Locally family owner & operated business. General Contractors License #ABC 23050. 10 employees.
"My entire experience with Zoe Builders was the most wonderful experience I could ever ask for. There are not enough words to express the honor, gratitude and exceptional work they did on building my new home. I cannot thank Amber enough for all the hard work she has done for me from the very beginning to the final walk through. Amber's knowledge and experience with construction work is so impressive, helping me from building permits to water meters to septic tanks it is completely amazing how much she knows which in turn is able to help her customers out. Janine and James are just as wonderful too if Amber is not there they both are able to jump right in a project and take over. The construction part of this build was INCREDIBLE for myself, my family and my entire street. All our neighbors would stop us complimenting on how fast and efficient the construction workers were. They could not believe that they even worked in the rain everyone on my block was so impressed!!! Any obstacles that we came across were always given to me with options and solutions. As anything in life the most important thing is communication it gets the job done and it gets the job done right which is how the job got done effectively. If there was anything I did right in this lifetime (besides my kids) was to have Zoe Builders build me my brand new home."
Kristi H on July 2019
Locally family owner & operated business. General Contractors License #ABC 23050. 10 employees.
"My entire experience with Zoe Builders was the most wonderful experience I could ever ask for. There are not enough words to express the honor, gratitude and exceptional work they did on building my new home. I cannot thank Amber enough for all the hard work she has done for me from the very beginning to the final walk through. Amber's knowledge and experience with construction work is so impressive, helping me from building permits to water meters to septic tanks it is completely amazing how much she knows which in turn is able to help her customers out. Janine and James are just as wonderful too if Amber is not there they both are able to jump right in a project and take over. The construction part of this build was INCREDIBLE for myself, my family and my entire street. All our neighbors would stop us complimenting on how fast and efficient the construction workers were. They could not believe that they even worked in the rain everyone on my block was so impressed!!! Any obstacles that we came across were always given to me with options and solutions. As anything in life the most important thing is communication it gets the job done and it gets the job done right which is how the job got done effectively. If there was anything I did right in this lifetime (besides my kids) was to have Zoe Builders build me my brand new home."
Kristi H on July 2019
No, it’s not legal for unlicensed individuals to conduct structural calculations for buildings or building repairs. Not only do licensing requirements prevent DIYers from tackling this project, but mistakes can also be extremely dangerous and put your property and anyone inside or near it at risk of severe injury or even death. You should always hire a licensed and certified local structural engineer to make structural calculations.
Yes, all states require structural engineers to carry the proper license, with specifics determined by each state. You can use Angi’s state licensing tool to confirm that the structural engineer you’re considering holds the required licensing to tackle your job. Hiring an unlicensed structural engineer will not only cause issues with permits but it could also lead to an unsafe building. The cost of a professional, licensed, and experienced engineer is well worth the investment.
The process of hiring a structural engineer starts by finding reliable professionals in your area and comparing quotes from at least three of them. From there, you can narrow down your selection by asking some leading questions:
Do you have experience working in my specific area?
Do you have professional indemnity insurance?
What will your structural report cover?
Do you charge a flat fee for a structural report or by the hour?
How long have you been in business?
Do you have a list of customer references?
Structural engineers typically charge between $100 and $250 per hour, but many jobs won’t be based on a per-hour fee. Instead, the structural engineer will offer a flat rate for the inspection and structural calculations. The flat rate for a structural engineer costs an average of around $550, but you could see prices ranging from $300 to $800, depending on the complexity of your project and how easy it is to access certain parts of your home for the inspection.
Whether you’re building a new home or building an extension on your existing property, you will likely need both a structural engineer and an architect. A structural engineer will determine what loads your foundation and framing can safely handle, and an architect will draw plans according to those structural calculations to simplify the building process. You can start by contacting a structural engineer near you, as many work alongside architects and can get all of the prep work done at once.