In this comprehensive episode, Bill Reid explores the critical role of structural engineers in home design and construction, breaking down the misconceptions homeowners have about who does what in the building process.

Key Segments with Timestamps

[00:00:00 - 00:02:00] Introduction: The Doctors of Your Home

• Overview of the four-part mini-series

• Introduction to structural engineering as the "skeletal system"

• Common misconceptions about architect responsibilities

[00:02:00 - 00:06:00] The Architect-Structural Engineer Partnership

• How architects and structural engineers collaborate

• Educational backgrounds and licensing similarities

• Early consultation importance in the design process

[00:06:00 - 00:14:00] Working Without an Architect

• When residential designers and interior designers need structural engineers

• Key questions to ask non-architect designers

• Understanding load-bearing wall determinations

[00:14:00 - 00:24:00] The Assumption Trap

• Resolvable vs. unresolvable assumptions

• Real-world examples of costly assumption mistakes

• The accountability gap in traditional project delivery

[00:24:00 - 00:35:00] Engaging with Structural Engineers the Right Way

• Three options for hiring structural engineers

• Why the "architect manages" approach is preferred

• Questions to ask your architect about their engineer relationships

[00:35:00 - 00:44:00] Fundamentals of Structural Engineering

• The three pillars: lateral forces, transfer loads, and uplift

• Understanding shear walls and their importance

• What structural engineers actually deliver

[00:44:00 - 00:52:00] Common Pitfalls and Critical Questions

• Red flags to watch for during the design process

• Essential verification questions for homeowners

• How structural engineers charge for their services

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• Contact: Email: wwreid@theawakenedhomeowner.com

Mentioned in this episode:

The Awakened Homeowner Book

The Awakened Homeowner Book

Join William Reid as he explores the critical role of civil engineers in home construction projects. Learn when you need one, what they do, and how they can save you thousands while protecting your investment.

Civil engineers handle everything outside your home's building envelope - and they might be the most important design professional you've never heard of. In this episode, William Reid breaks down when you need a civil engineer, what they actually do, and how they can save you thousands in construction costs while protecting your investment for decades.

From water management and grading design to septic systems and fire department compliance, learn why civil engineers are the unsung heroes of successful home projects. Whether you're planning new construction, a major addition, or dealing with site challenges, this episode provides the insider knowledge every homeowner needs.

Discover the "Lords of the Dirt" design team approach and how civil engineers collaborate with surveyors, geotechnical engineers, and architects to create the foundation for quality construction. Plus, get the critical questions to ask your design team and warning signs that could save your project.

Key Timestamps:

[00:00:00 - 00:04:00] Introduction: What is a Civil Engineer?

• Definition: Handles everything outside your building's 2-foot perimeter

• Projects that need civil engineers: complex homes, sloping lots, large parcels

• The "Lords of the Dirt" design team collaboration

[00:04:00 - 00:09:00] Site Analysis and Water Management

• Why water intrusion is the #1 home killer

• Site analysis using survey and topographic data

• Collaboration with architects on optimal building placement

• Modern requirements for on-site water retention

[00:09:00 - 00:14:00] Grading Design and Cost Control

• Cut and fill calculations for accurate contractor bids

• Retaining wall design and placement

• How detailed plans eliminate "surprise" costs

• Real-world example: estate project cost savings

[00:14:00 - 00:21:00] Infrastructure and Utilities

• Driveway design and fire department compliance

• Utility routing: power, water, sewer, communications

• Septic system design for rural properties

• Secondary leach field requirements

[00:21:00 - 00:29:00] Deliverables: What You Get

• Civil plan sets: hardscape, grading, utilities, septic

• Cross-sections and elevation details

• Stormwater and erosion control plans

• Calculation packages for city approval

[00:29:00 - 00:35:00] Cost, Value, and Team Collaboration

• Investment range: $10,000-$35,000 (2-3% of project cost)

• Value factors: design quality, cost certainty, long-term protection

• When to engage: early schematic design phase

• The collaborative design table approach

[00:35:00 - 00:41:00] Red Flags and Best Practices

• Warning signs: contractors who say "we don't need an engineer"

• Key questions to ask your design team

• Real example: walking the site during storms

• Why civil engineering shouldn't be optional

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• Free Story: The Tale of Two Homeowners

🎧 The Hidden Foundation Expert: Why Every Homeowner Needs to Know About Geotechnical Engineers

Ever wonder what's lurking beneath your dream home site? This week on The Awakened Homeowner Podcast, Bill Reid reveals the underground detective work that could save you from a $100,000+ construction nightmare. If you're planning to build, expand, or even remodel, this episode might just be the most important 30 minutes you'll spend.

Episode #15 | Lords of the Dirt Series | 30 Minutes

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🎯 What You'll Discover:

Ready to become the smartest person in your next contractor meeting? Here's what's waiting for you:

🕵️ Meet Your Underground Detective Learn why geotechnical engineers are the unsung heroes of home construction and how they're basically CSI for your building site.

⚡ The Earthquake Reality Check Discover how fault lines could be hiding right under your feet (and what that means for your project budget).

💰 The $5K Investment That Saves $100K Real stories of how a simple soil report prevented massive construction disasters.

🚩 Red Flag Alert System Know exactly what warning signs to watch for when your design team tries to skip this crucial step.

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📍 Episode Timestamps & Key Moments:

[00:00-01:00] The Monday Morning Construction Nightmare Bill sets the scene with every homeowner's worst fear: the contractor call that stops everything cold. You'll learn why most foundation disasters are completely preventable.

[01:00-03:00] The Knowledge Gap That Costs Big Why most homeowners have never heard of geotechnical engineers, and how this knowledge gap leads to six-figure surprises. The evolution from "minimum standards" to proper soil investigation.

[03:00-05:00] When Houses Slide Down Hills Real examples of catastrophic soil failures, including recent Utah incidents where brand-new homes literally slid away. Learn the difference between extreme scenarios and common settlement issues.

[05:00-07:00] Earthquake Detective Work Before any digging begins, geotechnical engineers research seismic activity and fault lines. Bill explains how to research fault zones yourself and why this matters even for remodels.

[07:00-09:00] Real Project Horror Stories Two eye-opening case studies: the Los Altos remodel that required a geotechnical report for interior changes, and the client who dodged a bullet by researching a property before purchase.

[09:00-11:00] What Exactly IS a Geotechnical Engineer? The mission breakdown: determining soil type and strength, identifying the best foundation layers, and becoming the authority on your foundation design. Understanding different foundation types and costs.

[11:00-13:00] The Water Problem You Don't See Why drainage recommendations are crucial and how water becomes the #1 destroyer of homes. The connection between soil conditions and long-term structural integrity.

[13:00-15:00] The Investigation Process Revealed When soil testing can actually begin (hint: not until after conceptual design), and how engineers strategically choose sampling locations across your property.

[15:00-17:00] Drilling Down to the Truth The fascinating process of soil sampling: drilling rigs, visual analysis, and how engineers know when they've hit "good dirt." Laboratory testing that determines your foundation's future.

[17:00-19:00] The Seismic Deep Dive When fault line concerns require trenching across your property, and how engineers can visually identify geological evidence of earthquake activity.

[19:00-21:00] Your Soil Report Decoded Understanding the multi-page document that becomes your foundation's blueprint: boring data, soil composition charts, and recommendations that your structural engineer will follow religiously.

[21:00-23:00] The Clay Discovery That Changed Everything Bill's personal story of