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TRUSTED BY SANTA CRUZ, CA HOMEOWNERS

  • Average homeowner rating star icon4.5
    Average homeowner rating
  • Verified reviews icon30
    Verified structural engineering services reviews

Find Structural engineers in Santa Cruz

Avatar for Unicorn Structures
Unicorn Structures
5.0(
35
)
Engineer - Structural

Serving Santa Cruz, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2019

Free estimates

Credit card accepted

"Mr. Deshwal helped us with the architecture and structural engineering in our home remodel project. He helped us with the permit process and getting our designs iterated and approved with the City of Sunnyvale on time. He also helped with an addition of the master suite. He is very knowledgeable and helpful. We had several changes in our requirements along the way, and Mr. Deshwal was very flexible and supportive. We are very satisfied with his work and highly recommend him"
20801, Verde Moor Ct
20801, Verde Moor Ct
20801, Verde Moor Ct
Bow Window addition
20801, Verde Moor Ct

+16

Response time9 hrs
5 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by100%of homeowners
Avatar for Padir Consulting Engineers Corp.
Padir Consulting Engineers Corp.
4.8(
28
)
ArchitectEngineer - StructuralDraftsperson/CADD

Serving Santa Cruz, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 1994

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"I would rate your engineering design experience as excellent. Your skills in creating detailed drawings, problem-solving, and delivering innovative solutions are highly impressive."
Dana Condominium
Richmond single family dwelling
Addition to the Single Family dwelling
Affordable Building for Non Profits
Historic Church of All Faiths

+35

Response time1 day
37 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by87%of homeowners
Avatar for Toca Building Design
Toca Building Design
5.0(
8
)
Architect

Serving Santa Cruz, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2018

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"Working with Francisco and his team was amazing! From start to finish, they made the whole process of remodeling my house so easy and stress-free. Francisco really listened to what I wanted and came up with creative ideas. He was very responsive and always kept me in the loop. The final result is even better than I imagined. My house looks incredible and I’ve gotten so many compliments from friends and family."
Single Family Home
ADU rear yard
ADU
New Build
interior design

+6

Response time10 hrs
Response rate100%
1 neighbors recently requested a quote
Avatar for Ogle Design
Ogle Design
4.9(
8
)
Architect - For Business

Serving Santa Cruz, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2017

Free estimates

Credit card accepted

"It was such a great experience working with Will and his team at Ogle Designs. They helped us design a blueprint for creating additions to our house including designs for the inside and patio/landscape design We so impressed with Ogle Design's high level of professionalism, expertise and overall delivery of our project. They completed everything on time and within budget! Thanks for your excellent service."
Modern Deck
Modern Deck 2
Exterior Contemporary
Kitchen Island
Living Room

+14

Response time2 days
4 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by100%of homeowners
Avatar for Liberty Drafting Studios LLC
Liberty Drafting Studios LLC
4.9(
7
)
ArchitectDraftsperson/CADD

Serving Santa Cruz, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2024

Free estimates

Credit card accepted

"Working with David was seamless. He did what he said he was going to do, was on time with his work and the work was exceptional. He needed to work with an engineer to get certain specialized part of my garage to pass with the city but i got approved from the City of Sacramento for my garage rebuild on the first try ! ! I will be working with David in the future and highly recommend him."
Interior and exterior
Home after fire
Home after construction
Courtyard and great room design
Response time1 day
7 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by66%of homeowners
Avatar for APEX Drafting LLC
APEX Drafting LLC
5.0(
5
)
Draftsperson/CADD

Serving Santa Cruz, 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
99 neighbors recently requested a quote
Avatar for Craftsmens Guild, Inc.
Craftsmens Guild, Inc.
3.8(
19
)
Architect

Serving Santa Cruz, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 1986

Credit card accepted

Customers say: True professional

"We met Mike at the San Jose homeshow.  He seemed like he had a lot of experience.  We liked the idea that everything was handled in house, from design and engineering to building. 
Mike was great at returning calls, follow-up and making an appointment.  My husband and I had basic plans we had created showing the idea of our project and were trying to get an idea of if we could afford to start the project.
We made an appointment for Mike to come by.  He called when he was supposed to arrive to let us know he was running late but would be there.  When he arrived, he seemed like he was already off to his next appointment.  He was very much in a hurry.  He did a lot of talking about his ideas, but not a lot of listening as to what we were thinking.  He did have some great ideas as to what he would do with the project.  He dismissed the research we had already done on the project.
After this brief meeting, he took the drawings we had prepared and told us he'd get back to us with an estimate for architectural and structural engineering services.   He never got back to us.  We didn't follow-up with him because we didn't feel like we would be a good fit.

Mike gave me a call after seeing my review on Yelp and on Angie's List.  He apologized for my experience and explained that his mother passed away shortly after our meeting.  Due to his mother's passing he needed to take care of many of her affairs and deal with family matters.  I hadn't contacted him again as I decided we wouldn't be a good fit so knew nothing of his family circumstances.  He had misplaced my contact information.  Once he saw this review he could find me again and called me to apologize for this experience.  He offered some services with reduced rates to make up for my experience.  He also asked me to update this review.

I feel like Mike was sincere and apologetic and was really wanting to make things right. 
"
Additional Photos
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+12

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

When planning structural engineering in Santa Cruz, consider factors like strict city permitting, coastal zone regulations, and wildfire exposure. Homes in historic districts may face additional restrictions, while properties near the San Lorenzo River or coastline should address liquefaction and tsunami risks. Local contractor availability and neighborhood design standards can also affect project timelines and the approval process for structural upgrades.

Helpful?

In Santa Cruz, keep earthquake retrofitting supplies like anchor bolts, seismic straps, and foundation brackets available. Moisture control tools—such as vapor barriers and dehumidifiers—are vital due to coastal humidity. Stainless steel fasteners help prevent salt air corrosion. For inspections, have a level, measuring tape, and flashlight. A unique tip: keep a moisture meter handy to monitor wood framing, especially in fog-prone neighborhoods.

Helpful?

In Santa Cruz, foundations—especially cripple walls and anchor bolts—often require attention, particularly in older homes. Soft-story garage areas, chimneys, and large window openings are common weak points. Decks, balconies, and roof-to-wall connections face both moisture and seismic risks. For hillside properties, retaining walls and drainage systems are critical to monitor for structural stability and effective foundation repair over time.

Helpful?

For structural engineering projects in Santa Cruz, knowing your property’s seismic risk, soil composition, and foundation type is crucial. Details like the age of your home, hillside or coastal location, and proximity to fault lines help guide foundation repair and earthquake retrofitting strategies. Accurate site surveys and understanding local microclimates also ensure your project addresses both seismic safety and Santa Cruz’s unique environmental factors.

Helpful?

Structural engineering in Santa Cruz is designed to address seismic vulnerability, foundation settlement from shifting soils, and soft-story weaknesses found in older homes. It also tackles moisture-related wood rot, corrosion from salty air, and hillside stability concerns. By improving load paths and reinforcing aging infrastructure, structural upgrades help protect homes from earthquakes and the specific environmental challenges unique to Santa Cruz.

Helpful?

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

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