I'm in a bit of a bind with our remodel of an 1880s house. We started the project expecting to take down a non-load bearing wall, but during demolition, we found out that both walls we planned to remove are actually load-bearing! Now we need to update our plans with a new header and possibly sister some floor joists to make structural adjustments. I've reached out to our architect to help us revise the plans, but I haven't heard anything back. It's really putting us in a tough spot since we can't move forward until we figure this out. I'm considering reaching out to a new structural engineer if I don't hear from the architect in a couple of days. Has anyone else had to change architects mid-project? How long should I wait for a response before making the switch? If I do decide to hire someone new, can I just have them draw up the necessary changes without redoing everything?
2 Answers
Just a heads-up, architects and engineers have different roles—they aren’t the same thing! So while your architect is crucial for the planning, you definitely need a structural engineer to handle the load-bearing wall situation. Good architects usually work with engineers, so hopefully yours can help you connect with one, but you’re right to think about bringing someone new on board if they’re not responsive.
If you haven't tried calling them directly, do that ASAP! Skip the emails and texts, you really need an actual conversation. If they still don’t respond, I’d recommend visiting their office during business hours to get their attention, but be polite! When you have that chat, make sure you get specific deadlines for when they can address this. Remember, since you're dealing with structural changes, it's pretty serious.
Sounds like you've had your fair share of frustrations with this remodel! And you're totally right about needing an engineer for those structural adjustments.