can achieve a balance of safety, efficiency, and quality in their projects.

We at Pittsburgh Design & Engineering Services take pride in offering a comprehensive range of services that blend expertise with practicality. With our experienced structural engineer, we bring years of knowledge in design, analysis, fabrication, project management, and construction.

Our mission is to deliver solutions that are not only safe but also practical, ensuring that every project meets your needs efficiently while adhering to the highest standards of safety and quality. From concept to completion, we work closely with clients to transform ideas into robust and reliable structures.

Let us help you bring your vision to life with innovation, precision, and expertise.

For a deeper dive into this topic, read our detailed article: Key Differences Between a Contractor and an Engineer in Construction.

Written by Firas Abdelahad, P.E.

Firas Abdelahad has been a practicing structural engineer since 2005, collaborating with a diverse range of professionals, including consultants, architects, investors, homeowners, contractors, and subcontractors. Together, they tackle the various challenges that can arise during the design and construction phases of projects.

The information and statements in this document are for information purposes only and do not comprise the professional advice of the author or create a professional relationship between reader and author.

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Key Differences between a Contractor and an Engineer in the Construction Industry

Contractors & engineers' work typically complement each others. A work designed by an engineer can't get built without a contractor and often times a work done by a contractor can't be certified without an engineer.

Structural Concerns

A few weeks back, a post surfaced, inquiring about a recommendation for a structural engineer. Amidst the comments, one response stood out:

“Your best bet is to find a contractor with experience in structures because most structural engineers never touched a tool. They have great knowledge but that has to translate to your contractor. You want to be very careful that you’re not overpaying for knowledge that is not going to apply to your situation.”

I’m certain that this notion has crossed the minds of many, and some still hold this belief.

As an engineer myself, I respectfully disagree, and here’s my perspective showing key differences between a contractor and an engineer:

While it’s true that some engineers may not have hands-on construction experience, they excel at providing meticulous drawings that ensure work is executed correctly, adhering to building codes, engineering standards, and fundamental principles. This approach minimizes the need for corrections and prevents future issues, such as floor sags or compromised load-bearing walls.

Being in the field since 2005, I’ve collaborated with numerous contractors, both directly and indirectly. Most can handle standard tasks without detailed plans, relying on their experience. However, challenges arise when projects become customized and necessitate calculations or verifications.

Regrettably, I’ve witnessed many poorly executed reinforcements, where contractors or handymen selected beam sizes based on experience, resulting in incorrect support or undersized structures. Notably, homeowners often skip involving an engineer during the design phase before hiring a contractor, assuming they can obtain free advice from contractors who may provide estimates and initial consultations at no cost to secure their services. However, an engineer, when engaged, becomes your advocate, offering impartial guidance.

For the average homeowner, who lacks in-depth construction expertise, hiring an engineer proves beneficial when addressing structural issues. Most structural modifications require permits, backed by stamped drawings from licensed and registered engineers.

When clients reach out to me, I ask probing questions to understand their needs fully. This helps me assess whether I can genuinely add value during property inspections or site visits. If not, I guide them in an alternative direction.

Recently, I was tasked with evaluating a structural reinforcement meant to rectify a floor sag. Upon inspection, I was deeply concerned. The beam lacked sufficient support and had been haphazardly shored up with steel rods, as seen in the second and third images below. It was a subpar execution.

Moreover, the beam was improperly installed lower than it should have been, failing to brace the weakened, undersized, sagging beam. Shims were inserted to bridge the gap between the steel beam and wooden beam, as depicted in the first picture.

Additionally, note the slight warping or twisting of the beam in the second picture.

Furthermore, a steel post was added, but it was not tall enough. This forced the installer to use loose bricks to elevate its base, which rested directly on the concrete slab instead of a proper footer.

Unfortunately, I don’t have a picture of this improper support. Refer to my structural deficiencies (I) blog for an explanation of why this approach is flawed.

I strongly doubt that a licensed contractor oversaw this work, or at least, I hope not.

Typically, licensed contractors either collaborate with engineers or advise homeowners to engage one. I consistently stress to homeowners that hiring an engineer not only provides a layer of protection but also ensures that modifications meet engineering standards and building codes, reducing the likelihood of issues arising when the house is sold in the future.

Lastly, it is important to note that the home improvement consumer protection act 73 P.S. § 517.1 (HICPA) was adopted by Pennsylvania's General Assembly in October, 2008 and signed by the Governor as Act 132 of 2008. The law establishes a mandatory registration program for contractors who offer or perform home improvement in Pennsylvania. Reference the following link for frequently asked questions about the act: https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/resources/home-improvement-contractor-registration/contractor-frequently-asked-questions/

Picture 1

Picture 2

Picture 3: Improper shimming not enough bearing

#structuralengineer #Structuraldeficiencies #valueofengineering #structurallysound #realestatepgh #pittsburghstructuralengineering #Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act, 73 P.S. § 517.1

Written by Firas Abdelahad, P.E.

Firas Abdelahad has been a practicing structural engineer since 2005, collaborating with a diverse range of professionals, including consultants, architects, investors, homeowners, contractors, and subcontractors. Together, they tackle the various challenges that can arise during the design and construction phases of projects.

The information and statements in this document are for information purposes only and do not comprise the professional advice of the author or create a professional relationship between reader and author.

Snow loads on Roofs

With winter storm warning into effect for our region, it is important to bring to your attention the potential snow loads impact on roof structures.

Snow on Roof

Snow load on roof

Snow loads on roofs can vary by state, location (depends on topographic factors), elevations, ground snow load, insulation, roofing materials, pitch and many other directly or indirectly related factors like drifting, wind, etc.

Pictures below from FEMA document “snow load Safety Guide”

https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/7d8c55d1c4f815edf3d7e7d1c120383f/FEMA957_Snowload_508.pdf

Figure 1a

Figure 1b

It is important for homeowners and/or property managers to develop a routine maintenance plan to inspect their roof structure after a heavy snow fall especially for older structures or If your structure was renovated or you know that it had structural elements upgraded, replaced and or changed with no permits or stamped drawings to document that the modification was reviewed by a licensed engineer.

Potential issue:

We have seen a fair share of modification to roof structure to convert a conventional roof structure (rafters and joists) to a cathedral ceiling style with no proper reinforcement to reduce the thrust on side walls. Heavy snow fall will put these kinds of modification to test when roof will experience heavier load, hence some cracks may start developing as a result of the improper modification to the roof structure.

Local Snow Requirement for City of Pittsburgh:

City of Pittsburgh modified/amended code requirement for ground snow load to be 30 pound per square foot.

When calculating flat roof snow load following ASCE7-10 formulas, tables to select exposure factor Ce, thermal factor Ct, importance factor Is:

Pf=0.7*Ce*Ct*Is*Pg= 0.7*1*1*1*30=21 psf (pound per square foot)

Snow load on sloped roof, Ps, will be a factor of the flat roof snow: Ps=Cs*Pf

Roof slope factor, Cs, values can be determined from Sections 7.4.1-7.4.4 (ASCE7-10) for warm, cold, curved and multiple roofs.

It is important to bring to your attention Partial Loading, unbalanced roof snow loads, drifts on lower roofs, roof projections and parapets, rain on snow surcharge as other effects as explained in ASCE7-10

Please consult with your structural engineer for more information and clarification. This document is not intended to summarize the section of the code/standard (IBC2015/ASCE7-10) nor it is sufficient to use to complete your own snow load calculations without referring to the referenced documents and having it reviewed a licensed engineer.

Pittsburgh Design & Engineering Services LLC can assist you with your snow load calculations or any other structural engineering needs at your request.

#structuralengineer #snowload #roofstructure #realestate #pittsburgh

Written by Firas Abdelahad, P.E.

Firas Abdelahad has been a practicing structural engineer since 2005, collaborating with a diverse range of professionals, including consultants, architects, investors, homeowners, contractors, and subcontractors. Together, they tackle the various challenges that can arise during the design and construction phases of projects.

The information and statements in this document are for information purposes only and do not comprise the professional advice of the author or create a professional relationship between reader and author.

Please note that as code changes some information may not be current on this post.