FAQ
Common questions, straight answers.
If your question isn't here, reach out directly — we try to respond within a business day.
Do you work on single-family homes?
Yes. Custom residential is one of our core practice areas — new construction, additions, remodels, ADUs, and hillside work across Los Angeles and the surrounding metros. We are happy to be engaged directly by an owner or through the architect.
What areas do you serve?
Primarily the City of Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Culver City, Glendale, Pasadena, Burbank, Long Beach, and the surrounding Los Angeles County municipalities. We also work throughout Orange County, Ventura County, and the Inland Empire. If you are in Southern California, we can almost certainly work with you.
How early should I engage a structural engineer?
Earlier than most people think. Schematic design is the ideal window — the stage at which major decisions about massing, spans, and lateral system are still open. Engaging later is workable, but it narrows the solution space and usually costs more at construction.
Do you handle permit submittals?
We produce the structural drawings and calculation packages that go into the permit submittal, and we respond to structural plan-check corrections. The overall submittal is typically run by the architect or an expeditor, with us handling the structural portion.
Can you work with my architect?
Yes — we work with architects on most of our projects. If you already have an architect, we are happy to plug in as the structural engineer on their team. If you don't, we can recommend architects we know and have worked well with.
What's your typical turnaround?
A standard residential permit set takes about four to eight weeks from engagement to issuance for plan check, depending on complexity, coordination, and architect readiness. Commercial and mixed-use work is longer. Feasibility studies and due-diligence reports typically turn in a week or two.
Do you provide sealed, stamped drawings?
Yes. Jack is a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of California, and every set of structural drawings we issue for permit is stamped and signed. Calculation packages are stamped as well.
Do you offer feasibility studies before we purchase a property?
Yes — this is a common engagement for us. We can do a site visit, review any available drawings, and issue a short structural feasibility or due-diligence memo within the timeline of a typical purchase contingency period. See our Due Diligence and Feasibility Studies pages for more detail.
What's the soft-story retrofit process?
For buildings under Los Angeles Ordinance 183893, the process is: receive the compliance notice → structural screening to confirm scope → engineering evaluation and retrofit design → permit submittal and plan check → construction → final inspection and sign-off. We run the full sequence. More detail is on our Soft-Story Retrofit page.
Are virtual consultations available?
Yes. Initial consultations are often a video call plus a shared set of photos or drawings. For most projects a site visit happens at some point, but it doesn't have to be the first meeting.
Do you do earthquake evaluations after a seismic event?
We do post-event structural assessments on a limited basis. Availability after a major event depends on regional demand — contact us directly if this is a current concern.
How do you charge for construction administration?
Construction administration is billed hourly against a retainer, with a clear estimate at the outset based on expected project duration. We provide monthly statements and flag when we are approaching the retainer budget.