"John came out and looked at several issues, determined them to be cosmetic not structural and wrote a certified letter to that effect. We got great peace of mind from his visit."
"Mr. McCann came out to assess the water and carpenter ant damage to a wall and foundation sill plate of our home. He was able to quickly evaluate the problem area and provide the structural engineering report and repair task list we needed to get contractor bids on the reconstruction project. Highly recommended."
"This review is long overdue. We can?t really express how happy we are with our new house that Char designed. We hired Char to design our remodel in 2013/2014. When I say remodel, that is a bit of an understatement, as we took a 700 square foot house to approximately 1,900 square feet, which included adding a basement. It is essentially a new home, and we couldn?t be more happy with it. We did the majority of the work ourselves, which is one reason it?s taken us this long to sit down and write a review. Although having a baby 1 month before the excavators came added a bit to the complexity of things... The project pushed us to our limits, and a little beyond at times, but it has all been worth it. Our 2 year old son absolutely loves to run around and scoot across our big long hardwood floors on his little scooter. There is quite a runway now, and he definitely takes advantage of it. But back to the review. We knew the basic idea of what we wanted, but we needed an architect to draw up the plans. We wanted to hire someone local, and Char was great. Char really knows the code requirements which helped a lot getting the plans through the permitting process. We drafted up a general floor plan before hiring Char, and she provided a lot of good ideas and helped us refine the design to work more efficiently in the given space. This turned out to be a lot more important than I thought because it?s hard to visualize how a space will flow and function from a simple floor plan. Char also knows a lot of professionals in the industry, which is great when it comes to engineering calculations, truss design, etc. We really like the neighborhood we?re in, and it was important for us that our new space match the character of the original house. You see a lot of remodeled houses that are cute in front, with a big ugly 2-story box sticking up in the back. We wanted to avoid this and worked hard to make the addition look like it was always a part of the house. We also wanted the house to retain its ?small? appearance from the front, and we didn?t want to use up all of our backyard either. We ended up with a perfect house. Our neighbor across the street who was born there in the late 1940?s told us he can?t even remember what the house used to look like - he said it really just looks like it?s always been there (and it?s only been 2 years). I would definitely recommend hiring Char if you need an architect or design help. Beyond her architectural skills, she is very personable and easy to work with. She came out to our house many times to review drawings with us, go over edits, and discuss various ideas. She was very accommodating, and even helped us get the plans through the permitting process. Thank you so much Char, we really love our new house, and couldn?t have done it without your help. Katie and Nathan Moxley West Seattle
"Ward Engineering began working with Jared of Cornerstone Home Designs approximately 3 years ago to perform residential design work using Chief Architect design software. I find Jared to be the most capable Chief Architect designer I have ever worked with. Jared is very efficient and thorough at developing the residential Chief Architect models. In addition to being competent, Jared makes himself available to provide personal 1-on-1 training over the internet, which has been a huge blessing to our company and clients."
Refine Design is a residential architecture firm specializing in custom homes, additions, and major renovations throughout the Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond, and Snohomish areas. We believe great homes begin with understanding the people who live in them. Our collaborative process keeps homeowners involved from the earliest concepts through permitting and construction-ready plans.\n\nEvery project is shaped by the client's lifestyle, goals, budget, and the unique opportunities of the site. We focus on creating meaningful spaces that capture views, bring people together, and enhance daily living. Through thoughtful planning and design, we help clients maximize the value of their investment while creating architecture that feels timeless, functional, and uniquely their own.
"BT Engineers LLC did the tenant improvement design for our new space, and they did an amazing job. Our permits were approved very quickly. They were responsive and helpful throughout the whole process! I would highly recommend them!"
Structural Engineering questions, answered by experts
According to the Earthquake Country Alliance—a public and private alliance in California that works to improve earthquake and tsunami readiness—reports that unreinforced masonry, such as stone, bricks, and hollow clay tiles, is more susceptible to earthquake damage. The mortar between bricks isn’t as stable as other building materials and methods.
No, a structural engineer is not the same as a builder. A structural engineer is an expert in all things related to the structural integrity of a building. The structural engineer is responsible for calculating the correct materials in terms of load-bearing capacity and overall structural safety. Structural engineers do not perform the actual building of the house or other structures. Rather, the builder executes the plans and designs specified by the structural engineer.
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.
Through proper drainage solutions and compacting the foundation soil.
No, it’s not legal for unlicensed individuals to conduct structural calculations for buildings or building repairs. Not only do licensing requirements prevent DIYers from tackling this project, but mistakes can also be extremely dangerous and put your property and anyone inside or near it at risk of severe injury or even death. You should always hire a licensed and certified local structural engineer to make structural calculations.
The Tukwila, WA 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 Seattle, WA.
Find out the average architect cost in Seattle, WA. Learn what you can expect to pay for local architectural design services to plan your next home build.
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.
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.