Comprehensive Structural Inspection & Forensic Evaluation
Certified engineering assessments, structural due diligence reports, and mandatory municipal balcony safety inspections for property owners.
What is a Structural Inspection?
A structural inspection is a highly analytical, physical, and forensic evaluation of a building’s load-bearing framing, foundation systems, and structural connections. Performed by a licensed Professional Engineer (PE), this assessment identifies structural distress signals such as foundation settlement, concrete spalling, wood rot, or structural deflection. The inspection determines the root cause of the physical degradation, evaluates overall structural safety, and provides an actionable, stamped engineering report detailing necessary structural repairs or retrofits.
Precision Forensic Inspection Capabilities
Grading & Public Works Clearances
Expediting approvals for mass tract grading, hillside slope stabilization, B-Permits, and ADA right-of-way improvements.
Multi-Agency Coordination
Concurrent management of approvals across overlapping jurisdictions, including local Public Works, Caltrans, Fire Authority, and local Water Quality Boards.
Environmental & Hydrology Approvals
Navigating strict SWPPP (Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan) and WQMP (Water Quality Management Plan) submissions through local and state environmental agencies.
Foundation Settlement Analysis
Utilizing advanced leveling instrumentation, visual crack mapping, and soil movement evaluations to diagnose foundation failures.
Mandatory Exterior Elevated Elements (EEE)
Executing certified inspections for multi-family properties to fulfill California SB 721 and SB 326 balcony safety mandates.
Post-Disaster Safety Evaluation
Rapid structural integrity assessments following seismic activity, fires, landslides, or severe vehicle-impact damage to structures.
Other Civil Engineering Services
Retaining Walls Soldier Piling Seismic Retrofit Plans Seismic Analysis Structural Plans Temporary Shoring Steel Design Shoring Vaults Shotcrete Design Foundation Design Masonry Design Non-Ductile Retrofit Plans Unreinforced Masonry Upgrades Special Inspection Reports Structural Observations Foundation Observation Reports Permanent Shoring Deputy Inspection ReportCritical Inspections for Complex Real Estate Assets
Commercial Real Estate Due Diligence: Providing comprehensive structural assessments for industrial warehouses, retail hubs, and office buildings prior to transactional acquisition.
Multi-Family Balcony Compliance: Helping apartment and HOA community boards comply with strict state balcony laws, identifying hidden rot or structural attachment decay.
Residential Renovation Engineering: Evaluating legacy wood framing and unreinforced foundations to determine structural feasibility for additions, ADUs, or load-bearing wall removals.
Our Engineering Evaluation Workflow
- Historical Records & Plan Review: We track down and analyze original structural blueprints and local building department records whenever available.
- On-Site Field Investigation: A licensed engineer conducts a meticulous, hands-on physical mapping of all exposed framing, crawlspaces, columns, and foundations.
- Non-Destructive Testing (NDT): Utilizing advanced moisture meters, borescopes, or concrete scanning to inspect hidden framing components without destroying finishes.
- Stamped Engineering Report: Issuing an official, legally binding evaluation document detailing structural findings, safety classifications, and stamped repair plans if needed.
Navigating Compliance & Regulatory Codes
Structural inspections are highly technical, especially when responding to municipal enforcement or state safety mandates. California laws, specifically Senate Bills 721 and 326, impose strict deadlines and heavy liabilities on multi-family owners regarding wood-framed balconies. Our inspectors are fully licensed California engineers, providing legally bulletproof reports that satisfy local building officials, insurance providers, and strict legal standards.
Structural Inspection FAQ
What is the difference between a standard home inspector and a structural engineer?
A home inspector is a generalist who checks the overall condition of a house (appliances, roofs, basic aesthetics). A structural engineer is a highly trained, state-licensed professional who utilizes advanced mathematics and physics to calculate load pathways and evaluate the actual structural stability of load-bearing elements.
What are the warning signs that indicate I need a structural inspection?
Clear indicators include large diagonal cracks in concrete or drywall, bowing interior walls, severely sagging rooflines, windows or doors that no longer close properly, and bouncing or uneven floors.
Does my building need to comply with the SB 721 Balcony Law?
If you own a multi-family residential building with 3 or more units that contains wood-framed balconies, decks, or stairways elevated more than 6 feet above the ground, you are legally mandated to have a certified structural inspection completed.
Integrated Engineering Solutions
Many inspection firms simply provide a list of structural problems and walk away, leaving you to find an independent engineering firm to design the fixes. The Eden Group provides an end-to-end umbrella. If our Structural Engineering inspection identifies foundation or framing failures, our design and Civil Engineering teams instantly step in to draft fully permitted, stamped structural repair plans, and our construction management division can oversee the remediation from start to finish.
Schedule a Certified Structural Evaluation Today
Protect your real estate investments and ensure tenant safety. Contact The Eden Group today to book a comprehensive inspection with a licensed structural engineer.