"ESG Design was great to work with. I contacted them through Home Advisor for an impartial assessment of the cause of cracks in my ceiling, plus a few other issues. Eli, the engineer, did a thorough inspection and developed a solid plan for repairs. ESG also offered two levels of fees, which was extremely helpful for my budget. Thank you ESG for the service and peace of mind!"
"I've been fortunate to work with him for 20 years.He is an extremely qualified structural engineer and a competent individual! You can trust Mike to do a great job!!!"
"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."
"Josh has always been prompt and communicative with every interaction we've had. I initially got in touch with him about new construction design questions, and when we discovered that our current home porch posts had rotted through due to faulty design by the original home designer, Josh jumped into action. He had his engineer and construction crew to our door within 24 hours to take a look and put together a plan. He took my design ideas and brought them to life. He was transparent about all parts of the cost (to include his profit), and gave us to option to lower the cost by hauling away debris and painting the porch (which we were more than willing to do). Any delays with the work were met with a phone call and followup email if he didn't get through to either my husband or I immediately, and the construction crew did very high quality work. We were beyond pleased with his customer service! We will definitely use Revival Home Designs in the future when we decide to build our forever home."
Luke has spent the past 15 years immersed in the art of architecture—developing what one client called a “rare combination” of astute design sensibility, technical know-how, and client-centric service.\n\nLuke’s experiences span the country, ranging from rural and coastal estates, homes in garden districts and urban areas, historic renovations, institutional buildings such as schools and churches, hospitality, and commercial mixed-use buildings. In each circumstance, he applies a passion for design and a genuine desire to make people happy.\n\nAs another client stated, “He has impeccable taste and [aesthetic judgment] – which combined with his architectural skills and passion result in the collaboration of a lifetime.”
Structural Engineering questions, answered by experts
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.
The 10 10 rule describes the formula most contractors use to determine how much to charge for a job. Allowing for 10% overhead above the total projected cost to do the work and 10% profit sets a contractor up for success, even if there are delays or other problems on the project. This formula isn’t a hard-and-fast rule, but it is a ballpark figure to begin with when estimating your expenses on a job.
Through proper drainage solutions and compacting the foundation soil.
Yes, walls on the top floor can be load-bearing if stacked on the floor’s foundation.
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.
The Vashon, 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.
Sometimes, all your home needs is a new wall to make a room or provide an updated function to an existing space. Learn how much it costs to install a new wall in Seattle, WA.
Finishing an attic can make a great addition to your home. This guide breaks down the cost to finish an attic in Seattle, WA including labor, materials, and more.
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.
