Site Plans & Engineering
Structural Engineering
Structural calculations, beam sizing and wind-load design by licensed structural engineers, coordinated with the architectural plans and construction.
Overview
Structural engineering determines how a building carries its loads – the weight of the structure, the people and contents inside it, and the wind forces that Florida buildings are designed to resist. It sets the size of footings and beams, the layout of shear walls and tie beams, and the connections that tie the roof to the walls and the walls to the foundation.
Structural drawings and calculations are prepared, signed and sealed by a licensed professional engineer. We coordinate the engineer’s work with the architectural plans and with the trades that will build it, so beam sizes, connector schedules and reinforcing details are resolved before construction rather than discovered in the field.
For renovations, structural engineering is often needed to remove or alter a load-bearing wall, add openings, or support new loads such as a heavier roof or rooftop equipment. If you already have structural drawings, we review them alongside the architecture for conflicts before pricing.
Who it’s for
- New homes and additions that need structural plans for permitting
- Renovations that remove or modify load-bearing walls or create new openings
- Projects adding loads such as new roofing materials, rooftop equipment or a second story
- Commercial build-outs with mezzanines, equipment supports or storefront openings
- Window and door replacements where larger openings change the structure
What’s included
Typically included
- Defining the structural scope with the architect and engineer
- Structural calculations for gravity loads and wind loads based on the project’s location and exposure
- Foundation design informed by the geotechnical report where one is available
- Beam, header and column sizing, including steel or engineered wood where required
- Roof framing, truss coordination and uplift connection design
- Shear wall, tie beam, lintel and reinforcing details for masonry and framed construction
- Review of truss and component shop drawings against the structural design
- Coordination of engineer site visits or inspection letters where the permit requires them
Common exclusions
- Geotechnical investigation, coordinated as a separate scope
- Truss engineering prepared by the truss manufacturer’s engineer, which is coordinated but supplied with the trusses
- Forensic evaluation of existing damage, which is assessment-based
- Specialty engineering for items such as screen enclosures or storefront systems, often provided by the product supplier
Every proposal lists its own inclusions and exclusions in writing.
Materials, design options & upgrades
How pricing works
Structural engineering is priced per project. The engineer’s fee reflects the size and type of structure, the wind-design requirements for the site, and how much existing structure must be evaluated; we include it in the estimate as a separate line.
Structural decisions also drive construction cost – beam materials, footing sizes, connector types – so we review the engineering against the budget as it develops rather than after it is sealed.
What changes the cost
- Building size, number of stories and structural system: masonry, wood, steel or a combination
- Wind-design requirements for the site, which vary with location and exposure
- Long spans, cantilevers or large openings
- Existing structure that must be investigated before design
- Soil conditions affecting foundation design
- Number of revisions after architectural changes
If this work is part of a larger project, it’s priced within that project’s budget — please don’t add separate estimates together. Read the pricing guide.
Typical stages
Scope and information
Architectural plans, survey and any geotechnical report are provided to the engineer, and existing conditions are documented for renovations.
Structural concept
The engineer proposes the structural system and key members; we review for cost and buildability.
Calculations and drawings
Gravity and wind calculations are completed and the structural sheets are drawn and coordinated with the architecture.
Permit and shop drawings
Structural plans are submitted for permit, and truss and component shop drawings are reviewed against them.
Construction support
Field questions go to the engineer of record, and required inspections or engineer letters are scheduled.
What affects the schedule
- Completeness of the architectural design when structural work begins
- Investigation of existing conditions in renovations
- Availability of the geotechnical report for foundation design
- Shop-drawing review cycles for trusses and other engineered components
- Plan-review comments that require recalculation
Questions & answers
Do I need an engineer to remove a wall?
If the wall is load-bearing, yes. A licensed engineer determines how the load will be carried after removal, typically with a beam and posts down to adequate support, and the work requires a permit.
Why is wind load so important in Florida?
Buildings in Florida are designed for hurricane-force winds, and the required design wind speed varies with location and exposure. Wind load drives roof connections, wall reinforcing, opening sizes and the products that can be used.
Can you price my project before structural drawings are done?
We can prepare a budget from the architectural plans with stated structural assumptions, then refine it once the engineering is complete.
What if I already have structural plans?
We review them with the architectural drawings for conflicts and missing details, price from them, and coordinate any questions or revisions with the engineer of record.
Start here
Planning structural engineering?
A short form — three steps, a few minutes. Share plans or photos if you have them. We’ll review it and follow up using the contact details you provide.