stamping your own house

[COEngineeer]

Lets say you are in a process of building your own house. Would it be ok to stamp your own house? What if I dont have e&o? What happen if in 3 years I decide to sell it? Is it too risky to stamp it even if it is your own house without insurance?

Never, but never question engineer's judgement

 

[zdas04]

This is probably something you should ask your local building department. I don't see anything in the PE code that would preclude it, but there may be something local.

David

 

[COEngineeer]

I think the building department does not care. As long as it is stamped by a PE (insured or not). I was just wondering about the liability.

Never, but never question engineer's judgement

 

[swertel]

You are stamping with respect to the house being up to code, not that it is safe from earthquakes, monsoons, 2 year olds, martian invasion, or any unforeseeable tragedy. I would think that your liability would be the same as any others when it comes to a personal residence, none. At least, I have yet to see an insurance company go after the PE because the house burned down due to carelessness by the occupant. OK, so it was bad wiring. That's the fault of the electrician and inspector.

Now, if the roof collapses under snow load, then you may be getting a call and will have to show proof that you met all required obligations. Insurance will help there because even if you maintain all the proper documentation, expect a lengthy and expensive court trial to be able to prove it.

--Scott

http://wertel.eng.pro

 

[DonPhillips]

As the owner of property, you already have the liability. The question is, can you share it with the negligent person? Not if that person is you. The idea is distributed risk. I would say, save your money, and do it yourself. My guess is you will be slightly more conservative since it is your house.


Don Phillips

http://worthingtonengineering.com

 

[crossframe]

Plus, in the event something does go south, there's gotta be a way to make a fortune by suing yourself!

 

[COEngineeer]

Well.. I know that. But what if I sell it in the future? Lets say after I own it for 3-5 years.

Never, but never question engineer's judgement

 

[swertel]

That's what I was getting at. The roof collapses for the new owner. You will most likely be getting a phone call and will have to defend yourself against all the undocumented, un-permitted home improvements the new owner did in order to prove it is not your negligence.

Then again, I have never heard of anything remotely like this happening and usually the contractor is the first person on the block. Fault is usually found with poor workmanship, which is even more difficult to prove than negligence on behalf of the engineer.

--Scott

http://wertel.eng.pro

 

[COEngineeer]

swertel.. I am planning to get it all docomented. Get permit and Ill be the engineer stamping the plan. Is it risky for me to stamp something when I dont have e&o eventhough it is my own house?

Never, but never question engineer's judgement

 

[MacGyverS2000]

Let's try it from another point of view... is it really worth the few thousand $'s you save to have your name and reputation tied so tightly to this project?

Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

 

[crossframe]

As DonPhillips alluded to, nobody is going to care more about COEngineer's house than COEngineer himself. To another engineer, it's just another job. To COEngineer, it's where his family sleeps at night.

More than a few times, my desire to do it "right" has made up for what I'm lacking in skills in various labor trades.

 

[swertel]

The risk, in my opinion, is pretty low to stamp your own house. The question comes down to two things: 1) Does your local code allow you to stamp your own stuff, 2) Can you ethically stamp it? Meaning, is stamping a house within your field of practice and experience?

--Scott

http://wertel.eng.pro

 

[COEngineeer]

Yes, I was in custom home market for 2 yrs. I do not have e&o though because I dont run my own company. Thats why I ask this question. Ok it sounds like I can design my dream house my self.

Never, but never question engineer's judgement

 

[RLM2000]

I don't see a problem with it at all. It happens all the time, and the liability does not go away even though you don't hvae e & o, it stays with the engineer. You would have to really, really screw up to have a wood structure fail with current design and construction techniques.

I think you will do a better job if you do it yourself. I can't imagine having someone else do it for you, especially if you know what you are doing. You would probably review his/her design and disagree on some part, making both of you wish you hadn't hired them.

 

[COEngineeer]

Plus I will yell at the architect and tell him/her to move the columns and walls! Thanks!

Never, but never question engineer's judgement

 

[JAE]

COEngineer,

I don't think you have a huge risk level here.

If you design your house, seal the plans, build it, live there for 3 years and then sell it, the new homebuyer would have the ability to sue you regardless of whether you designed it or not.

However, you might simply check with the local state board to see what the statute of limitations are for design liability.

I used to think it was 7 or 10 years, but recently an attorney told me it was 2 years from the date of discovery of the flaw....which I'd never heard of before.

 

[MiketheEngineer]

Who better to seal your own house --- assuming you do it right and why wouldn't you. You will probably over design it!!

As a matter of fact - and I think it still applies - in my state (MO) ANYONE can draw their own house plans and go for permits. Now - getting the permit might be a bit dicey - but it is legal and I have known a number of good designers who have done just that. Most permitting agencies when reminded of the law do try to help out.

 

[DRC1]

I have stamped modifications to my house. By stamping you are not promising that it will never have a problem. You are stating that the design proceedure conforms to reasonable engineering prctices and that the work meets or exceeds code. After 3-5 years, I would think any significant problems (if there are any) would surface. If you have experience in home construction, I would say follow the advice of the others, that is design it well, be a little conservative, and sleep well at night in your new home.