GBA Logo horizontal Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter X Instagram YouTube Icon Navigation Search Icon Main Search Icon Video Play Icon Plus Icon Minus Icon Picture icon Hamburger Icon Close Icon Sorted

Community and Q&A

What type of advisor is needed?

user-2642926 | Posted in General Questions on

I’m asking this for some very good friends of mine. 

They have obvious roof leaks (So Cal location – not a lot of rain, but some over the weekend.)

Our houses are in an area of “expansive soils”, and their home is a slab construction.  The slab has cracks, and they have parquet flooring – I know… quite dated – that allows you to see exactly where the slab is affected. The door from the kitchen out to the garage is now slightly binding, and it looks like the threshold is bowing upward slightly, interfering with the door.  That bow is in line with a crack in the slab.

They also have ceiling damage from the roof leaks, and the crown molding on their kitchen cabinets is separating from the ceiling above.

What type of advisor / technician should they be looking for to assess what the problems are and how best to proceed?

GBA Prime

Join the leading community of building science experts

Become a GBA Prime member and get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

Replies

  1. Expert Member
    DCcontrarian | | #1

    Sounds like a structural engineer and possibly a roofer.

  2. mr_reference_Hugh | | #2

    Agreed, definitely a structural engineer.

  3. sb1616ne | | #3

    Yes, an engineer, but one with a geotechnical background that is either extremely familiar with your exact soil type or that will have a soil test performed so they can design a solution for your exact problem. I think you will want to avoid someone who will just "wing it" and say this should work!

  4. user-2642926 | | #4

    Thanks everyone. When I did the house work, my structural engineer didn't seem like the "right" type of person for this type of exam.

    Good to know a little detail about the background they're seeking.

Log in or create an account to post an answer.

Community

Recent Questions and Replies

  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |