The city raised two main concerns with this property in Bountiful UT. The old window cutouts and the rear awning structure raised questions focused on whether these elements were properly supported and compliant with structural standards.
Three windows were reviewed. The first, located on the right side of the home, included a 2-inch steel lintel that initially appeared undersized. However, because this wall is not snow-load bearing, we determined the lintel and opening to be structurally acceptable. The two windows on the back side of the home also drew attention since they are stacked beneath upper windows, which can sometimes create stress lines or reduced bearing. After inspection, we found both openings to be adequately supported and within tolerance.
The rear awning raised broader concerns about footing depth, beam sizing, and post connections, as shallow footings or undersized framing can lead to frost heave or long-term sagging. We reviewed the existing conditions and design and confirmed that, when built to specification, with 12-inch footings extending 30 inches deep and 4×4 treated posts in saddle brackets, the system is structurally sound.
In summary, while the city’s questions were well-founded, all items under review were ultimately deemed structurally acceptable by the engineer.
