Get matched with top structural engineers in Hazlehurst, MS

If you’re building new construction or adding onto your existing home, hiring a structural engineer is not only worth it but it’s probably required by your local building department. Structural engineers will ensure you aren’t making your home unsafe in the building process, which is crucial from a safety perspective but also a legal one. It’s also worth hiring a structural engineer if you’re making changes to structural components, like removing a load-bearing wall.

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.

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.

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.