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snootchiebootchies · 06-16-2009, 02:42 PM

I will be developing my basement this summer but hit a snag when I went to City Hall to get my building permit. Planning to put a big window (57" length by 36" width) in the basement bedroom but was told that any opening in the foundation wall greater than 48" in length requires a engineer's review to make sure the foundation wall is "laterally stable". I'm a registered mechanical engineer with APEGGA but I'm in the environmental field. I would certainly not consider structural engineering to be my forte. So does anyone know how I would go about getting a structural engineer's review of my foundation wall? And how much does such a review cost? And can I get any registered engineer (say, a buddy or something) competent in structural engineering to sign off on my plans or do I have to hire someone who do these sort of reviews for a living?

Thanks in advance for any insight you folks can give me.

06-16-2009, 02:42 PM	#1
snootchiebootchies Powerplay Quarterback Join Date: Jun 2009 Exp:	Basement Development - Review by an engineer? I will be developing my basement this summer but hit a snag when I went to City Hall to get my building permit. Planning to put a big window (57" length by 36" width) in the basement bedroom but was told that any opening in the foundation wall greater than 48" in length requires a engineer's review to make sure the foundation wall is "laterally stable". I'm a registered mechanical engineer with APEGGA but I'm in the environmental field. I would certainly not consider structural engineering to be my forte. So does anyone know how I would go about getting a structural engineer's review of my foundation wall? And how much does such a review cost? And can I get any registered engineer (say, a buddy or something) competent in structural engineering to sign off on my plans or do I have to hire someone who do these sort of reviews for a living? Thanks in advance for any insight you folks can give me.