Do I need a structural engineer to knock down a wall?

• <div><p>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.</p></div>

Get matched with top structural engineers in Scenery Hill, PA

Q: What are the disadvantages of a cathedral ceiling?

• <div><p>Cathedral ceilings make a statement in your home, but at the cost of your attic space. Normal attics are wide open, which allows warm air to move around and exit your home. Because of this, cathedral ceilings make your home less energy efficient and put your ceiling at risk of venting issues if you&rsquo;re not careful. They also reduce your attic storage space, potentially cause an echo, and even make it harder to change a light bulb. </p></div>

Q: What are the typical warning signs of a structural issue in my home?

• <div><p>Indications include cracks in walls, uneven floors, and sticking doors or windows that suggest foundation movements.</p></div>

Q: How deep does a monolithic slab need to be?

• <div><p>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&mdash;which are built into a monolithic slab&mdash;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.</p></div>

Q: What is the hardest stage in building a house?

• <div><p>The early stages of building a house are harder than the later stages; laying the foundation and framing the house are two of the most challenging steps. However, it varies for everyone. Some people have difficulty installing HVAC, plumbing, and electricity, while others find it harder to plan the house and secure the necessary permits. </p></div>

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Verified Reviews for Structural Engineering pros in Scenery Hill, PA

*The Angi rating for Structural Engineering companies in Scenery Hill, PA is a rating based on verified reviews from our community of homeowners who have used these pros to meet their Structural Engineering needs.

*The HomeAdvisor rating for Structural Engineering companies in Scenery Hill, PA is a rating based on verified reviews from our community of homeowners who have used these pros to meet their Structural Engineering needs.

Last update on April 06, 2023

Reviewed in April 2023
Gary was very professional and knowledgeable about his field I would definitely use him again in the future if we needed anything structural done. Thanks Gary
Gary J. Miller
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Reviewed in May 2022
Johnson Masonry Restoration did an exemplary job rebuilding a block wall, which was caving in the entrance to my basement in my home. They completely dismantled the old wall and built a new one to replace it. For the second job, they completed a new drainage system down my walkway which now...
Johnson Masonry Restoration LLC
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Reviewed in November 2020
The guy did not check all the water lines which caused extensive water damage after the house was purchased and flew a drone to check the roof without actually checking or testing the structural integrity at all. Complete waste of time and money.
Pillar To Post Zamiska Team
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Reviewed in March 2017
The job went very well and the work was completed professionally and as timely as possible given the amount of additional work needed to address the structural issues. The contractors were prompt, courteous, and kept the work area clean throughout the duration of the work. I would definantly use...
Locy Construction Services
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Reviewed in January 2015
Was prompt, reviewed the structural issue and wrote a report within 24 hours. Very satisfied.
Gerhart Engineering Company
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Reviewed in May 2014
Exceptional. Mr. Wattelet and his staff provided quality work and service in a timely manner. They cleaned up at the end of each day. There was no damage to any of our items or property. Mr. Wattelet was even willing to assist us in a few addtional requests while he was here which we very...
M L Wattelet Landscaping & Contracting
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Reviewed in May 2014
Excellent quality and craftsmanship. Work was performed as promised and on time. Mike, John, and Lincoln were very professional and took care to match the existing structures so that you cannot tell that the new doors and molding are not part of the original house construction. They were very...
Top Quality Contractors
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Reviewed in April 2014
This review is regarding ACA Construction AKA Bryan Scott Berkich. My wife and I contacted ACA construction in July of 2013. We wanted to complete a second story addition and after several estimates Mr. Scott Berkich came in with the best price and seemed like a very knowledgeable contractor. We...
ACA Construction
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Reviewed in August 2013
This time we actually bought our second structure from Yoder's Backyard S. Their prices and quality and were the reasons we went back. They delivered the chicken coop promptly and professionally. We would definitely do business with this company again. <br />
YODER'S BACKYARD STRUCTURES
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Reviewed in July 2013
It was great. He was very professional. He has actually great design ideas because I didn’t know what I could do without doing structural changes and I had the vision of how it could be different from what it was and so he had that vision like the first time he came. He drew it up and we worked...
Connors Custom Cabinetry
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Find Structural engineers in Scenery Hill

Serving Scenery Hill, PA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2015

Emergency services offered

Small jobs welcome

"First time Iâ d ever hired a structural engineer, so canâ t say."

Response time9 hrs

6 neighbors recently requested a quote

Recommended by93%of homeowners

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JL & A Structural Engineers

4.0(

)

Serving Scenery Hill, PA and surrounding areas

In business since 1970

Emergency services offered

"John has a heart and enjoys his work and it shows. Everything that job required john was always 1 step ahead of project fast and efficient"

Response time2 days

Recommended by85%of homeowners

Serving Scenery Hill, PA and surrounding areas

In business since 2015

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"Dee is a solid guy and excellent engineer. My project required him to design and create the engineering specs to navigate our town's permitting process. His thoroughness exceeded my expectations. I recommend and trust Dee on any future project."

+10

Response time7 hrs

Recommended by54%of homeowners

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Gerhart Engineering Company

4.0(

222

)

Serving Scenery Hill, PA and surrounding areas

In business since 1988

Free estimates

"First time using Gerhart Engineering. Will use again."

Response time1 day

Recommended by92%of homeowners

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Gerhart Engineering Company

4.0(

162

)

Serving Scenery Hill, PA and surrounding areas

In business since 1988

Free estimates

"Tim, is extremely Knowledgeable in his field. He showed up on time and he was pleasant and nice to work with. Tim put together drawings for a retainer wall I had built. I was very pleased with the drawing. He certified the drawing and signed off. Tim, thanks a lot. I highly recommend Tim if you need an experience Engineer that deals with retainer walls. Wanda. Langhorne, PA -Residence Customer."

Tolans drill rig for extinguishing mine fire

+23

Recommended by91%of homeowners

Serving Scenery Hill, PA and surrounding areas

In business since 1992

"Ed responded to our request for a structural engineer consult very quickly, and was able to come out and give us a consult within 2 hours (and on a Saturday). His assessment of the detached garage walls of a home we are about to buy provided both us and the sellers much more peace of mind in moving forward with the deal; he provided options that would likely be more permanent (which is what we wanted) and cost less to repair, and represented the objective opinion we needed. All the contractors we had talked to were just confusing and upsetting us with differing recommendations and cost estimates. We highly recommend Ed Brenkus..."

Recommended by19%of homeowners

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Structural Engineering questions, answered by experts

Cathedral ceilings make a statement in your home, but at the cost of your attic space. Normal attics are wide open, which allows warm air to move around and exit your home. Because of this, cathedral ceilings make your home less energy efficient and put your ceiling at risk of venting issues if you’re not careful. They also reduce your attic storage space, potentially cause an echo, and even make it harder to change a light bulb.

Indications include cracks in walls, uneven floors, and sticking doors or windows that suggest foundation movements.

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 early stages of building a house are harder than the later stages; laying the foundation and framing the house are two of the most challenging steps. However, it varies for everyone. Some people have difficulty installing HVAC, plumbing, and electricity, while others find it harder to plan the house and secure the necessary permits.

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.

The Scenery Hill, PA homeowners’ guide to structural engineering services

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