Structural Engineer vs Foundation Repair Company
Both will come look at your house. Only one of them is selling the repair. That single difference explains most of what follows.
Structural engineering professional
Evaluates the condition, forms an opinion on cause and significance, and documents recommended next steps. Paid for the assessment, not the construction.
Foundation repair company
Inspects to produce a proposal for repair work it performs. Paid when the repair is sold. Frequently offers the visit at no charge.
What each one typically gives you
- Engineer: written assessment of observed conditions, often with elevation readings
- Engineer: an opinion on whether the movement is structurally significant
- Engineer: a scope of recommended work that contractors can bid against
- Repair company: a proposal with a pier count, method and price
- Repair company: a workmanship or product warranty on the installed repair
- Repair company: scheduling and the actual construction work
A sequence that protects you
Get the independent assessment first. Use it to define what work, if any, is warranted. Then have two or three repair companies bid that defined scope. Finally, consider having the engineering professional review the winning proposal, and in some cases the completed work.
The reverse order — accepting a repair proposal and then looking for validation — puts you in a position where the scope was written by the party being paid to perform it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a free foundation inspection really free?
It is usually free because it is a sales visit for repair work. That does not make it useless, but it is not an independent assessment.
Do I need both?
Often yes, in sequence: an independent assessment defines the scope, then repair companies bid that scope.
Can a repair company's engineer serve as the independent one?
Some repair companies work with engineers. If independence matters to you, engage the professional directly rather than through the company doing the work.
What if the engineer says no repair is needed?
That is a common and valuable outcome. Monitoring, drainage correction or cosmetic repair is sometimes the whole recommendation.
Services you can request
- Foundation InspectionCracks, settlement, uneven floors and slab or pier-and-beam movement.
- Structural InspectionFraming, walls, roof structure and visible movement or deformation.
- Load-Bearing Wall EngineerWall removal, wider openings, beam and header sizing for remodels.
- Pre-Purchase Structural InspectionIndependent structural review before you close on a house.
Want an independent assessment first?
We route your request to structural engineering professionals, not to repair contractors.