Structural Engineer Inspections in Sydney

When to get a structural engineer inspection

A structural engineer looks at the parts of a home that hold it up: footings, walls, beams, floors and the roof structure. It is worth getting an inspection when you notice:

• cracks in walls, ceilings or brickwork, especially cracks that are growing
• doors and windows that have started to stick or no longer close
• floors that slope, bounce or have dropped
• a retaining wall that is leaning, bulging or cracking
• damage after a storm, a leak or a nearby excavation
• plans to remove a wall, add an extension or build upstairs

Structural engineer for house cracks

Not every crack is a structural problem. Fine cracks in plaster or render are common and often cosmetic. Cracks that are wide, stepped through brickwork, wider at one end, or that keep getting bigger can point to movement in the footings or the structure. An engineer looks at the pattern of cracking together with the soil, drainage, nearby trees and the age of the building to work out the likely cause and what, if anything, needs to be done.

Foundation and footing inspections

Many Sydney suburbs sit on reactive clay soils that swell when wet and shrink when dry, so seasonal movement and changes in drainage can affect footings. A footing inspection looks for signs of settlement or movement and considers the likely causes, so you can decide whether the answer is monitoring, drainage work or repair.

Structural engineer for retaining walls

Retaining walls hold back a lot of soil and water. Leaning, bulging, cracking or blocked drainage are signs that a wall needs an engineer's assessment. New retaining walls, particularly taller walls or walls that support a building or driveway, commonly need engineering design before they are built.

Engineer for home renovations

Renovations often change how loads travel through a house. Removing or shortening an internal wall, widening an opening, adding an extension or building a second storey all need structural input before work starts. Our residential structural engineering service covers the design once the inspection has confirmed what is there.

What is included in a structural inspection?

• a visual inspection of the accessible structural elements related to your concern
• a discussion of what you have noticed and when it started
• a written report with photographs, observations, the likely cause and recommendations

An inspection is based on what can be seen and accessed on the day. Where more investigation is needed, the report says so.

What is a structural certificate?

A structural certificate is a document in which an engineer certifies that a structure or element has been designed or built to the relevant standards. Certifiers and councils commonly ask for one at particular stages of a project. It is different from an inspection report, which describes condition and gives recommendations. If you have been asked for a certificate, send us the request and we will explain what it involves for your project.

What affects the cost of a structural inspection

Every inspection is quoted on its scope. The main factors are:

• the size and type of the property
• how many areas or issues need to be looked at
• access to subfloors, roof spaces and the outside of the building
• how detailed the written report needs to be
• whether design work such as a repair or renovation design is needed afterwards

Contact us for a free consultation and a quote before anything is booked.

How it works

1. Tell us what you have noticed: photos of the cracks or the problem help.
2. Receive a quote for the inspection and report.
3. Inspection: an engineer inspects the property and talks through what they see.
4. Report: you receive a written report with findings and recommendations.

Building next to neighbours? See dilapidation reports in Sydney. Builders needing stage inspections during construction should see construction site inspections.