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Avatar for DM Building Inc
DM Building Inc
4.9(
57
)

Serving El Cajon, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2007

Customers say: True professional

"Danny took on our project, which was to build a home on an oddly-shaped, canyon side lot. We hired him as he had experience building on hillsides as well as with working with our architect. Ours was a very difficult project; from Coastal Commission to City approval, as well as with structural engineering. Danny had a plan for how to access and install our caissons into the hillside from day one. Not only that, his crew and sub-contractors showed up everyday, on-time for our year and a 1/2 building period. We communicated nearly every day via text or phone calls; Danny and his supervisor Scott were always VERY responsive. They were also open to alternate ideas in order to cut down construction costs. We've now been in our new home one year, and can honestly say that we are very happy with the craftsmanship and quality of our home. Moreover, the few small issues that we have had (garage door opener; low water pressure), Danny has continued to be responsive and to send his team back out to assist us over this past year. Overall, DM Building is an honest and earnest group of builders who only want the best for your project. I highly recommend DM Building, and would be happy to discuss their work further with anyone who is looking for a custom home builder or looking to embark on a large remodel project. Here are our pix from DM Building's website: [*** Link removed ***] and from our architect's site: [*** Link removed ***] Sincerely, -Susan Spencer [email protected]"
Additional Photos
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+9

Response time6 days
2 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by100%of homeowners
Castaneda Engineering
4.0(
10
)

Serving El Cajon, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 1995

Free estimates

Small jobs welcome

"I am glad angi had a listing for a structural engineer which is hard to find at a reasonable price. scope of the project involved replacing/ repairing a old load bearing wooden post which was giving away due to the age. Mr Joe performed a site visit to my house and connected me with a general contractor to perform the work per his recommendations. The contractor worked closely with him and followed his instructions. Mr Joe was honest, very reasonably priced and stated upon visit that this was a simple problem and I don't have to worry about it. I would definitely consult for future issues."
Response time1 day
5 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by88%of homeowners
Avatar for Pac Sands Corp
Pac Sands Corp
5.0(
7
)

Serving El Cajon, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

Super Service Award Winner

In business since 2017

Free estimates

Credit card accepted

"We did a full remodel of our place, full new kitchen, and expanded our place into the backyard for a new master suite. Pac Sands did a really great job with our designs. Great tools that made the communication easy with the plans and changes we needed. And they handled the engineering and permitting too, which was great. Highly recommend."
6-Plex Aerial view
6-Plex Render
Carlsbad 6-Plex Axo
Response time3 days
41 neighbors recently requested a quote
Avatar for Leslie Andersen Consulting
Leslie Andersen Consulting
5.0(
8
)

Serving El Cajon, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2017

Customers say: True professional

"Leslie was an incredible find. I had had a dreadful experience with a large Hvac company and Leslie was able to rectify their shoddy work, comprehend numerous highly technical reports, deal with state licensing board, city permitting and multiple testing companies. She assessed the qualifications of numerous contractors and oversaw contract arrangements. She was experienced knowledgeable and brought an end to a nightmare situation with calm professionalism. I recommend her highly and would hire her again without hesitation."
Architects & Building Design Project
Architects & Building Design Project
Architects & Building Design Project
Architects & Building Design Project
Architects & Building Design Project

+6

Response time1 day
Response rate100%
Recommended by100%of homeowners
AAA Engineering Design
4.1(
9
)

Serving El Cajon, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2007

Free estimates

Small jobs welcome

"I had the pleasure of working with Aws on a recent project and was thoroughly impressed by his professionalism and efficiency. He delivered a clean, straightforward structural design that met all the necessary requirements without unnecessary complexity. Aws was fast, reliable, and highly communicative throughout the process, making coordination smooth and strass-free. On top of that, the pricing was very reasonable. I highly recommend Aws and his firm for any structural engineering needs. They offer a great combination of expertise, responsiveness, and value."
Foundation Plan
Roof Framing Plan
Response time3 hrs
Recommended by66%of homeowners
Avatar for Evolution Drafting
Evolution Drafting
3.4(
94
)

Serving El Cajon, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2018

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"Evolution Drafting did a great job modifying my existing plans and updating for Arizona codes and took care of the structural engineering as well."
Zeal Floor Plan
Charcoal
Palm Floor Plan
Charcoal Floor 2
Charcoal Floor 1

+23

Response time1 day
Response rate100%
52 neighbors recently requested a quote
Avatar for APEX Drafting LLC
APEX Drafting LLC
5.0(
5
)

Serving El Cajon, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2020

Free estimates

Credit card accepted

We have a single mission: Complete Customer Satisfaction! We have consistently focused on the needs of our customers, providing personalized attention and a stress-free experience.\nYou will find us to be competitively priced with close attention to the details.\nOur reputation is based on service, safety, and quality, regardless of how large or small the job.\nWe look forward to building a lasting relationship and guarantee your satisfaction!\n

Plan set 1
90 neighbors recently requested a quote
Avatar for Left Coast Blueprints, Llc
Left Coast Blueprints, Llc
5.0(
2
)

Serving El Cajon, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

Free estimates

Small jobs welcome

Drafting and Engineering. We will provide a complete set of architectural and structural plans to submit to building departments to obtain permits for your project. Custom Homes Room Additions Remodels Fire Damages Water Damages Spec Homes

Response time2 days
29 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by100%of homeowners
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Structural Engineering questions, answered by experts

Yes, you can put a doorway in a structural wall; in fact, most exterior doors are set into structural walls. The project is a little more challenging than installing a door in a non-load-bearing wall because you need a structural engineer to assess the wall and make sure it’s safe to create a wall opening. Your engineer’s report will include instructions for your contractor on how and where to install additional supports, like steel headers above the door, to distribute the weight above to the wall on either side of the door.

The easiest way to tell if a wall is load bearing is to check if it’s an exterior wall or if it runs perpendicular to the joists above and below it (or parallel to beams). Exterior walls are almost always load-bearing, and walls that run under beams or parallel to them are also usually load-bearing. There are exceptions to these rules, and walls that don’t fit into these categories can still be load-bearing. If you’re unsure, hire a structural engineer to look at your home to assess whether or not the wall is structural.

A construction manager is particularly useful in the case of a large-scale build with custom design elements, so it’s usually worth it to hire one. They can help manage your budget, maintain quality control, oversee timelines, and navigate unexpected hurdles. While construction managers are pricey, they can actually save money in the long run by identifying cost-saving opportunities and ensuring the project stays within budget.

Yes, ceiling joists are typically load-bearing. However, their primary function is to support the weight of the ceiling and loads applied to it, like lighting fixtures and ceiling fans. They can also help support the roof, especially if they’re part of truss systems. Remember, the load-bearing capacity of ceiling joists depends on the material, size, and space between them. 

A few hours for inspection, with a detailed report following in a week.

The El Cajon, CA homeowners’ guide to structural engineering services

From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.