Are foundation walls load-bearing?

• <div><p>Yes. Foundation walls are always load-bearing.</p></div>

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Q: How much weight does a 4-inch concrete slab support?

• <div><p>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&rsquo;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.</p></div>

Q: Are split-level and a split-floor plan the same thing?

• <div><p>A split-level home is one that has several staggered floors connected by short staircases, while a split floor plan separates the primary bedroom from the rest of the bedrooms. Split floor plans are most often found in single-story homes, while split-level homes are always at least two stories.</p></div>

Q: Do I need a structural engineer or an architect?

• <div><p>Whether you&rsquo;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.</p></div>

Q: What do structural engineers look for when doing an inspection?

• <div><p>Structural engineers typically conduct inspections during a home sale or renovation, looking for signs of structural damage in various structures throughout the building, such as load-bearing walls, joists, beams, roofing trusses, foundations, and chimneys. Some of the warning signs that structural engineers check for include:</p><ul><li><p>Dry rot</p></li><li><p>Infestation</p></li><li><p>Shifting or<a href="https://www.angi.com/articles/quarter-inch-crack-my-foundation-major-concern.htm"> cracking foundations</a></p></li><li><p>Erosion</p></li><li><p>Water damage</p></li><li><p>Sagging, shifting, or damaged walls, ceilings, or roofing support</p></li></ul><p></p></div>

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Verified Reviews for Structural Engineering pros in Inwood, WV

*The Angi rating for Structural Engineering companies in Inwood, WV 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 Inwood, WV 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 December 26, 2025

Reviewed in September 2023
I cannot think of enough good things to say about Tim, the quality of his work, and his willingness to work with you to address and economically correct any excavating issues you may have. I will say it is an honor and pleasure to deal with such an intelligent and honest man.
GAP Excavating
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Reviewed in August 2023
Their climber Justin was amazing to watch! A real professional; he told the ground crew just what to do to keep them and my surrounding structures safe when taking down some tall trees overhanging my roof.
Agile Tree Services
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Reviewed in May 2023
Rhonda & NextDay was excellent! I had called about five inspectors for our 1300 sq ft townhouse ; all the other inspectors gave quotes for $400-500 - they said they'll spend an hour at the house so hence the higher price. Well Rhonda was there for over two hours and the report we got back was...
NextDay Inspect®
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Reviewed in October 2021
I honestly could not more highly recommend Bob. We hired him for our 1st home inspection and he found it had structural damage; which completely saved me from buying a home I would never get my money out of. After the 1st house, I started hiring Bob to do visual inspections. He would preview...
Inspect-It First, LLC
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Reviewed in August 2019
Responsive, attentive, and overall very professional. Trees were removed without damage to the nearby structure. Great job!
BBB Tree & Landscaping Service, LLC
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Reviewed in August 2016
Called for help with loose siding near the top of 3 story townhouse. Kept me updated throughout the process and was able to fix in a timely manner. Would recommend and use again.
Mr. Handyman of Martinsburg and Charles Town
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Reviewed in March 2013
I was driving home from work on Tuesday and it felt like the front end of my Jeep was going to fall off. I stopped at a gas station and some gentleman told me sounded like a spark plug. I called my local Jeep dealer and they couldn't see it right away and wanted to charge $119 just to look at...
Martinsburg Service Center
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Find Structural engineers in Inwood

At Hatfield Building and Excavating we offer a multitude of services to fit your contracting needs. From pressure washing job sites to constructing a new home or office location from start to finish. We offer warranties on all services provided with on-call technical support following completion of the job. **Free Estimates!** it doesn't cost you anything to dream, and we can turn your dreams into realities!

American Amish Co

1.00(

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American Amish Co

1.00(

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27 years of experience

Additional DBA - American Amish Company LLC, American Amish Company's Corp.

MT Engineering Services

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MT Engineering Services

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Our engineering firm specializes in providing professional Civil Engineering services in both the public and private sectors for construction and development projects including Geotechnical Eng., Pavement Eng., and Construction Materials Testing and Inspection. MTES provides tailored geotechnical exploration and investigation services to our clients designed to fit the need and scope Our services include: Geotechnical Investigations Foundation inspection and repair Deep Foundation Design for Bridges, High-Rises, and other Structures Slope Stability Analyses Geotechnical Instrumentation Structural design and inspection Observation and Testing of Compacted Fill and (Site) Earthworks Observation and Logging of Drilled Shaft Excavations and Construction Coordination and Implementation of Full-Scale Shaft Load Testing Observation of Pile Foundation Systems Vibration Monitoring Peer Reviews

Rinker Design Associates, P.C.

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Rinker Design Associates, P.C.

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43 years of experience

Transportation/Utility Design, Traffic, Land Development and Planning, Surveying, Right-of-way Acquisition, Environmental, Construction Engineering and Inspection, Structural, Litigation Support

Structural Engineering questions, answered by experts

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.

A split-level home is one that has several staggered floors connected by short staircases, while a split floor plan separates the primary bedroom from the rest of the bedrooms. Split floor plans are most often found in single-story homes, while split-level homes are always at least two stories.

Yes. Foundation walls are always load-bearing.

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.

Structural engineers typically conduct inspections during a home sale or renovation, looking for signs of structural damage in various structures throughout the building, such as load-bearing walls, joists, beams, roofing trusses, foundations, and chimneys. Some of the warning signs that structural engineers check for include:

Dry rot
Infestation
Shifting or cracking foundations
Erosion
Water damage
Sagging, shifting, or damaged walls, ceilings, or roofing support

The Inwood, WV homeowners’ guide to structural engineering services

From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.

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BK Services

BK Services

Hatfield Building & Excavating

Hatfield Building & Excavating

American Amish Co

American Amish Co

MT Engineering Services

MT Engineering Services

Rinker Design Associates, P.C.

Rinker Design Associates, P.C.

The Inwood, WV homeowners’ guide to structural engineering services

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Structural Engineer in Dallas? [2025 Data]

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Structural Engineer in New York? [2025 Data]

How Much Does It Cost to Vault a Ceiling? [2025 Data]

10 Signs of Structural Damage in Your Home

Why You May Need to Hire a Structural Engineer for a Home Inspection

Structural Engineer vs. Architect: Their Differences and Why You Need Both

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Get matched with top structural engineers in Inwood, WV

Enter your zip and get matched with up to 5 pros

Need a pro for your structural engineering project in Inwood, WV?

Engineer Structural

Architectural Service

Addition to Existing Structure Building Service

Verified Reviews for Structural Engineering pros in Inwood, WV

Find Structural engineers in Inwood

BK Services

BK Services

Hatfield Building & Excavating

Hatfield Building & Excavating

American Amish Co

American Amish Co

MT Engineering Services

MT Engineering Services

Rinker Design Associates, P.C.

Rinker Design Associates, P.C.

The Inwood, WV homeowners’ guide to structural engineering services

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Structural Engineer in Dallas? [2025 Data]

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Structural Engineer in New York? [2025 Data]

How Much Does It Cost to Vault a Ceiling? [2025 Data]

10 Signs of Structural Damage in Your Home

Why You May Need to Hire a Structural Engineer for a Home Inspection

Structural Engineer vs. Architect: Their Differences and Why You Need Both

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