Practical Engineering: Misplaced Load Paths

Not long ago, Mr. & Mrs. P. called me in to help them figure out why their kitchen counter was pulling away from the wall. The problem was bad enough that you could fit your fingertips into the gap behind the backsplash. They also noticed cracked tiles, sloping floors, and on the second floor, doors that were sticking or not closing correctly. A Classic Case What I found was a classic case of misplaced load paths. The construction was inadequate, traced to a deficient design that had been followed in all innocence by the well-meaning contractor. It seems he bought some plans from a plan mill in a distant state and hired a local engineer to “stamp” them. Unfortunately,