Whether you are planning a change or investigating an existing condition, the engineering scope needs to reflect the actual structure and the question being asked. Grey Load provides project-specific structural design and assessment support for residential and commercial work: additions and alterations, openings and load-bearing wall changes, equipment supports, canopies, and damage from storms, fire or deterioration.
What the scope can include
- Framing and support design for additions, renovations and alterations
- Project-specific connections, foundations and repair details
- Beam design where a load-bearing wall is removed or opened
- Supports for rooftop and other equipment, and canopy structures
- Review of existing records and observed conditions, including storm or fire damage
- Engineering drawings, calculations, assessment reports or letters, as the assignment requires
An assessment and a repair or support design may be separate phases. We define the purpose and limits of each deliverable before work begins. Enclosures have their own page under screen enclosure engineering, and work built without a permit under after-the-fact support.
Florida considerations
Wind drives most structural decisions here. Design wind speeds come from the code's wind maps and depend on location and risk category, and a roof needs a continuous load path from sheathing to foundation. Windows and doors must meet the design pressures on the plans and carry Florida Product Approval or a Miami-Dade NOA; in wind-borne debris regions they must be impact-rated or protected. Foundations have to account for sandy or organic soils, a high water table and, in flood zones, elevated floors. Repairs and alterations fall under the Florida Building Code, Existing Building volume, and in a FEMA flood zone the 50% substantial improvement or damage rule can change the whole project, so we check for it early.
What to send
Share the project address, available plans, dimensions, photographs and the proposed change. Equipment information, truss records or prior engineering may also be relevant. We identify whether a site visit or more information is needed, then develop the agreed analysis and documents.
Concealed conditions or incomplete records can affect both scope and schedule. The proposal identifies the planned work and the known dependencies.
Common questions
Can photographs show every connection or concealed condition?
Photographs help identify the issue, but they may not show dimensions, product identification, concealed supports or installation details. Additional records or a site investigation may be needed.
Is a site assessment the same as a repair design?
No. An assessment documents the agreed review and findings. Designing a new support or repair may be a separate scope.
What if the field condition differs from the plans?
Share the difference and the records you have. The condition has to be evaluated before deciding which revised details or documents are appropriate.
