"I highly recommend Part Time PE. Adam was able to provide us with a structural engineering report under a tight timeline. Not only did he answer our questions onsite but he was also quick and responsive with follow ups by phone and email. Professional and friendly service - we would be happy to use Part Time PE in the future."
We take great pride in our experience, expertise, quality, and customer service that we provide to meet the consumer's needs. It is our mission to provide excellent workmanship and complete customer satisfaction from start to completion of a project. In order to understand the needs and expectations of our customers, we take great care to work and communicate with every customer in a professional manner. Our reputation is based on service, safety, and quality, regardless of how large or small the job.
"We very much appreciated the services of Criterium-Schimnowski Engineers. Their engineer was knowledgeable, listened to our concerns and put us at ease. We had noticed an uneven floor in a basement bedroom and a small crack in the exterior cinderblock as well as some deterioration in cinderblocks at soil level at the rear of our house. We had 4 foundation repair companies give us free estimates: American Waterworks, Innovative Basement Authority, SafeBasements of Minnesota, Inc and DBS Residential Solutions, Inc. All recommended push pier installation but different numbers ranging from 4 to 10 piers with a lift procedure. This is not an inexpensive procedure. All said they had engineers at their companies who would review the plan and be sure it was appropriate but we felt there was a conflict of interest in favor of the company's assessment. We had our home insurance field adjuster come out and he felt that there were no serious problems that would require piers. We decided to hire an independent structural engineer to give us an unbiased opinion. We chose Criterium-Schimnowski based on online reviews; looked on the Better Business Bureau but found none. Additionally, the fact that this firm has several engineers on staff gave us more confidence than companies with just a single engineer because there is more wisdom with many heads than one. The engineer determined that our foundation was structurally sound and no piers were needed. He recommended the deteriorating masonry be repaired, foundation landscape grading be done and that masonry gaps consistent with settling be sealed and closed. With his assessment, we have peace of mind and will save considerable money, not needing pier installation, and will use those savings instead to have the masonry and landscape grading done. Thank you, Criterium-Schimnowki, for helping us sort through the free foundation repair company estimates to learn what repairs were truly needed."
"We called Cady Handyman Services and a pleasant gentleman discussed our deck project. Cady Handyman scheduled one of his service tech to come out the follow morning. The tech arrived promptly at the scheduled time with a friendly ready to fix our problem attitude. We have raised nails and screws on our deck that always seem to reappear during winter months. These raised nails and screws made snow removal just horrible.The Cady tech recommened that we remove many of the bad loose fastners and replaced with a new non-corosive styles of screws. After a complete walk through of our project we were extremely satified.
With our project completed we are now looking forward to the winter to come.
With our total satisfaction with Cady Handyman Services we have again committed to them for our up coming basement project
"The contractor, Robbie, is very detail oriented and committed to delivering quality work. His subcontractors were on time, friendly and (!) cleaned up after themselves. There were some problems during the renovation, but Robbie handled them all to my satisfaction. My kitchen is beautiful!"
"The work was completed on time in a very timely manner. Clean up after the job was done very professionally. Over all it was a very good job with very good quality. "
"Larry and his crew did a great job building the foundation in extreme temperatures!! After Larry was finished, the excavator company broke out a corner of the foundation. I called Larry about it, he was out the next morning had it fixed and the project didn't miss a beat. Top notch company would definitely hire them again!!! Tim"
We take great pride in our experience, expertise, quality and customer service that we provide to meet your needs. It is our mission to provide excellent workmanship and complete customer satisfaction from start to completion of a project. In order to understand the needs and expectations of our customers, we take great care to work and communicate with every customer a professional manner. Our reputation is based on service, safety and quality, regardless of how large or small the job.
Sandman Structural Engineers is committed to excellence in every aspect of our business. We uphold a standard of integrity bound by fairness, honesty, and personal responsibility. Our distinction is the quality of service we bring to our customers. Accurate knowledge of our trade combined with ability is what makes us true professionals. Above all, we are watchful of our customers interests, and make their concerns the basis of our business.
Structural Engineering questions, answered by experts
Although the two terms are closely related and often used interchangeably, pier and beam foundations and crawl spaces are different things. A pier and beam foundation is made up of concrete piers and wooden beams and creates a space under the home known as a crawl space. There are several types of foundations that create crawl spaces, often collectively known as “crawl space foundations,” but the crawl space itself is separate from the foundation.
The best way to determine if ceiling cracks are structural is to hire a ceiling contractor to inspect the cracks and provide a professional opinion. That said, you might be able to make an educated guess based on the size and appearance of the crack. Larger cracks, cracks accompanied by sagging or discoloration, and cracks that travel from the ceiling down the walls are all signs of structural issues.
It is not recommended to cut or drill into LVL (laminated veneer lumber) beams. As major structural components of a home, their composite structure can be compromised by alterations, which can weaken them and lead to cracking over time. If you must make modifications to an LVL beam, it is crucial to consult a structural engineer or general contractor first. A professional can advise on whether it's safe and provide specifics on the appropriate bit size, depth, and directionality for any necessary drilling.
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.
On average, 6 inches of concrete can hold around 150 pounds per square foot, but the exact weight that 6 inches of concrete can hold depends on factors such as the type of concrete, the reinforcement method, soil conditions below, and structural design. If you’re concerned about the longevity of your concrete patio, walkway, or driveway, hire a professional to help you choose an appropriate concrete thickness and reinforcement method for your needs.
The Golden Valley, MN 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 Minneapolis, MN.
Structural steel and wood beams ensure your house is structurally sound. Learn the difference between steel and wood beams and how to choose the right one.
