Structural Repair

The Pipeline: Find It. Fix It. Strengthen It.

Structural repair sits in the middle of a logical sequence: a structural condition assessment finds the problem and characterizes it; repair engineering fixes it; and if the building needs more than repair — if it needs to be stronger against future earthquakes — seismic rehabilitation is the next step. These services are designed to hand off cleanly to each other.

What I Design Repairs For

Foundation Repair

Settlement cracking — identify cause, design repair and stabilization
Underpinning design — helical piers, push piers, grade beams
Drainage-related failures — design drainage correction and structural remediation together
Bearing capacity deficiencies found during inspection or permit review

Framing Repair

Over-spanned or undersized members — sistering, reinforcement, replacement design
Previously removed structural members — retrofit the missing element, re-establish load path
Fire, water, rot, or pest damage — assess remaining capacity, design replacement framing
Notched, cut, or otherwise compromised members

Post-Event Damage

Water intrusion / flooding — assess structural impact, design repair
Fire damage — evaluate remaining structural capacity, design repair or replacement
Vehicle impact — parking garage columns, building corners, storefronts
Storm or wind damage — roof framing, wall framing, connections

Settlement Remediation

Helical pier and push pier system design and specification
Slab lift and releveling specification
Long-term monitoring recommendations

Shoring and Temporary Support

Shoring design during structural alteration or emergency stabilization
Temporary support framing while permanent repair is designed and built
Shoring drawings for permit or contractor use

Who Hires This

Homeowners dealing with a flagged structural concern or visible damage. Building owners managing older commercial or multifamily properties. Contractors who need a stamped repair design to build from. Insurers or adjusters who need a PE assessment and repair scope. Attorneys who need an independent structural opinion for a dispute or claim.

What's Included

Site visit and visual assessment
Root-cause analysis — what caused the damage, not just what it looks like
Stamped repair drawings and details — contractor-ready
Calculations where the jurisdiction requires them
Contractor-ready written scope of repair
Optional: construction observation to confirm work is built as designed

Fees

Repair scope varies too widely for a standard fee schedule — a cracked foundation stem wall and a fire-damaged post-and-beam frame require completely different assessments. I'll review photos and a description, visit the site, and send a fixed-fee proposal. Most repair assessments are quoted within one business day of the site visit.

FAQ

My home inspector flagged a structural issue — what now?

A licensed PE assesses it, finds the root cause, and designs the repair — with stamped drawings your contractor can build from. Not every flag turns into a major repair. Knowing exactly what you're dealing with, and what it takes to fix it, is the point of the assessment.

Do you do the repair work?

No — I'm the engineer: I assess, design, stamp the drawings, and can observe construction to confirm the work is built as designed. Your contractor builds it. That division is intentional — it keeps the inspection objective and the design independent of who's doing the work.