BK Structural Engineers

Contacted but did not respond. Remind me why I pay for Angie's List for a list of vendors that don't reply to a contact?

In April, I contacted BKE Structural Engineering regarding calculations I needed so that I could obtain city permits legalizing the conversion of an attic to living space. At the time I made the appointment for Matt VanderZanden to view the converted space, I asked if someone in his office could prepare site drawings based on my preliminary drafts and any information gathered from visiting my location. Matt said he had a person to recommend for the drawings, and he brought Sara Spafford with him. During the three weeks of my project, the communication was extremely poor and for approximately 10 days, I wasn't sure if I was going to get the deliverables I hired them to do. The quotes for my project required clarification, and when Sarah changed the date she planned to deliver the site plans--without telling me, despite my having said at our first meeting that I needed the drawings at the end of April because I was going on vacation--I scaled back the project. Ultimately I did get the drawings and calculations at the end of April. However, after my contractor questioned the work, I hired another structural engineer, Jay Ouellette, Ouellette Engineering, who noted errors in the dimensions, assumptions, and calculations. At the beginning of December, which is how long it took to get the city to approve the work needed, I sent Matt and Sarah a copy of Jay's review of Matt's report and a summary of e-mails (including one in which showed Matt said did not have the expertise needed for my project) that showed and asked for a refund of half of the fees I paid. I explained that I was asking for a refund of only half because I shared the responsibility for not terminating their services despite some red flags. Both declined. In Matt's response, he said I had given him incorrect information about a load-bearing wall and cuts to joists. I don't recall giving that incorrect information. I do recall saying, "I don't know," with regard to some technical questions. I hired Matt and Sarah because I felt they were skilled professionals in an area for which I did not even know what questions to ask. In terms of clarifying and confirming our shared understanding of the project, I grade them F. Also, when Matt brought Sarah to the meeting at my home (at that point, I had not received a bid from or confirmed that I was going to hire BKE), neither Matt nor Sarah mentioned that Sarah was already on the clock., So I was surprised when I received her bid three days later and found that I was already billed $250. In terms of changing the deliverables deadline--well, my mistake for not making sure that the deadline was noted in the bids. As regards Matt's assumptions, at no time did Matt suggest an additional visit to confirm them, and since I was not aware of his assumptions, I did not suggest an additional visit. Matt and Sarah are pleasant people, but poor communicators, and I found their work to be inadequate and unprofessional. However, I recommend Jay Ouellette highly, and I would hire him again if I needed a structural engineer.

They were awesome. The owner and principal engineer came out and met with me and took measurements and made drawings. He was super easy to work with, very responsive, I thought very moderately priced. I give them a big thumbs up in every category.

very prompt to come out to my house, very courteous, report that I gave to the contractor was excellent, per the contractor… straightforward explanation of the problem and how to fix it. I would absolutely hire this company again!!

I thought that they were really priced fairly. They were friendly and easy to work with. They did a really good job.