✓ What's Included in Our Structural Engineering Services
- Foundation design (slab, crawlspace, basement, piers — matched to your soil conditions)
- Live load & dead load calculations (per IRC and local amendments)
- Wind load analysis (per ASCE 7) for your specific region
- Seismic design where applicable (California, Alaska, Washington, Oregon, etc.)
- Beam & column schedules (sizing, material, connections, and span tables)
- Lateral force resistance (shear walls, braced walls, hold-downs, straps)
- Roof & floor truss specifications (can be used directly by truss manufacturers)
- Professional Engineer (PE) stamp for permits — accepted by building departments nationwide
When You Absolutely Need Structural Engineering
- Homes over 2 stories tall — Prescriptive building codes (IRC) have limits. Exceed them, and you need engineering.
- Unusual soil conditions — Expansive clay, fill soil, high water tables, steep slopes, or known settlement issues
- High-wind zones — Coastal areas (hurricane regions), tornado alley, and mountainous wind corridors
- Seismic zones — California, Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Utah, Nevada, and other earthquake-prone areas
- Complex designs — Long cantilevers, large open spans, unusual roof shapes, post-and-beam, or heavy masonry
- ICF or SIP construction — These systems require engineered connections and details beyond prescriptive codes
- Large openings or unusual spans — Wide garage doors, floor-to-ceiling windows, open floor plans with long spans
When You Might Not Need Engineering
Simple, single-story homes on flat, stable sites with standard layouts often fall within IRC prescriptive requirements. But — and this is important — always check with your local building department. Some jurisdictions (especially in high-wind or seismic zones) require engineering for every new home, no exceptions.
The Cost of Skipping It
We had a client who tried to save $1,500 by skipping structural engineering. His local building department rejected his plans three times. He eventually had to pay an engineer $3,000 to fix what should have been done from the start — plus he lost two months of construction time. Don't let that be you.
Our Process
We start by reviewing your architectural plans and local building codes. We perform all necessary calculations, produce detailed structural drawings, and provide a PE stamp that your building department will accept. Most projects are completed within 5-10 business days.
Request Structural Engineering →