Building Permit Time Folks

I applied for a building permit on October 14th. Maplewood wants a second opinion. Looks like foundation is still sound... let the building permit roll! This exercise has taught me that a $250 engineer and a $1500 engineer are created equal.

RE: Martin Residence Foundation Inspection (FEG# 11.672)

Dear Mr. Killeen;
Pursuant to your request, Frontenac Engineering Group, Inc. has recently carried out a site visit
on Friday, October 14th, 2011 to the property located at 7127 High Street in Maplewood,
Missouri. The purpose of our visit was to visually inspect the foundations in the aftermath of the
fire. Please note that, since our inspection was visual in nature, we did not enter any areas that
are not normally accessible, nor was any destructive or non-destructive testing conducted. Thus,
we cannot warrant the future behavior of the building’s structure. Also, our inspection did not
include non-structural items, e.g. plumbing, electrical, HVAC.
We believe that the existing foundation is capable of supporting the new proposed house.
Hence, based on our visual inspections, we recommend the following:
• Rebuilding the North-East wall corner due to settlement.
• Rebuilding the South-West wall corner due to construction demolition damage.
• Grout solid all collar joints between the stone walls.
• Provide dowel bars between the stone walls and the new proposed block above.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or comments.
Thank you,
Mohamed T. AL HARASH
Mohamed T. AL HARASH, Sc.D., P.E., S.E.
Chief Structural Engineer

El Virgin

Reflection of the Virgin. The mural of the Virgin of Guadalupe is located next to a gas station in the Lower Valley of El Paso. (Cynthia Carol Almodovar/Borderzine.com)

 

 

 

Killeen, the architect surprised me the other day. We walked up to his warehouse on Salena St. and he had the entire first floor taped out with mock furniture installed. He invited me onto my porch and through the hallway to the kitchen. It. Looks. Awesome.

I was intimidated of the huge white wall in the kitchen, but as it turns out this will be a great home for the Virgin de Guadalupe mural like the one pictured above. You know, the one who crushes the serpent.

I recommend anyone to start building their dream home as soon as they can.