Any Engineers Out There?

[Bowhuntrben]

The contractor/engineer thing is always a fun conversation.

I'm a civil/structural engineer. I find that as long as I start swearing when I go to the site, I get along fine with the contractor!

Both the engineer and contractor are vital. I can't blame the contractor for getting upset at times because it can be difficult for an engineer to know exactly how things are built in the field versus how you imagine them being built. I wish I could spend several years in construction and then go back into design so I would have a much better idea of things I can do to improve the design to help them out, but this is just not a realistic idea for the most part.
I have found it very beneficial to talk with the contractors when I am at the site to get their feedback on does and does not work well.
I have a lot of respect for many contractors (some not so much )

 

[noharleyyet]

I have a lot of respect for many contractors (some not so much

...same here huntrben except I have respect for a few and many not so much.

 

[idnative1948]

Clients, god bless them, can screw up the works also. You wait and wait for review comments and then, Bam.
Please incorporate these and have them to us by 10:30am tomorrow. Sure folks will work all night to get it done, but does not bode well for accuracy on the finished product.

 

[shoots-straight]

I'm a civil/structural engineer. I find that as long as I start swearing when I go to the site, I get along fine with the contractor!

Both the engineer and contractor are vital. I can't blame the contractor for getting upset at times because it can be difficult for an engineer to know exactly how things are built in the field versus how you imagine them being built. I wish I could spend several years in construction and then go back into design so I would have a much better idea of things I can do to improve the design to help them out, but this is just not a realistic idea for the most part.
I have found it very beneficial to talk with the contractors when I am at the site to get their feedback on does and does not work well.
I have a lot of respect for many contractors (some not so much )

You'll be a successful engineer for sure. Most don't care how we do things, they just want them done. I've had my fair share of frustration in dealing with engineers on projects.