If you live in an area with expansive soils like in the Brazos Valley, you will probably notice some symptoms of seasonal movements in your building. These symptoms can include anything from cracks in your finishes, to uneven floors and sticky doors. Sometimes, the foundation movement is minimal and manageable. Sometimes you might need a structural assessment and a repair plan. But there is an in-between stage where you notice a problem, but it might not be dire enough to cal

Download: Structural engineering plans can be a bit of a nightmare to get through. A whole page of notes in very small text, plans with millions of callouts, and details with a lot of arrows. How do you make sure you have the right materials for your slab on grade? Typical slab-on-grade construction. The quality of materials and installation really matters in making sure your foundation has the right strength and stiffness to support your building, especially if your site ha

Do you suspect you have foundation issues? Here are some telltale signs that you might have a problem on your hands and may need a second set of eyes: Exterior diagonal cracks in your brick veneer Look for diagonal cracks in your masonry or brick veneer around the exterior of your house. Pay attention to the areas above doors and windows*. Also look for cracks in the middle of your home, especially if your home is narrow in one direction. *Horizontal cracks, especially above

A geotechnical report is filled with crucial information acquired from a site-specific soil study, and is used to properly design your building’s foundation. The requirements, content, and composition of the geotechnical report are governed by the building code adopted by most municipalities in Texas – the International Building Code (IBC) . Why should you get a geotechnical report? O3 Structural Studio insists on working with a geotechnical report because of the prevalence