Typical clients include:
A structural engineering evaluation is a detailed assessment of a home’s structural systems—foundations, framing, load-bearing walls, floor systems, roof structures, and connections—to determine their condition, capacity, and safety.
Hardy Engineers provides residential structural evaluations performed by licensed professional engineers, delivering clear findings, practical recommendations, and stamped reports you can rely on for decisions, permits, and real estate transactions.
Homeowners, buyers, and design professionals typically request structural evaluations when:
Buying or selling a home and needing an engineer’s opinion on observed issues
Observing cracks, settlement, sagging floors, or structural movement
Planning a renovation, addition, or wall removal affecting structural elements
Assessing storm damage, fire damage, or impact damage
Resolving building department or insurance company concerns
Typical clients include:
Homeowners and home buyers
Realtors and real estate attorneys
Architects, contractors, and remodelers
Homeowners associations and condominium boards
A professional structural engineering evaluation helps you:
Identify the cause of cracks, settlement, or movement
Determine whether observed issues are cosmetic or structural
Understand risk levels and potential future progression
Obtain a stamped report for lenders, insurers, or building officials
Avoid unnecessary repairs or confirm that repair work is truly needed
Protect the safety, value, and longevity of your home
For homeowners, a clear engineer’s report can de-escalate concerns, support negotiations, and guide cost-effective repair decisions.
You should consider a residential structural engineering evaluation when:
You see new or widening cracks in walls, ceilings, or foundations
Doors or windows no longer close properly, or floors feel uneven
You are removing or modifying load-bearing walls
The home has experienced flooding, roof leaks, or storm damage
A home inspector, contractor, or building official recommends “further evaluation by a structural engineer”
You are purchasing an older home or a property with known structural history
Evaluation by licensed structural engineers
Root-cause analysis, not just symptom description
Practical, prioritized recommendations for repair or monitoring
Stamped engineering report suitable for permitting and documentation
Objective, third-party opinion not tied to repair work
Clear communication tailored to both technical and non-technical audiences
We review your concerns, photos, prior inspection reports, and any available drawings or previous engineering reports. This ensures our site visit is efficient and focused.
A licensed engineer visits the property to:
Observe cracks, settlement, deflection, and framing conditions
Examine foundations, crawlspaces, basements, and accessible structure
Assess load paths, supports, and modifications made by prior work
Document findings with notes, measurements, and photos
Based on field observations and applicable codes, we analyze:
Likely causes of distress (settlement, moisture, overloading, construction defects, etc.)
Implications for safety, serviceability, and long-term performance
The need for immediate stabilization vs. long-term monitoring
We provide practical, prioritized recommendations, which may include:
Monitoring plans and criteria for re-evaluation
Repair concepts for foundations, framing, or connections
Guidance for contractors and other design professionals
When appropriate, we can coordinate with your architect, contractor, or other consultants.
You receive a clear, written report—often including sketches and photos—that documents:
Observed conditions and areas of concern
Engineering analysis and conclusions
Recommended actions and next steps
The report is stamped by a professional engineer and can be used for building permits, insurance documentation, and real estate transactions.
You should hire a structural engineer when there are concerns about cracks, settlement, movement, or structural changes, or when a home inspector recommends further evaluation by an engineer. Engineers provide the technical analysis and stamped reports needed for repairs, permits, or documentation.
During an evaluation, a licensed engineer reviews your concerns, inspects the accessible structure, documents key conditions, and performs engineering analysis. You receive a written report summarizing findings, conclusions, and recommended next steps.
Yes. An engineer will assess the size, pattern, and context of cracks to determine whether they are cosmetic, related to normal shrinkage, or indicative of settlement or structural distress, and will recommend monitoring or repair as needed.
If there is any chance a wall is load-bearing or supporting framing above, you should engage a structural engineer. The engineer will determine load paths and, if needed, design beams, columns, or other supports to safely replace the wall.
Yes. For most evaluations, Hardy Engineers provides a stamped report summarizing observations, analysis, and recommendations, which can be used for permitting, insurance, and real estate transactions.
Costs depend on the size of the home, complexity of the issues, and level of documentation required. After a brief discussion of your concerns and project needs, we provide a proposal outlining scope and fee.
Yes. We can coordinate with your contractor, architect, or design team to ensure that recommended repairs or structural modifications are feasible, constructible, and code-compliant.
Contact A Structural Engineer