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Avatar for Alpha Structural, Inc.
Alpha Structural, Inc.
4.6(
241
)

Serving Santa Barbara, CA and surrounding areas

Approved (Corporate)

In business since 1992

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"Erinn was my initial contact and he gave a very through and fair estimate. We had structural work done to support floor joists and large beams under the garage that needed replacing. Ernesto and his team, Julio, Salvatore and Gilder worked tirelessly to complete the work and were respectful, punctual, informative and good humoured throughout the entire process. I would not hesitate to use them again or recommend them to others. A really great company!!"
Basement Addition
Basement Expansion
Caisson Supported Retaining Wall
Cantilevered Deck Design Build
Deck Expansion and Slope Failure with Retaining Wall

+315

Response time10 hrs
Response rate96%
23 neighbors recently requested a quote
J Hanna Engineering, Inc.
5.0(
7
)

Serving Santa Barbara, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2016

Free estimates

Small jobs welcome

"Although Johnâ s company is 120 miles away from my place, he was able to provide me a very good engineering service for a good size job of opening up four rooms into a huge great room environment. He has many years of engineering experience in wide range of complex jobs with high quality of interaction with customer without much of delay. He is my go to engineer for my next remodeling project on other property in near future. Tsbiker Hollister, CA"
Response time2 days
7 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by83%of homeowners
Avatar for Lawrence Thompson Architects, Inc.
Lawrence Thompson Architects, Inc.
4.3(
8
)

Serving Santa Barbara, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 1986

Free estimates

Customers say: Quality work

Award-winning architectural design expertise that includes contemporary and traditional design themes, developed to best develop your project goals and needs.\nA "One Stop Shop" including structural engineering, energy consulting and calculations, and top line colored presentations, all as needed to save time, money and provide better integration in preparing final drawings. All design themes are provided, with traditional styles backed up with an extensive Library and over 35,000 photos of projects from the US and Europe. Work is Coast to Coast and fees are moderate. Homes destroyed by fire are given fee discounts up to 30%.\n IN-DEPTH DESIGN EXPERTISE: Your needs are taken very seriously and are the central force in design. Occasionally a whole new idea grows from your comments and preferences that may be both surprising and rewarding. Special expertise in Mediterranean themes. Extensive governmental experience and permit processing history augments your project.\n

Pepe Rsidence, Santa Ynez Valley
Riviera Residence, Santa Barbara
Riviera Residence, Santa Barbara, CA.
Riviera Residence, Santa Barbara, CA.
Riviera Residence, Santa Barbara, CA.

+34

Response time3 days
5 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by83%of homeowners
Avatar for Tom Smith Architecture
Tom Smith Architecture
5.0(
5
)

Serving Santa Barbara, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2004

Free estimates

Credit card accepted

If you can imagine it we can do it. We are focused on providing high-quality services and customer satisfaction on every project and to each and every customer. We will do everything we can to meet your expectations and we are sure you will be happy to work with us. As experts in the field, Tom Smith Architecture has over 25 years of experience and is known to pay exquisite attention to detail while making customer satisfaction his top priority.

Tom's Portfolio
Work
Work
Work
Work

+7

Response time2 days
Recommended by100%of homeowners
Avatar for Evolution Drafting
Evolution Drafting
3.4(
94
)

Serving Santa Barbara, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2018

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"I hired them to create plans for an apartment building. The process was quick and painless. Cost was good. The plans are full complete abd ready to take to builders for quotes. I will definitly use them again."
Zeal Floor Plan
Charcoal
Palm Floor Plan
Charcoal Floor 2
Charcoal Floor 1

+23

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

Serving Santa Barbara, 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
94 neighbors recently requested a quote
Avatar for Gannage Design - Unlicensed Contractor
Gannage Design - Unlicensed Contractor
5.0(
4
)

Serving Santa Barbara, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2000

Free estimates

Credit card accepted

Why pay more for an Architect? When we can design you a luxurious home for a fraction of the cost! We match our creativity with the owner's vision. Services we provide are,\n\n*New Home design,\n* Remodel or Addition\n* 3D Visualization\n* Construction Plans for Building Permit\n* Processing Permits\n\nGive us a call today, we look forward to working with you.

Exterior before
Exterior
Exterior
living
entry

+75

Response time1 day
Response rate91%
2 neighbors recently requested a quote
Avatar for Ashton Built Inc.
Ashton Built Inc.
4.2(
5
)

Serving Santa Barbara, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 1990

Free estimates

Offers commercial services

We happen to love what we do. Call it passion. Call it maniacal obsession. Call it whatever you want. The truth is, we love nothing more than making a client?s dream home a reality. And we geek-out over the details. We know from experience that construction projects can be demanding, time-consuming, and disruptive to family life, which is why we take pride in making the process as seamless and stress-free as humanly possible.\nBuilt on a foundation of honesty, efficiency, and insanely high standards, we work in tandem with clients to accommodate tight time frames and budgets, delivering quality craftsmanship devoid of high mark-ups and completion delays. Always available to answer day-to-day questions, we pride ourselves on attention to detail, overseeing all aspects of the construction process to ensure tasks run smoothly from start to finish.

Exterior
Living/Kitchen
Kitchen/Stairwell
Exterior 2
Stairwell/Bedroom

+7

Response time4 days
14 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by100%of homeowners
Barbara Ricketts Architect
5.0(
4
)

Serving Santa Barbara, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 1995

Free estimates

Customers say: Quality work

Barbara Ricketts Architect strives to engage my customers with open communication and provides professional expertise and experience on every architectural project I work on. My level of communication when working with my clients from initial consultation through project completion is unmatched in the industry. I proudly serve clients in and around the Santa Barbara and Ventura county area. Barbara Ricketts Architect has been professionally licensed since 1990 and I look forward to working with you soon on your next project. Thanks!

3 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by100%of homeowners
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Structural Engineering questions, answered by experts

If you intend to do the majority of the work yourself, you can pay to hire an architect or a structural engineer to ensure your home remains structurally sound. They can help with the planning to make sure everything is up to code and safe for your family. On the other hand, if you’re not sure your home will be completely safe when you’ve completed the project, let a pro do the job.

In many areas, advice from a structural engineer or an architect will be required by your building department before you can remove a wall, but even if it’s not necessary, it’s a good idea. Accidentally removing a load-bearing wall—even if a general contractor advises that it’s safe—can cause major structural damage, putting you and your family at risk and potentially costing thousands or tens of thousands of dollars in property damage.

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. 

No, squeaky floors do not always mean there is structural damage. The noise is often caused by friction from issues like loose floorboards, gaps between the subfloor and joists, or loose subflooring. While many squeaks are harmless, persistent or worsening noise could indicate a more severe problem. If you notice other signs of structural damage—such as soft or sagging floors, cracks running from the wall to the ceiling, or horizontal cracks in your foundation—it's best to have a professional inspect your floor to determine the root cause.

You should pick steel for your new support beam for a few reasons. While steel is more expensive than other materials, such as laminated veneer lumber or glulam, it offers the following benefits:

  • Fire-resistant

  • Unaffected by pests

  • Longer-lasting

  • Stronger against water damage (when galvanized against rust)

The Santa Barbara, CA homeowners’ guide to structural engineering services

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