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MOSHE CALAMARO & ASSOCIATES

Structural Engineering, Foundation Repair, Home inspection

About us

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Business highlights

33 years of trusted experience

Services we offer

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Amenities



Accepted payment methods

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Reviews

4.120 Reviews
Number of StarsImage of DistributionNumber of Ratings
5
65%
4
0%
3
0%
2
15%
1
20%


Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
4.3
value
4.1
professionalism
4.3
responsiveness
4.3
punctuality
4.2
Showing 1-20 of 20 reviews

Anwar M.
10/2019
2.0
structural engineer
  + -1 more
I hired Moshe Calamaro & Associates Structural Engineering firm to supply initial architectural drawings for the conversion of the first and second floor internal stairwells of a building into laundry rooms, as well as initial drawings for the construction of an external deck on the first and second floors with corresponding stairwells. According to our initial contract, the initial drawings would only be sufficient for discussions with the zoning board of my local town city hall. The initial drawings would not be sufficient enough to obtain a permit for construction; this would require final drawings and a separate contract. The initial contract also stated that I would be charged by the hour for the time required to complete the initial drawings. When I inquired about an estimate for the approximate number of hours to complete the initial drawings, I was told that they could not approximate the number of hours that would be required. I had previously had conversations with three separate contractors with first hand experience dealing with structural engineers on similar projects. All three stated that the completion of not only the initial drawings but the final drawings as well should be around a total of $1,500 to $1,800 dollars at most. I signed the initial contract and the initial drawings were completed. I then received a bill for $3,400. I feel this amount was extremely unfair for initial drawings by themselves that would only facilitate a discussion with city hall and were not even sufficient enough for obtaining a permit.
Description of Work: I hired Moshe Calamaro & Associates Structural Engineering firm to supply initial architectural drawings for the conversion of the first and second floor internal stairwells of a building into laundry rooms, as well as initial drawings for the construction of an external deck on the first and second floors with corresponding stairwells. According to our initial contract, the initial drawings would only be sufficient for discussions with the zoning board of my local town city hall. The initial drawings would not be sufficient enough to obtain a permit for construction; this would require final drawings and a separate contract. The initial contract also stated that I would be charged by the hour for the time required to complete the initial drawings. When I inquired about an estimate for the approximate number of hours to complete the initial drawings, I was told that they could not approximate the number of hours that would be required. I had previously had conversations with three separate contractors with first hand experience dealing with structural engineers on similar projects. All three stated that the completion of not only the initial drawings but the final drawings as well should be around a total of $1,500 to $1,800 dollars at most. I signed the initial contract and the initial drawings were completed. I then received a bill for $3,400. I feel this amount was extremely unfair for initial drawings by themselves that would only facilitate a discussion with city hall and were not even sufficient enough for obtaining a permit.
Rating CategoryRating out of 5

Thomas F.
06/2017
5.0
structural engineer
  + -1 more
Moshe Calamaro was very prompt and responsive. The problem is complicated, extensive, and will be costly. They are assisting us in taking care of the initial steps as they arise. This will be a process.
Description of Work: We needed an assessment/survey of extensive roof and retaining wall failures.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro

Petra D.
05/2017
5.0
structural engineer
  + -1 more
It went very well. He was very detailed in his account and used as much layman's terms and drawings to help us understand what he was describing. He took just under an hour in examining a 3 story home and a two story coach house. We asked if he would purchased this home and he was very direct at answering us and we learnt alot in the process!
Description of Work: Saved us from buying a nightmare. We were in love with the inside but the structure would've kept us in debt until we retired! Thank you so much to both him and his Very diligent assistant. Looked a home and a coach house in the city of Chicago.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$400

Rob L.
11/2014
5.0
structural engineer
  + -1 more
Moeshe tells you what you do and don't want to hear. Its a good idea to get an idea of how much additional it will cost to buy a house with the improvement in mind.
Description of Work: Inspect the house for structural defects and provided a writeup

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
4.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$600

Mitzi W.
04/2014
5.0
structural engineer, foundation repair
  + 0 more
unknown
Description of Work: Needed evaluation of foundation cracks. He was very thorough and explained the entire process. He and his Office stafff were friendly and professional. I received my written report within 48 hours of assessment . This was my first experience with a structural engineer and he decreased all of my anxiety and uncertainty.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
4.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
4.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$650

Yoav L.
02/2014
5.0
home inspection, structural engineer
  + 0 more
eerfieldFrom the moment he arrived he was very professional and knowledgeable and showed us all the issues involving the house. We were pleased with his knowledge level and his patient answering all of our questions.
Description of Work: An inspection of a house we are in the process of buying.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$400

Aaron S.
02/2014
5.0
structural engineer
  + -1 more
Moshe was great, and he took the time to explain his diagnosis of the issue and referred us to a great service provider to resolve the issue.
Description of Work: Checked to see if there were any structural damage associated with cracks in some pillars.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$400

john p M.
01/2014
1.0
structural engineer
  + -1 more
Moshe visited our house on Oct 30th,2013 to give us a structural design for our kitchen renovation. He told us he would have our design in 3 weeks. I wrote him a check for $400.00 which he cashed Oct 31st. Week 3 came and went. Week 4 they told us it wasn't finished...Week 5 we were told they forgot about us..Week 6 nothing...I called Moshe week 7 and he informed me he wasn't going to do the project. He offered no explanation or apology and had the nerve to tell me I was rude and hung up the phone on me. I demanded a refund and did get one after a second call to him. I can't believe we were treated like this.
Description of Work: I used Moshe Calamaro & Associates

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
professionalism
1.0
responsiveness
1.0
punctuality
1.0


Marla T.
08/2013
5.0
structural engineer
  + -1 more
So far, so good with them. I had a few questions and as soon as I iron those out, I will probably use them for the drawings. I paid $400 initially. I was impressed so far.
Description of Work: I'm using Moshe Calamaro & Associates to do some drawings because I have to have the house reinforced to get permits from the city. So far he came out and did a lot of measuring. He measured both with a measuring tape and a laser. He also took pictures.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$400

Christopher S.
05/2013
5.0
structural engineer
  + -1 more
Moshe Calamaro was efficient, thorough, professional and courteous. He arrived on time and efficiently collected the information needed for the structural design. He took our blueprints back to his office, scanned the documents and promptly returned the originals. His final drawings were delivered on time and were 100% clear to the contractors bidding on our project. Throughout the process, it was clear he would not compromise on the needed structural design. We plan to engage Moshe to monitor the installation of the steel beam.
Description of Work: Prepared plans to replace a structural wall with a steel I-beam as part of a major kitchen renovation project. Work involved a visit to our home, examination of original blueprints, and preparation of detailed drawings for the installation of the structural beam.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$500

BRYAN T.
04/2013
5.0
structural engineer
  + -1 more
I've always been a bit nervous about buying an old (100+years) house, but got drawn in by a place with a fancy new addition. However,the older section of the home had some sloping floors that concerned me.Everyone said "it's a 100 year old house, they all have that problem", including my A-rated Home Inspector (Who, to his credit, found many other serious non-structural issues). We called in Moshe, who very quickly identified serious structural issues with the older section of the home.These problems weren't a result of the house being old as everyone else said, but rather from a botched remodel project that used insufficient structural members to support the load. This lines up with the home inspector findings of serious electrical issues in that same portion of the home. Moshe even quickly absorbed the blueprints for the new addition and identified problems with the design along with an attic door installation that compromised the roof structure. It turns out that hacking up the joists and nailing a 2x8 to the ends has consequences. Needless to say, we walked away from that deal. Moshe's input made the decision an easy one. Those people can sell their structurally compromised home to some other sucker who doesn’t have someone like Moshe on their side.
Description of Work: Performed structural inspection of 100 year old home.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$350

Cory T.
12/2011
5.0
structural engineer
  + -1 more
Moshe is awesome. I did a lot of research to find a structural engineer and called quite a few places. Moshe was very likeable on the phone and waited for me to call and confirm without being pushy. His price was about the same as everyone else so i can't complain. I liked that he had a flat rate, rather than per hour, which always makes you nervous watching the clock and makes me cynical that they may be dragging out the process in order to get paid more. I appreciate anyone who charges a flat rate, like Moshe does. He was prompt and friendly. He got straight to the issue (our home inspector showed him his concerns he had found in the attic) and jumped straight into the explanation of the problem. He showed us each area he was concerned about and attempted to put things in layman's terms for us to understand. He was very straight forward, did not mince his words, and gave us a direct professional opinion of his findings. He also gave us the option of requesting that he does not submit a report as that would cost extra. I like that he told us that upfront so we could decide if we wanted a written report knowing the cost in advance. I would recommend Moshe to anyone. He was professional, knowledgable, friendly and reasonable.
Description of Work: Structural Engineering advice following an issue discovered by a home inspector.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$450

Claudine G.
08/2011
5.0
structural engineer
  + -1 more
When we had new windows installed in our house, we decided to upgrade our curb appeal by ordering curved front windows to match the arched lintels in our exterior detail. It seemed to be a simple matter of arching the drywall to match after the window installation. But our drywall contractor ran into a problem when he actually opened up the wall to do the work. The structural lintel inside was too close to the new top of the window for them to install the drywall. He suggested moving the lintels up a brick or two and said it was no big deal. Since it's an old house, 1876ish, and we live near the El, which can cause some movement, we decided to not take chances and get a second opinion. I called a foundation company that ranks at the top of Angie's List, and they told us the consultation was too small for them, but they gave us several engineer's names, including Moshe Calamaro. I called all of them, and Moshe was the most professional, prompt and knowledgeable when I discussed the problem. He asked if I needed drawings or not, and since drawings would cost more, I said no. He then said he wanted to come when the contractor could be there, too, so they could discuss the situation in person and he could make sure the necessary solution was understood clearly. He showed up on time and assessed the exterior and interior of the wall. He pointed out that the lintels had already been compromised and showed us where a row of arched brick had been chipped away from the tops of the windows inside, which we'd never known since it had been hidden by drywall. Given the age of our house and the situation, Moshe recommended installing a C-channel steel beam above the point where the new lintels would be put in. He said only after the C-channel was installed could the lintels safely be moved without shifting the bricks or causing cracks. He told the contractor exactly which C-channel to use, how long, how far apart the anchors needed to be and how high above the lintels it should be. He also drew a hand sketch with the specs for the contractor to work from. Our contractor was not super happy with the recommendation because it would mean more work on his part, and he thought it was unneeded. When he suggested that the C-channel might not be needed because our house is only brick on the first floor, so there would only be several rows of brick above the C-channel, Moshe just looked at him and said, "No. It holds the whole wall together." That sold us. Even though it cost us $1,000 more to have the contractor do it Moshe's way, we decided it was a good preventive investment. And although the contractor grumbled, the C-channel/lintel solution came off without a hitch, and we have total peace of mind in the structural integrity of the solution. Moshe was very professional, knowledgeable and prompt on the phone and in person. He also made himself available for questions if we needed to follow up and ask him anything. I would not hesitate to recommend him and would gladly use him again. He was great.
Description of Work: Structural engineering consultation and recommendation

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$350

SILVANA M.
06/2010
1.0
structural engineer
  + -1 more
This was a terrible experience. Difficult to contact, late, inaccurate, unprofessional, costly, rude...... Our experience was horrible.
Description of Work: Provided drawings for facade rebuilding.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
1.0
value
1.0
professionalism
1.0
responsiveness
1.0
punctuality
1.0

$900

Michael L.
01/2008
2.0
structural engineer
  + -1 more
We called Moshe to perform a structural inspection and asked what his qualifications were. He did not have a PE (Professional Engineer) license but had passed the Fundamentals of Engineering exam (FE). We asked how much for the inspection of the foundation in the crawlspace and he said about $450. He asked how high the crawlspace was and we said it was about 3 to 4 feet high but lower in some places. He said he may not go into the crawl space because he did not want to have to crouch or crawl too low to the ground. He said he has done his share of crawl spaces and he picks and chooses the jobs he wants now. He said he wouldn't know if he would go into our crawl space until he got there and saw it. I told him we were under a tight schedule and we couldn't afford to hire him, take time off work, have him come out and only then tell us he won't do the inspection. His attitude during this process was somewhat rude and unprofessional. We decided we had the wrong person for the job.
Description of Work: Structural inspection.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
value
4.0
professionalism
2.0
responsiveness
4.0


Response from MOSHE CALAMARO & ASSOCIATES
There is a misunderstanding here with regards to Moshe's licensure. He is an Illinois licensed structural engineer (S.E.). The State of Illinois diferentiates between structural engineers and professional engineers (P.E.) whereas many states do not. Illinois has a higher standard for structural engineers by licensing them separately.

Gloria B.
08/2007
1.0
structural engineer
  + -1 more
Moshe was very unaccommodating to my schedule. I work long hours and requested an 8:00 meeting so that I could miss as little work as possible. Moshe would not do this because he said he did not want to drive into the city from Evanston during rush hour. We decided to meet at 9:30, he arrived 20 minutes late for our appointment and then gave me the rush act when I was trying to pull together for him since he had another appointment. Three weeks later, we received the report back from Moshe. The only thing he did was to recommend alternate tests for moisture. He said nothing about the cause of the damage or what steps should be taken to avoid damage in the future. As the unit owner, I was left feeling very insecure about the state of my unit or the potential for future damage.
Description of Work: A pipe burst in the storage area of my condo building. As a result, there was damage to my unit. Moshe was supposed to inspect the common elements in my unit and in the storage room of our condo building and then determine the cause for damage to my unit as well as make recommendations regarding any remedial action that needed to be taken as a result of the damage. This was supposed to take one week.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
1.0
value
1.0
professionalism
1.0
responsiveness
1.0
punctuality
1.0

$1,000

RUTH J.
10/2006
2.0
foundation repair
  + -1 more
Some miscommunication and difficult to hear and understand him. I made the appointment over the phone and when my husband asked him about a report at the inspection, he said we agreed not to have one. I wasn't expecting a signed off engineering document but I was expecting a summary document with recommendations and estimates. I specifically asked over the phone if he would be able to give us a general cost to repair the problems. His estimate was about $2000 per pier but he wouldn't say if we needed 6 piers or 26 piers. His recommendation was soil boring. When I called the companies he recommended for soil boring. They said they couldn't even do the job because the rig didn't have access to do the drilling. Even if it did, it would cost about $3000 and 3 weeks for the test. Anyway, it was a waste of my money and time. I had two foundation companies come out afterwards and give estimates, one was for $70,000 and the other was for only $7,000. I have no professional opinion to trust.
Description of Work: They did a pre-purchase visual inspection of a large 1920s, 2-story brick bungalow with foundation issues. Other companies were quoting me $1000-$3000. It will be interesting to see what happens once permits are pulled.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
2.0
value
2.0
professionalism
3.0
responsiveness
3.0
punctuality
3.0

$450

LAURETTA T.
08/2006
1.0
structural engineer
  + -1 more
I gave moshe a call about some shoddy construction between my kitchen and dining room it was a poorly supported. After reading the other reviews, I expected about a $400 estimate, and he said it would be $800! I said that seemed high... and got quite rude and told me to ''go find someone else miss'' which I did.
Description of Work: zero
Rating CategoryRating out of 5

BRANDON A.
01/2006
5.0
structural engineer
  + -1 more
Moshe is very methodical, old school, but well worth the money. He explained the reasonings for his findings, and pointed out structural elements we need to look out for.
Description of Work: Thorough visual inspection of a building we were considering purchasing to rehab and live in. He also took measurements of the walls, beams, etc. to gather statistical information. A written report (extra) was not required.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
4.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$400

JEREMY T.
10/2005
5.0
structural engineer
  + -1 more
NOT AN ALARMIST, BUT DID DETAILED INSPECTION AND IDENTIFIED SEVERAL ITEMS THAT NEEDED REMEDIATION.
Description of Work: PRE-CONSTRUCTION STRUCTURAL INSPECTION OF MASONRY BUILDING.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$400

    Contact information

    930 Pitner Avenue, Evanston, IL 60202


    Service hours

    Sunday:
    Closed
    Monday:
    7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    Tuesday:
    7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    Wednesday:
    7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    Thursday:
    7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    Friday:
    7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    Saturday:
    Closed

    Licensing

    Insured

    Eco-friendly Accreditations

    LEED Accredited Professional
    No
    Energy Star Partner
    No
    EPA Lead-Safe Certified
    No
    Use Green Products or Work Practices
    Yes
    State Contractor License Requirements

    All statements concerning insurance, licenses, and bonds are informational only, and are self-reported. Since insurance, licenses and bonds can expire and can be cancelled, homeowners should always check such information for themselves. To find more licensing information for your state, visit our State Contractor License Requirements page.

    *Contact business to see additional licenses.


    Service Categories

    Structural Engineering,
    Foundation Repair,
    Home inspection

    FAQ

    MOSHE CALAMARO & ASSOCIATES is currently rated 4.1 overall out of 5.

    Sunday: Closed

    Monday: 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM

    Tuesday: 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM

    Wednesday: 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM

    Thursday: 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM

    Friday: 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM

    Saturday: Closed

    MOSHE CALAMARO & ASSOCIATES accepts the following forms of payment: Check
    No, MOSHE CALAMARO & ASSOCIATES does not offer free project estimates.
    Yes, MOSHE CALAMARO & ASSOCIATES offers eco-friendly accreditations.
    No, MOSHE CALAMARO & ASSOCIATES does not offer a senior discount.
    No, MOSHE CALAMARO & ASSOCIATES does not offer emergency services.
    No, MOSHE CALAMARO & ASSOCIATES does not offer warranties.
    MOSHE CALAMARO & ASSOCIATES offers the following services: n/a

    Contact information

    930 Pitner Avenue, Evanston, IL 60202


    Service hours

    Sunday:
    Closed
    Monday:
    7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    Tuesday:
    7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    Wednesday:
    7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    Thursday:
    7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    Friday:
    7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    Saturday:
    Closed