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Structural Design

An Interior Shear Wall With Nothing Below It?

Monday, January 30th, 2012

A seasoned building inspector recently sent me the following photograph with this message:
I hate to see this.  There were some interior shear walls as part of a large addition that was done about 10 years ago, on this house that I …


Structural Repair Power Point Show

Wednesday, January 4th, 2012

Settlement, cracked concrete, cut or notched joists, rafters, and beams, seismic upgrades… they’re all covered in this Power Point presentation.

If you like this presentation and are interested in more of my writings, please “Like” my Facebook Page.

Click here …


Deck Post Connection Done Right

Friday, November 18th, 2011

If you’ve ever leaned against a deck rail not installed correctly, you might have felt a scare as it bowed outward. This is a hot-button topic for many building inspectors, and with good cause. Properly designed deck rails must be …


Save Me $2,000 or No Soup For You!

Wednesday, August 17th, 2011

Would you take a consulting gig where you got paid only if your investigation resulted in at least $2,000 savings per home, hard money? Kind of like the Soup Nazi – either order food his way or no soup for …


Unblocked Shear Walls – Would You Believe, Yes?

Friday, May 20th, 2011

In my relentless pursuit of green, I am forced to face the question: Must all plywood or OSB shear walls be blocked?

I say forced because prying the answer from our wonderful building code is like trying to wrest a fresh …


The Mysterious Disappearing Cypress

Wednesday, May 4th, 2011

The elderly woman’s voice on the other end of the phone said, “Hello? Is this Mr. Garrison, the engineer?”

“Yes,” I replied, “thank you for calling. How may I help you today?”

“Well, it’s my plant, you see. It disappeared. A lovely …


Free Advice Makes Me Nervous

Saturday, April 23rd, 2011

I get lots of emails asking for structural advice – which is great – I welcome them. However, it’s hard for me to offer detailed advice without having seen a drawing or plan.

Everyone, myself included, likes free advice. We all …


Single Or Double Top Plate – Diminishing Returns?

Thursday, March 10th, 2011

Green framing is a terrific concept, not much debate in that. But is there a point of diminishing returns? Yes, of course there is. Remove too much wood, and strength suffers.  

Take the humble top plate of a stick framed …


When the Earthquake Shakes, Mama You Got To Move

Tuesday, February 1st, 2011

I recently visited San Luis Obispo, CA and spent some time strolling about downtown. I came upon the following placard posted conspicuously on the front of an older building.

The …


Tearing Out Walls

Tuesday, January 4th, 2011

Dear Don,

I was once told by a remodeler that if I would answer this very question and post it to my blog, it would …