Years ago I had heart palpatitions. I did not go to a cardiologist as I am not qualified to make that decision. My GP made me quit drinking caffiene and they went away. If she thought I needed a cardiologist, she would have made the referral.

Same thing here. Homeowners aren't qualified to know as to when they need a structural engineer, however, a General Contractor is and will have one on speedial if the referral needs to be made. Engineers are subs in this situation.

You've paid for math that's probably perfect but may be irrelevant. I've seen it happen time and time again.

2 things:

- Somehow the engineer received information - who gave him that?

- It sounds like you did the design - you probably just wanted this wall moved, that one removed, etc. and have no idea how to value engineer or space plan to work around realistic limitations and existing conditions. Engineers do not have the wherewithal to help you redesign based on structure. They're given criteria and input numbers to make it work, so the result is you are given what you are given (huge expensive steel beams that will be very hard to install in an existing house).

Re-commenting on your edited OP, since you have an architect who dictated the design, ask him/her about the structure. Everything could be hunky dory, or your question might make the architect reconsider something in a better different way, or it could be outright wrong (I participated in a couple recent threads that had a completely wrong structure designed - 1 typo/miscommunication, 1 stupidity).

"The architect informs the engineer of the structure, and the engineer designs accordingly."

That sort of sequential design process--handing off the architectural plans for the structural engineer to make it work-- often results in structures which are more complicated and expensive to build than necessary. Collaboration of the client, architect/designer, engineer, and builder/remodeler early in the design process yields better outcomes. Indeed the American Institute of Architects promote such a collaborative process which they've labelled "Integrated Project Delivery" or IPD.

"That sort of sequential design process--handing off the architectural plans for the structural engineer to make it work..."

Yes, I believe the architect drew the plans and handed it off to the engineer without any collaboration.

But back to my original question, is it normal for the engineer to not visit the house?

In my opinion (I'm a licensed P.E.--but not in the structural discipline,) it would be helpful, but not mandatory, for the engineer to visit the site when the task is designing modifications to an existing structure. Where it is impractical or impossible for the structural engineer to verify the existing conditions personally, they may rely on information provided by the architect or remodeler or another engineer--in which case, I would expect to see a caveat in their recommendations.

An engineer would not have to visit an existing simple residential structure if adequate information was given to him/her from the architect. Most architects are competent enough to understand structural framing to communicate to someone, and can even do calculations themselves. Handing off to a structural engineer is often for liability reasons. Also, there may not have been adequate access or visual confirmation of existing structure, which is why there would be many "V.I.F." = Verify In Field on the construction documents.

@3onthetree doesn't the engineer have to come to see which walls are load bearing?

This isn't something that is mentioned in the architectural plans.

Load bearing walls are insinuated by where beams are placed to carry the loads above them. What makes you think certain walls are not load bearing, or vice versa, compared to what is shown by the architect and engineer? If you would like specific advice, feel free to post the drawings.

Well, the architectural plans don't say anything and I was told the direction of the joists has to be established and potentially a small portion of the wall would be removed to take a look. The engineer never came on site so I doubt he know this information.

A detailed set of architectural plans will often enable the load bearing walls and structural point loads in a home to be identified from the comfort of a structural engineer's office. The risk with that is the possibility that field changes were made--either during initial construction or remodeling--which are not reflected on the plans, and which would affect the engineer's recommendations for modifications to the structure. It's always best to confirm the existing conditions via a site visit.

Sometimes the engineer's site visit will identify a problem that isn't related to modifications being considered and which needs to be remedied for the long-term viability of the structure or safety.

So I don't know your project, your contracts, or your architect's contract with their structural engineer, but apparently someone at sometime has made a visit to your house. So communicate to your architect your concerns. If you would feel better about the engineer making a site visit regardless of their internal process, then request one and pay them for it.

I will say this, I have been producing drawings for decades and not one has a label saying "load bearing wall." And for any small residential remodel, no structural engineer has ever been needed to make a site visit. My visit is adequate, and I can communicate any information required if I choose to procure a structural engineer.

the architectural plans are very basic and makes no distinction between wall types.

It was just based on the virtual (360 camera) tour.

I fear I'm having to pay a lot for perhaps unnecessary structural improvements, because the engineer didn't see the property in person and wants to err on the safe side.

If you do not want to challenge your architect or their engineer, then it may be helpful to have a another party, who can provide an overview of the entire project, just to represent that the design and it's specs are falling in line with what your expectations are. Whether you have a family member, or contractor contact, someone who is knowledgeable and detached from this project who can review what you have. Lacking that, I guess, er, uh, you have the interwebs and anonymous commenters who you have no resume or proof of qualifications for (including me) that, although cannot be exact without being there in person, might be able to at least alleviate some of your basic fears so you can get some sleep.

During my remodel (which involved—you guessed! moving load-bearing walls and placing steel beams, some of which are exposed for decorative purposes), the structural engineer came out 3 times, but down to a profession/trade (the architect, contractor, engineer, framers, plumbers, you name it), everyone was like ’your house is a cluster.’ If your house is more straightforward and you have an architect on-site doing your stuff, you may not have needed the engineer to come on-site. That’s what it sounds like to me.