Engineering and design for residential projects.

New Home or Cottage

RAM can become involved in a new home or cottage project in two ways. We can provide a complete permit-ready drawing and engineering package, or we can provide the engineering required for drawings prepared by a homeowner, designer, contractor or other project participant.

For a complete package, RAM can coordinate the building design and drafting with the structural and civil/site engineering required for the project. This can take a project from an initial concept through to drawings and engineering suitable for a building permit, subject to the requirements of the project and approving authority.

Where plans have already been prepared, RAM can provide the required engineering for the proposed design, including foundations and other structural components, and civil/site engineering where required.

Projects may include conventional site-built homes and cottages, RTM homes, or foundations and site-specific work for homes designed or supplied by others.

Services may include:

• Building design and permit drawings
• Structural engineering
• Foundation design
• Beams, lintels, tall walls and other structural components
• Lot grading and drainage design
• Site servicing and related civil engineering
• Site-specific engineering for RTM or supplier-designed homes
• Coordination with contractors, suppliers and other project participants
• Construction-related engineering and required field reviews

Getting started

You do not need to have a completed design before contacting RAM. A property address, survey or site information, concept sketches, examples of homes or cottages you like, desired size and layout, or drawings already prepared can all provide a useful starting point. RAM can review what is available and help determine what is required to move the project forward.

Addition

An addition has to work as a new structure while connecting appropriately to the existing home or cottage. RAM can provide a complete permit-ready drawing and engineering package for an addition, including building design, structural engineering and civil/site design where required. We can also provide the engineering for drawings prepared by a homeowner, designer, contractor or other project participant.

The design may need to consider the existing foundation and framing, new openings between the spaces, roof connections, changes in load, grading and drainage, and how the new construction will be supported. Existing conditions may need to be confirmed before the design is finalized.

Helpful information to share

• Existing drawings or basic dimensions of the home
• A sketch or description of the proposed addition and how it will connect
• Photographs of the exterior and the areas affected inside
• Available property, survey or site information

A good starting point is to send us what you have. We can review the proposed addition and existing information and determine the appropriate design and engineering scope.

Home Renovation

A home renovation can involve changes to the layout, structure or use of existing spaces. RAM can provide building design, permit drawings and structural engineering for residential renovations, or provide the engineering for renovation drawings prepared by a homeowner, designer, contractor or other project participant.

Structural work may include removing or modifying bearing walls, introducing beams, creating larger openings, modifying floor or roof framing, or making other changes that affect how loads are carried through the building. The design needs to consider the existing construction, what is supporting the areas above and where new loads can be safely carried.

Existing conditions are an important part of renovation work. Some construction may need to be confirmed through existing drawings, photographs, selective investigation or a site visit before the design can be finalized.

Helpful information to share

• Photographs and dimensions of the area being renovated
• A sketch or description of the proposed changes
• Existing drawings, if available
• Information about construction that is already exposed or can be accessed

A good starting point is to send us what you have and describe what you would like to change. We can review the proposed renovation and determine the appropriate design, engineering and investigation required.

Garage or Shop

RAM can provide a complete permit-ready drawing and engineering package for residential garages, rural shops, workshops and similar accessory buildings, including building design, structural engineering, foundation design and civil/site design where required. We can also provide the engineering for drawings prepared by an owner, contractor, building supplier or other project participant.

The intended use and building configuration can influence the design. Clear spans, large overhead-door openings, storage loads, attached canopies, ceiling heights, heating and the choice of wood, steel or other construction systems may all affect the structural requirements. For an attached garage or shop, the connection to the existing building also needs to be considered.

Helpful information to share

• Building dimensions, intended use and preferred layout
• Door sizes, ceiling height and any open-span requirements
• Proposed location and available property, survey or site information
• Preferred construction system or any supplier drawings already available

A good starting point is to send us what you have and describe what you would like to build. We can review the proposed building and determine the appropriate drawing, structural and civil/site engineering requirements.

Decks & Outdoor Structures

RAM can provide permit drawings and structural engineering for decks and other outdoor structures, including new construction, replacements and expansions. We can also provide the engineering for drawings prepared by a homeowner, contractor, designer or other project participant.

Projects may include decks, covered decks, porches and other exterior structures. RAM can also assess an existing deck where additional loads are proposed, such as a hot tub, and determine whether reinforcement or structural modifications are required. The design can include framing, beams, posts, foundations and connections to the existing building where applicable.

Height, span, intended use, ground conditions and the relationship to the existing building can all influence the design.

Waterfront structures such as docks or boathouses can involve different site, structural and approval requirements. RAM can review the proposed project and determine the appropriate scope based on the structure, location and available information.

Helpful information to share

• Overall dimensions, height and proposed location
• A sketch or description of what you would like to build
• Whether the structure is freestanding or connected to a building
• Photographs of the house, property or existing structure where relevant
• Known materials, special features or site constraints

A sketch and a few photographs are often enough to begin a discussion and determine what design, engineering or additional information may be required.

Sunrooms & Screen Rooms

A sunroom, screen room or enclosed porch may be new construction, an addition to a home or cottage, or an enclosure of an existing deck or porch. RAM can provide permit drawings and structural engineering for these projects, or provide the engineering for drawings or manufactured systems prepared by others.

Whether the space is open, screened, seasonal or intended for year-round use can affect the design and construction requirements. The work may include foundations, floor and roof framing, beams and supports, connections to the existing building and other structural modifications required for the new space.

If a sunroom or screen room is proposed on an existing deck or porch, RAM can assess the existing structure and foundations to determine whether they are suitable for the additional loads and design reinforcement or modifications where required.

Helpful information to share

• Dimensions and whether the space will be seasonal or year-round
• A sketch or description of the proposed room
• Manufacturer or supplier information, if a system has already been selected
• Photographs and available information about an existing deck, porch or house connection

A good starting point is to send us what you have. We can review the proposed sunroom or screen room, the existing structure where applicable, and determine the appropriate drawing and engineering requirements.

Foundation & Structural Concerns

Cracks in foundations or walls, foundation movement or settlement, uneven floors, doors or windows that stick or bind, and other changes in a home or building can have many possible causes. RAM can assess foundation and structural concerns to help determine what is occurring, whether repairs are required and what the appropriate next steps may be.

An assessment may include reviewing the visible condition of the foundation and structure, the history of the concern, available drawings or previous reports and relevant portions of the building. Depending on the situation, a site visit or additional investigation may be required before conclusions can be reached.

Where foundation or structural repairs, reinforcement, stabilization or underpinning are required, RAM can also provide the structural engineering and drawings needed to complete the repair.

Helpful information to share

• Clear photographs showing the concern and surrounding area
• When the condition was first noticed and whether it appears to be changing
• Known foundation type, approximate age of the building and previous foundation or structural repairs
• Existing reports, drawings or monitoring information, if available

A good starting point is to send us photographs and a description of what you are seeing. We can review the available information and determine whether a foundation or structural site assessment or additional investigation is appropriate.

Egress Windows & Structural Openings

Adding or enlarging a window, door or other opening in an existing home can affect the foundation, wall or framing around it. RAM can provide the structural engineering and drawings required for new or enlarged basement egress windows, openings cut into concrete or masonry foundation walls, new door openings and other structural changes to existing walls.

RAM can also provide engineering for removing a load-bearing wall, widening an opening between rooms or adding a beam where an existing wall is being removed or modified. The required design depends on the size and location of the opening, the existing construction and what the wall is supporting.

For basement windows and other foundation openings, the existing foundation wall and conditions around the proposed opening need to be considered. A site visit or additional information may be required depending on the project.

Helpful information to share

• What you would like to change and the approximate opening size
• Photographs of the wall from both sides where possible
• Existing drawings, if available
• Any information you have about the foundation, wall or framing

A good starting point is to send us photographs and a description of the opening you would like to create or enlarge. We can review the information and determine what structural engineering or drawings are required.