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Structural answers, without the runaround.

Practical guides on seismic retrofits, ADUs, foundations, and inspections, written by Kais Hamidi, PE, a California-licensed structural engineer working in these cities every week.

Guides

Seismic Retrofit in the Bay Area: The Complete Homeowner's Guide
Most Bay Area homes built before 1980 need a seismic retrofit because they sit near the Hayward and San Andreas faults with unbolted foundations, unbraced cripple walls, or soft stories. A retrofit connects the house to its foundation and stiffens its weakest walls, typically assessed, engineered, permitted, and built within a few months.
Updated September 14, 202611 min read
What Is a Soft-Story Retrofit? (And Does Your Building Need One?)
A soft-story retrofit strengthens a building whose ground floor, typically tuck-under parking or a storefront, is much weaker than the floors above. Engineers add steel moment frames or plywood shear walls at that open level so it no longer collapses first. Bay Area cities including San Francisco, Oakland, and Berkeley have targeted these buildings with retrofit ordinances.
Updated September 14, 20268 min read
How Much Does a Seismic Retrofit Cost in the Bay Area?
Most Bay Area seismic retrofits for single-family homes commonly run from the low thousands for straightforward bolt-and-brace work to the low tens of thousands where foundations or access complicate things. Hillside homes and soft-story buildings cost substantially more. The final number depends on your foundation, crawlspace, and lot: an assessment and scoped plan set turn ranges into a real bid.
Updated September 14, 20269 min read
When Do You Need a Structural Engineer? A Homeowner's Guide
You need a structural engineer whenever a project changes how your house carries load: removing a load-bearing wall, building an addition or ADU, repairing a foundation, retrofitting for earthquakes, or fixing structural issues a city flags. In California, only a licensed engineer can stamp the structural plans building departments accept.
Updated September 14, 202611 min read
What Do Stamped Structural Plans Cost? Engineer Fees Explained
Stamped structural plans in the Bay Area commonly range from the low thousands for a single beam calculation to five figures for a full custom home design. Engineers price by flat fee, hourly rate, or a percentage of construction cost. Scope, site conditions, and city review largely determine where your project lands.
Updated September 14, 20268 min read
Do You Need a Structural Engineer for an ADU in California?
Almost always, yes. Any ADU beyond a city pre-approved plan needs engineered, PE-stamped structural drawings before a California building department will issue a permit. Garage conversions need engineering too, often more than owners expect, because existing slabs and walls rarely meet current code. Even pre-approved plans commonly need a site-specific foundation check.
Updated September 14, 20269 min read
Cracks in Your Foundation: Which Ones Matter and When to Worry
Most foundation cracks are not emergencies. Hairline vertical cracks in concrete are usually shrinkage and cosmetic. What matters is width, pattern, and movement: horizontal cracks, stair-step cracks that keep widening, and cracks paired with racking doors or sloping floors deserve a structural engineer's assessment. Monitor first, then act on evidence.
Updated September 14, 20269 min read
SB 326 vs SB 721: California Balcony Inspection Laws Explained
SB 326 requires structural inspections of balconies and other elevated wood-framed elements in condominium and HOA buildings; SB 721 covers apartment buildings with three or more units. Both initial deadlines have now passed (January 2025 and January 2026 respectively), so owners who have not yet inspected are past due and should schedule promptly.
Updated September 14, 20269 min read

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