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Frequently Asked Questions

Consultation

What sets you apart from other engineers? How can I tell the difference?

All licensed professional engineers follow the same set of ethics and regulations that govern the safety of our buildings. Because there is a certain uniformity provided by code, it can be hard to discern the difference between the final product of one engineer versus another. Thus, it is our belief that client communication is key in setting us apart from the rest.

Architects and contractors alike can share stories of engineers that abandoned the job or stopped providing support after a certain amount of time, leading to costly delays, and in extreme cases, having to hire another engineer. Our clients come back to us time and time again because they know we are reliable and prompt to respond no matter the situation.

From the very start, we will provide you our expert opinion and various strategies to stay within budget. During the design phase, we will provide status updates and work with your architect/designer to realize the aesthetic vision. During the construction phase, we will work with your contractor to keep things on track.

How quickly can you finish my project?

Structural design work for most single-story additions, remodels, and ADU's can be typically completed with 2 to 3 weeks from start. Structural design work for most two-story construction can be completed within 3 to 4 weeks from start.

The start date depends on our current volume of projects. The San Francisco Bay Area is a very economically-active location with a lot of client needs - when scheduling your project, we will work with you to find a start date that aligns with your requirements.

How do I avoid construction delays and cost overruns?

The single most effective way of avoiding costly construction delays is to have your design fully-realized prior to permit approval. Change orders and last-minute decisions can quickly derail the build process.

In addition to the amount of time it will take for us to adjust the structural design, revisions may be subject to planning and/or building review which could add several weeks of delay. The greatest cost will come from your contractor in the form of change orders. You'll also be paying for their crew to remain on standby until your revisions are approved. Your total spend could easily increase by 15% or more just because of a revision.

Therefore, it is extremely important that you take your time during the design process to ensure that all of your needs and desires are addressed prior to approval and construction.

We have an idea of how we want to expand our home. Can you help?

We focus primarily on the structural aspects of design. If you do not yet have an architectural design, you'll need to get in touch with a licensed architect or architectural designer to help you realize your vision.

Once you have a set of architectural plans, we can then use those plans to design the foundation, walls, roofs, columns, beams, etc. to ensure the safety of your home, especially during an earthquake. Our primary mission is to ensure that you and your loved ones are safe during a catastrophic seismic event.

There are cracks in our foundation and/or finishes, can you come and take a look?

Our services are primarily limited to situations where significant work is already being planned, such as additions, remodels, or all-new construction. There are a variety of home inspection services and firms that specialize in foundation repair that can assist you.

I can't get in touch with my engineer anymore. Can you take over?

In most cases, if construction has not yet begun, then the structural design will need to be redone from scratch using our proven methods. We are unable to use another engineer's plans and calculations as the time it would take to verify, modify, and adjust those documents to our standards often exceeds the time it would take to start from scratch.

There may be some cases where construction has already progressed significantly, and only minor supporting revisions need to be made, where we can assist.

Pricing

What does your pricing include?
  • Consultation and structural design according to your provided architectural plans.
  • Preparation and stamping of all structural documents required for building approval.
  • Plan review responses to comments from the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ).
  • Frequent and open communication about the status of your project and any items that warrant additional discussion.
  • Remote construction assistance of up to two (2) hours, including phone calls, video meetings, and e-mail correspondence.
What is not included?
  • In-person visits to the construction site.
  • Stamped letters issued to the AHJ, including for any required observations and inspections.
  • Additional structural design work in response to revised architectural design after the project has begun.
  • Additional structural design work in response to owner/contractor deviation from approved plans.
  • Plan review responses to comments triggered by architectural design changes differing from the originally-quoted design.

Inspections

My contractor needs a letter from you. How soon can you provide it?

Depending on the context, we may need to send our own inspector/engineer to observe the work performed. All inspections must be scheduled with at least three (3) days' prior notice. You may schedule an inspection by using our scheduling form here.

If the city/county building inspector is requesting a letter due to deviation(s) from plans, the situation must be evaluated before a letter can be written, and additional fees may apply. The best way to keep your project on track is to follow the approved plans.

What is a special inspection form? Why do I need it?

The building code outlines specific situations in which a special inspection is required. For low-rise residential additions and remodels, high-capacity shearwall and post-installed holdown anchor bolt inspections are the most common. If, during structural design, the need for structural requirements requiring special inspection arise, then we will provide a form for the project owner and contractor to complete.

When triggered, all jurisdictions will require a special inspection form be filled out and submitted in order to obtain a building permit. The required inspections will be designated on our structural plans and on the form. In some cases, we may be able to perform the inspection for an additional fee. In all cases, the owner/contractor may elect a third-party special inspection agency to perform the inspection.

A list of recognized agencies may be found here. This list is common to most jurisdictions in the San Francisco Bay Area. You may find a similar list on your local municipality's website.