Question for Architects, Engineers and Contractors

[Sinister]

Obviously not. This man clearly has some sense of how a building goes together.

sac

That was my thought, as well.  Every architecture student should work two summers on a construction site...MINIMUM!!!

[B.Rock]

Some screws are OK
http://www.strongtie.com/products/connectors/screws.asp
Deck screws, you mean the coated ones? What a pain in the ass. I love those things but I get pretty tired of stripped the crap out of them. Seems like an awful lot of work.

[Sinister]

True, B.Rock, but those SDS screws are frickin' expensive!!!

[MendoDave]

Not for shear strength. And that is primarily what nails are for. You would have to have one bad ass screw that would shear off or bend after a 16d nail, say.

+1 not enough shear strength in screws.

[CromoMann]

Like laying floor joists flat. The builder couldn't understand why you couldn't do that, maybe he wanted a trampoline for a living room

The 'underscore-beam' just never caught on like they expected it to...

[erkishhorde]

Did you make the mistake of becoming an architect?

Obviously not. This man clearly has some sense of how a building goes together.

That was my thought, as well.  Every architecture student should work two summers on a construction site...MINIMUM!!!

Sorta. I majored in Architectural Engineering at Cal Poly SLO. We're supposed to be structural engineers with a better idea of how the architecture side works so that we can better integrate our structural systems into the architectural theme of the building.  I am (will be) working for an architecture firm though. They bought out a small structural firm and are using them as the beginnings of an in-house structural division. Working together from the beginning to hopefully produce a better finished product. 

[Sinister]

Sorta. I majored in Architectural Engineering at Cal Poly SLO. We're supposed to be structural engineers with a better idea of how the architecture side works so that we can better integrate our structural systems into the architectural theme of the building.  I am (will be) working for an architecture firm though. They bought out a small structural firm and are using them as the beginnings of an in-house structural division. Working together from the beginning to hopefully produce a better finished product. 

The easiest way to do this is for the engineer to actually LOOK at what the architect has drawn.  Deck (PT, floor, etc) penetration drawings are your friend. 

[erkishhorde]

Yup. It's amazing how much information they squeeze onto those drawings. And then it's funny how we add extra stuff like, "We are not responsible if you build the building exactly as we have drawn it and it doesn't work," or something to that extent. 

[SacDuc]

Sorta. I majored in Architectural Engineering at Cal Poly SLO. We're supposed to be structural engineers with a better idea of how the architecture side works so that we can better integrate our structural systems into the architectural theme of the building.  I am (will be) working for an architecture firm though. They bought out a small structural firm and are using them as the beginnings of an in-house structural division. Working together from the beginning to hopefully produce a better finished product. 

GOOD! Architectural firms have decided to take some responsiblity back! Now if we can just get them to do design work again. You know, something beyond just a floor plan and a window schedule. On second thought, I have a job doing exactly that for a Contractor since Architects don't do design work any more. So keep slacking architects, and don't worry, I'll make your building look pretty.   

sac

[Bun-bun]

The engineering doesnt specify a nailing schedule, the architect's plans do, but this guy drew them up.  

 For some reason they dont like using their hammers.  They line up the nail gun to the holes in the hangers and shoot them in.  It's pretty funny to watch.  

It may be funny to watch, but make certain you're standing far away when they do it. I watched a guy do that, miss the hole, and have the nail bounce off the hanger and hit him in the belly. Perfed his intestine, they had to open him up at the hospital to fix the damage and remove the nail.

Also, I'm on the other coast, but here, we're required to use a specific hanger nail, and must use a hot dipped galvanized nail in PT framing, like the footings and bargeboards.

[The Architect]

So keep slacking architects, and don't worry, I'll make your building look pretty.   

sac

(responding architect + a few glass' of wine    )

sac and all you other architect bashers, go choke on some bacon..............      

A client wants to pay me to design, we'll design all day and then some!  They want to only pay for a floor plan and a window schedule and that's what they'll get and then some.  Actually I take that back, we've stopped providing service to clients that are looking for a cheap set of plans.  Am I rambling?  Those clients normally don't want to pay us and they are the ones who hire builders who use deck screws on the framing.

There are way to many posts in this topic for me to keep track    

Are they really using deck screws?  Or are they using some other type of screws?  There are some screws that have the same if not better sheer capacity as nails.  The screws usually cost 4x more than the nails. n ot to mention the time to secure them.

If they are using deck screws, don't let that go by.  People will occupy this building, thier safety should be a major concern.  I would have difficulty sleeping at night.  Decks screws have the same sheer capacity as wood golf tee's.  What will happen when a family moves in with all their furniture?  What will happen when a minor storm blows through?

Deck screws are not designed to perform like nails. 



Doesn't Cali require contractors to be licensed?  (which is a load of shit, contractors not a business name need to liable for all their work, like architects and engineers)



Do you really want to work with a company that puts out work like this?

  wine is good   

[Popeye the Sailor]

sac and all you other architect bashers, go choke on some bacon..............      

I would personally like to thank the architects, civil engineers, and structural engineers who pour so much of themselves into making targets for the mechanical engineers.

[Speedbag]

My house has a 24'x24' octagonal cedar deck on the back of it. The only place screws are used is to hold the decking planks (the ones you walk on) in place and hold the lighter railing-related stuff on. The rest is bolted together, either with carriage-type through bolts with nuts or lag screws. It is extremely sturdy.....

[B.Rock]

True, B.Rock, but those SDS screws are frickin' expensive!!!

No argument there at all!

[Grio]

Vindingo...
If you know who the owner is, you could always place an anonymous call.  Suggest to the owner that they  may want to have an inspector make onsite visit ASAP,  then act dumb as shit hits the fan. 
Eventually, the project is going to have to pass inspection unless it is being built unpermitted...
and you could always place an anonymous call to the inspector yourself, for that matter.

You guys can bash all you like.  I've seen it all.  As an architect that works for/as a general contractor, I am more evil than evil - evil to all who look upon me.  However, as I work my way through the industry, it is amazing how many people I run across just trying to fake their knowlege base.  Like your boss, don't assume people know what they are doing just by virtue of their position.

Doctors scare me too...