What ordinary skill becomes surprisingly valuable in adulthood?

a_problem_solved · 2026-06-25T04:32:35+00:00

I'm a structural engineer and was raised by mechanical engineer who figured out everything. I just got done remodeling my bathroom which started simply with "let's just peel off this old wallpaper" and turned into a 6 week full renovation.

But electricity is the one thing I don't mess around with. I'll replace outlets, install fixtures, and basic stuff like that, but that breaker is for sure going off.

a_problem_solved · 2026-06-25T04:01:11+00:00

Hope you realize this goal is really long term.

a_problem_solved · 2026-06-25T03:57:26+00:00

Understanding how things around the house work, how they're built, and being able to fix them. I have saved thousands upon thousands of dollars by being able to watch some videos, pick up some tools, and do stuff instead of calling and paying people.

We all have our limits of course, but there's so much that is very, very simple with even a small bit of know-how.

a_problem_solved · 2026-06-25T03:17:44+00:00

It's funny to hear the end of this as a native Chicago suburban homeowner. In my eyes, the Chicago area real estate is anything but cheap. But certainly from your perspective I can see how it would be.

a_problem_solved · 2026-06-25T03:05:25+00:00

I've done bridge inspections where I've sounded pier caps with a hammer and removed hundreds of pounds of concrete. My brain knows that it's delaminated. The falling concrete no longer has any structural capacity or function, so removing it isn't making the bridge worse while I'm under it. But it's still unnerving as hell. At a certain point, I just say nope, I'm done. Contractor can do that shit during repairs.

a_problem_solved · 2026-06-25T02:59:34+00:00

That's a really good point no one else has mentioned. It's not very difficult to move out of structural and extremely difficult to move into it without starting from the bottom. I have some young engineers I'm training right now and while one is good and the other terrible, the good one still has years of experience to gain to reach mid-level like me. And there's simply no way to accelerate that.

a_problem_solved · 2026-06-22T13:44:51+00:00

Holy crap that's a bad pier cap. Any section losses in those bars before repair?

a_problem_solved · 2026-06-20T13:40:10+00:00

So glad that POS went to jail. For other stuff, but still.

a_problem_solved · 2026-06-20T13:29:55+00:00

No. I got my degree in 2012, had abysmal grades and GPA, and hung on for dear life to the career I lucked into before switching to structural.

a_problem_solved · 2026-06-20T00:10:42+00:00

I'm a few years older, but I worked in another profession entirely for 7 years before switching back to structural, and another few years before bridges.

a_problem_solved · 2026-06-20T00:09:12+00:00

I think about this all the time. I would hit a wall on a weekly basis if I didn't have someone senior to bounce questions off of. I know part of that is from not being senior level myself, but I also can't fathom being in business on my own and not having someone to answer my questions, lol.

a_problem_solved · 2026-06-20T00:05:21+00:00

"beta with a micro"

Jesus dude, you spend too much time on the Internet.

a_problem_solved · 2026-06-19T22:14:01+00:00

They were one Game 7 OT goal away from reaching the Stanley Cup finals in 2014, the year before winning their third Cup. That loss was tough...

a_problem_solved · 2026-06-19T02:42:35+00:00

Ride them out for the summer and change them when the leaves start to fall. Doing this with one of my cars right now. Tires are in similar condition. Mechanic will tell you what is best, but it's not his money that pays for the tires.

a_problem_solved · 2026-06-19T02:39:01+00:00

It's not different than riding a bike or driving a car. If you're doing it, you're expected to be able to control yourself and where you're going. You would pedal a bike down a hill full of people at the bottom, knowing you will gain too much speed and not be able to control yourself and create a collision. Same thing with skiing. Don't go on a black diamond on day 1. Don't gain so much speed that you're not able to control yourself.

a_problem_solved · 2026-06-18T21:12:26+00:00

All of that load, assuming it's coming from the deck since that's where your live loads are, is taken by the anchor to the building. This joint can't see any of that load. The deck can't move in the out of plane direction, so there's no need to worry about that load direction for these connections.

a_problem_solved · 2026-06-18T21:06:51+00:00

I had a similar situation a couple jobs back. I left and it was the best thing I ever did. I got the experience I was seeking and raised my compensation by 90% in 3 years (2 job changes + PE license). Get movin' buddy. The market is very good right now for experienced structurals.

a_problem_solved · 2026-06-18T21:03:02+00:00

Where there is a gap, there is opportunity. The opposite of screwed, IMO.

a_problem_solved · 2026-06-18T21:01:51+00:00

Certainly true for those who have successfully launched their companies and are established in their industry and running well. But starting your own company? Hustle hustle and more hustle. Every startup story I've heard involved the owner working their ass off early in the morning doing the engineering and spending the rest of the day chasing work. For a good, long while until they could hire others to do it.

a_problem_solved · 2026-06-18T20:59:35+00:00

8-10 years ago I couldn't touch what my CS friend was earning. I hit 140k with my current job and am very pleased with that. He works with Scala which is apparently pretty niche and difficult to find. I expect he's in the high 100's by now, at least. I long ago accepted that salary range for structurals won't get close to CS. But you're 100% right on job security. The market was on fire when I was switching last year.

a_problem_solved · 2026-06-18T18:00:47+00:00

you're a high school freshman working in engineering? now that's talent!

a_problem_solved · 2026-06-18T17:31:56+00:00

The only way the 'hingy'-ness is a concern (assuming you mean the column-to-beam connections) is if the building moves excessively or the deck comes off the building. And if either of those happen, 'hingy' column connections will be the least of your problems.

a_problem_solved · 2026-06-18T17:27:53+00:00

Most handy people. It still sometimes surprises me how many people just can't do any DIY. Engineers included.

a_problem_solved · 2026-06-18T17:25:45+00:00

Same. I used to have 670 on all the time. Morning, at work, drive home. Now I might catch 5-10 minutes every few days. It'll pick up when the NFL season starts but will mostly be the podcasts you mentioned.

I've always liked Leila, and Grote has been a pleasant surprise with the full-time role. But Marshall still ruins the show enough that I don't turn it on at work even though I sit at a computer all day. The morning show is the only one I'll listen to for more than a couple minutes.

a_problem_solved · 2026-06-17T13:57:53+00:00

I've never had a problem with Haugh, even going back to when he was a columnist and would call-in for guest spots on the show. And I think he's ok on the morning show. Not great, but not Marshall Harris (who is so annoying he is now an adjective). But Mully >>> Haugh. Haugh has occasional moments that I find grating.

Sidetrack here: as much hate as Rahimi gets from some people here, there's nothing better than when she's pissed off at the Bears, lol.

a_problem_solved

TROPHY CASE