Get matched with top structural engineers in Topsham, VT

The costs depend on the type of wood, labor, roofing material, permits, and whether additional storage or enclosed walls are included.

Hiring a structural engineer costs about $550 on average. However, prices range from as low as $200 up to $1,500. Structural engineers may charge by project, hourly, or by the square footage, making it important to understand how your chosen engineer structures their estimates. Additional cost factors include project type, the scope of work, the size of the project, and your geographic location.

A 4-inch-thick concrete slab can support around 4,000 pounds per square foot if a contractor reinforces the slab with rebar, while that same slab without reinforcements will support closer to 1,000 pounds. For the purposes of a patio, 4 inches in thickness without reinforcement should suffice unless you’re installing heavy kitchen equipment or a hot tub on it. In those cases, reinforcing your slab and sticking with 4 inches of thickness should provide plenty of strength.

Whether you’re building a new home or building an extension on your existing property, you will likely need both a structural engineer and an architect. A structural engineer will determine what loads your foundation and framing can safely handle, and an architect will draw plans according to those structural calculations to simplify the building process. You can start by contacting a structural engineer near you, as many work alongside architects and can get all of the prep work done at once.