"Martin and Great Lakes are consummate professionals. They are incredibly knowledgable about structures and the factors and variables that can affect them -- both internal and external. For our work, they excavated along the foundation to allow us to analyze our foundation. We highly recommend them to preserve the structure of your facilities new and old."
"I would (and almost certainly will) work with AGGO again!
We are buying a house and something came up where we needed a structural engineer to inspect something on very short notice. I reached out though Angi's to any company that might possibly employ structural engineers and Linda, a Structural Engineer with AGGO got back to me right away, first thing in the morning and was able to squeeze us in that very night.
Linda was thoughtful and thorough. She careful looked over everything and even brought a large, bright light since it was after dark. She took her time, answered all of our questions, and gave us advice on other concerns and things to watch out for as well as reassuring us about things we didn't need to worry about in this situation. Even though she was probably working past her normal work hours to squeeze us in, nothing felt rushed or hasty."
"Marc did a great job on our garage expansion project! He was friendly and professional, taking all of our ideas and criteria and combining them into a great layout. The drawings themselves look great. We are still shopping the plans around to contractors, and Marc is always helpful with advice or ways to reduce cost. Would definitely recommend him to anyone looking for an architect."
"Architect Kristin Kollias has provided me with professional and responsive help in the renovation of a vacant single family bungalow in Chicago that required extensive repair for compliance with the City of Chicago codes. She assisted in guiding me in obtaining required site plan for the residence; addressed the structural, electrical and plumbing details required; drafted and created the architectural floor plans that fit my vison of interior space; and facilitated in obtaining the necessary city permits from City of Chicago. Clearly she is a true professional and her services are greatly appreciated."
"David completed the project within 2 weeks for a full basement remodel. He suggested some space saving ideas we had not thought off. Great value and great service."
"We met with owner/senior architect, Firmin Senga to join us in the viewing of our desired property. We wanted to have an architect on board with us for reassurance that the updates we plan will work before we make an offer. He was very helpful."
"I got to work with Tim Nugent on designing an addition to my home. He was able to come up with a great design to fit my budget. Very good guy to work with. Highly reccomend!!"
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.
Many horizontal cracks in home foundations result from water and soil pressure from outside of the building or from a footing that is shifting. Under those circumstances, horizontal cracks are a structural problem that requires repair before they become worse and more difficult to fix. However, in very specific cases, thin horizontal cracks may simply be a cosmetic blemish due to concrete shrinkage.
Yes, an LVL beam is more affordable than the cost of a steel I-beam, totaling between $50 and $200 per linear foot as opposed to the $100 to $400 per linear foot you’d pay for a steel I-beam. Not only is the wood material more affordable than steel, but it’s also more similar to traditional wooden beams and doesn’t require as much retrofitting to connect joists.
The average cost to hire a structural engineer is about $550, with prices generally ranging from $200 to $1,500. Structural engineers may charge a flat rate, by the project, by square footage, or an hourly rate, which is typically between $100 and $250. Many jobs, such as inspections and structural calculations, are billed at a flat rate, which often falls between $300 and $800. The final cost depends on several factors, including the project's type, scope, size, complexity, ease of access for inspection, and your geographic location.
The depth of any foundation style depends on your climate and how deep the frost line is, as building code requires that the footers of a foundation—which are built into a monolithic slab—sit at least a foot below the frost line. At the southern tip of Florida, for example, a monolithic slab foundation would only need to sit 12 inches under the soil at the widest parts. On some parts of the Canadian border, the frost line is 100 inches, which would mean a minimum of 112 inches, which is prohibitively deep for a monolithic slab.
The Palatine, IL homeowners’ guide to structural engineering services
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
The cost of a structural engineer is easily justifiable given the value they bring to the table. Use this guide to see what hiring your professional will total in Chicago, IL.
Find out the average beam installation cost in Chicago, IL. Learn what you can expect to pay for local structural support and get your home renovation ready.
The cost of a structural engineer is easily justifiable given the value they bring to the table. Use this guide to see what hiring your professional will total.
Spotting deep foundation cracks or sagging floors? Learn about structural engineering costs, serious warning signs, and how to hire the right local pro.
It can be hard to choose the right pro for any job, but it matters. Learn how to hire a structural engineer who'll get the job done right from start to finish.
