Can I Design and Stamp my Own House?
Can I Design and Stamp my Own House?
(OP)
Easy question....please no condemnation or ridicule.
Can a person design their own house, stamp it, and then have a 3rd party contractor build it?
I've seen other guys do it BUT they used a pal to stamp the design.
Thanks in advance.
Can a person design their own house, stamp it, and then have a 3rd party contractor build it?
I've seen other guys do it BUT they used a pal to stamp the design.
Thanks in advance.





RE: Can I Design and Stamp my Own House?
Now if I as a chem eng tried to do that, I would not likely get away with it...nor should I. For instance, I retained a civil/structural to do the required steel design for my addition, even though it wasn't difficult.
RE: Can I Design and Stamp my Own House?
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RE: Can I Design and Stamp my Own House?
RE: Can I Design and Stamp my Own House?
RE: Can I Design and Stamp my Own House?
Professional Engineer (ME, NH, MA) Structural Engineer (IL)
American Concrete Industries
www.americanconcrete.com
RE: Can I Design and Stamp my Own House?
Something about I can't insure myself.
The said...."Correct, coverage would likely not apply for design errors if designing your own home. In other words, you cannot be liable to yourself and expect insurance to cover that. We will not put “what if” claims in writing, but coverage would likely not apply. - We run into this question a lot when people want to be their own GC when building a home to save money. Well, from an insurance perspective, that cannot be done, as the point of liability insurance is being liable to 3rd parties, not yourself. "
Just a point to consider.
RE: Can I Design and Stamp my Own House?
TTFN (ta ta for now)
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKorP55Aqvg
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RE: Can I Design and Stamp my Own House?
Professional Engineer (ME, NH, MA) Structural Engineer (IL)
American Concrete Industries
www.americanconcrete.com
RE: Can I Design and Stamp my Own House?
The answer is yes. There's no engineering practice law that I'm aware of that would prohibit this.
And most AHJ's will accept a stamp regardless of the Owner/Client being the engineer.
bigmig brings up the insurance and perhaps each insurance agency is different, but it may be that there is an issue with whether you can be protected if you sue yourself.
But the risk of that is small for most sentient persons possessing a PE license.
I also doubt that your insurance carrier would not cover you if you were the engineer-of-record AND the owner of the building if a 3rd party sued you for some reason...i.e. a later buyer/owner.
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RE: Can I Design and Stamp my Own House?
RE: Can I Design and Stamp my Own House?
RE: Can I Design and Stamp my Own House?
What happens when Joe Handyman modifies his house and then sells it? For that matter, what happens if he attends a house flipping seminar, and he adds a second floor balcony to something without a building permit, or he modifies the wiring himself? The person on the hook would be the house inspector, would it not?
--
JHG
RE: Can I Design and Stamp my Own House?
Dan - Owner
http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com
RE: Can I Design and Stamp my Own House?
If Joe is a PE, he can certainly design it - submit it for a construction permit, and build it. (the original question above)
If Joe is NOT a PE, for most US jurisdictions he can design it, submit it for a construction permit, and build it assuming it is allowed by the jurisdiction.
Either way, if Joe sells it, and something structurally goes wrong, the buyer can sue Joe assuming that Joe didn't disclose the issue prior to the sale.
If Joe is a PE, the buyer could also file a complaint with the local engineering board and that might end up with Joe losing his license or getting fined.
"For that matter, what happens if he attends a house flipping seminar, and he adds a second floor balcony to something without a building permit, or he modifies the wiring himself?"
Without a building permit, he typically would be breaking the law. He might get fined or the local jurisdiction might tag the house until a professional of some sort reviews and approves the work."
"The person on the hook would be the house inspector, would it not?"
<chuckle snort> that's a good one.
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RE: Can I Design and Stamp my Own House?
Here in Ontario, Canada, a friend of mine stopped inspecting houses because his insurance rates were too high. I don't know if he was full time or part time. The guy who actually inspected my house has been sued, although not by me. He won. You know what that means.
--
JHG
RE: Can I Design and Stamp my Own House?
As far as reselling, that might be another story but would be similar to the homeowner who redid the electrical in my recently purchased house and shared neutrals and even some breakers. It is not to code. However, there have been no fires yet (it is rewired now). I could hire a lawyer and suit them but the lawyer will probably cost me more than hiring an electrician to fix it. I think this scenario plays out a lot and I don't see it changing just cause the guy was an engineer (new homeowner would never know that for one). Legal issues with a new homeowner? Potentially but highly unlikely.
RE: Can I Design and Stamp my Own House?
Depending on the size of the house, local laws, and location of the house that may not be true.
In our city, if a house is over a set size a professional seal is required.
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