I'm feeling completely overwhelmed with our home remodel. We've hit a snag due to some unexpected structural issues during demo. After going back to our structural engineer for new drawings, things have gone quiet. Our contractor is ready to get back to work, but he needs clarification from the engineer, who hasn't responded to any of my calls, texts, or emails for over two weeks now. We're living in a half-finished home, and everything is on hold while parts are arriving but can't be installed. I've tried withholding payment until I get some answers, but I'm starting to feel hopeless. Any suggestions on how to get through to the engineer or what my next steps should be?
3 Answers
I understand your frustration; it sounds like a tough situation. Engineers typically take their time ensuring every detail is right, but if you're not hearing anything at all, it might be worth finding out if there's a senior partner or a different engineer at the firm you could speak to. Sometimes firms go through personnel changes that affect communication. Also, tread carefully with the contractor—sometimes they may influence the engineer to avoid direct communication.
If the engineer is ignoring you because of unpaid fees for the latest changes, it might not be a good idea to hold back payment. Check your contract to see what was agreed upon regarding changes and responsibilities, or consider sending a certified letter to their official address outlining your concerns. If all else fails, hiring a second engineer might be the next best step to keep things moving.
We did pay the full original fee, and it's just this last part we haven't paid yet since we're waiting for answers! It's just frustrating because we are ready to move forward.
Have you tried visiting their office in person? Sometimes just showing up can jolt them into action. If there's a local office, knocking on their door might just lead to a quick answer!
Yes, I contacted the architect who initially brought the engineer on board, but I'm still stuck playing the middleman since the engineer is MIA. It feels like we're at a standstill with just a page of schematic changes left to finalize.