Residential vs. Commercial ?
Residential vs. Commercial ?
(OP)
I currently work with a company that won't touch residential house design work unless it is in the millions, so I don't know much about the residential market (houses).
I would guess residential work is more variable than the commercial market for structural engineers, but to what extent I don't know.
I'd love to hear feedback and experiences on the percieved/actual differences between working in the two markets in terms of job security, income, problems/issues, overall experience, competition, etc.
My fairly uninformed opinion is that commercial work would be more secure, slightly higher income, less chance of being sued, and easier due to working with more proficient architects, but with more complicated and intricate designs involved. Am I way off? Would it be worth pursuing a residential design job with the idea that it would be easier to get my own company going in residential vs. commercial?
I would guess residential work is more variable than the commercial market for structural engineers, but to what extent I don't know.
I'd love to hear feedback and experiences on the percieved/actual differences between working in the two markets in terms of job security, income, problems/issues, overall experience, competition, etc.
My fairly uninformed opinion is that commercial work would be more secure, slightly higher income, less chance of being sued, and easier due to working with more proficient architects, but with more complicated and intricate designs involved. Am I way off? Would it be worth pursuing a residential design job with the idea that it would be easier to get my own company going in residential vs. commercial?






RE: Residential vs. Commercial ?
I did six months in a residential design office and I've never worked harder. There is little technical challenge but plenty of scope for developing time and cost saving procedures. Most of the engineers had never designed anything more significant that housing and had no intention of doing anything else but what they did they did well. The CAD technicians actually ran the show and on many occasions I was given a complete set of drawings - GA, setting out, drainage and RC details before I had even started the design! It is the nature of the work that they were usually right.
I enjoyed it and would have spent longer working there if personal circumstances had not intervened. I would not however has stuck with it long term as I like new and varied challenges...
RE: Residential vs. Commercial ?
I think you need to be as diversified as you can reasonably be when starting a new company. You will eventually find your niche markets.
DaveAtkins
RE: Residential vs. Commercial ?
RE: Residential vs. Commercial ?
At my other companies, I would work on about 3 or 4 projects per month. Here I work on about 3 or 4 projects per day (or more when its busy). We do a lot of residential foundation inspections as well (somebody has a crack in their foundation and is trying to sell the house - the prospective buyer wants an engineer to look at it...) It is quite lucrative, you have MUCH fewer hassles with an egocentric architect changing his mind a week before the project is due.
Bottom line: I enjoy residential more than commercial. I do miss designing steel braced frame buildings, one-way slabs, and the like, but those kinds of projects filter in about once every month or two - to keep me on my toes. And I do think it would be easier to start your own company in the residential market, with room for smaller commercial additions, metal buildings, warehouses, etc. to make a name for yourself in the community, and then branch out to commercial when you are ready for it - but that's just my opinion.
Pray like everything depends on God
Work like everything depends on you.
RE: Residential vs. Commercial ?
Like CEGG, I also find residential more "enjoyable" because you really are making someone's dream come true.
RE: Residential vs. Commercial ?
RE: Residential vs. Commercial ?