Cost of structural Engineer? (Just a Ballpark)

Evil Scotsman · 11-02-2010, 07:31 AM

Would like to remove a wall in between kitchen and dining room. It runs perpendicular to the floor joists and sits above the garage wall. (there is a hallway in between the edge of the garage and the outer wall of the house). I would rather have a structural engineer come in and look at it and give me my options. ANY idea how much that would cost? I have been told if I open the wall up so that when he gets there all he has to do is look? I know prices will be different all over the country but just looking for what you paid, and I will have SOME KIND of idea.

THANK YOU

Daniel Holzman · 11-02-2010, 09:14 AM

If you are planning to pull a permit, and you need the structural engineer to prepare stamped plans for you that will be used to pull the permit, figure between $500 and $1000. If you do not plan to pull a permit (this is probably illegal, I am NOT SUGGESTING IT, however I suspect many people on this forum operate without a permit), and you can live with a verbal report (unstamped obviously) from the structural engineer, figure $400 or so for an opinion on what size beam you need, and a few ideas on how to connect the beam to the existing framing.

If you do hire the SE for full price, make sure the report includes a section on temporary support during installation, and includes details of the connections between the ends of the beam and the columns, as well as details of the column connections to the footers or main house beam.

DangerMouse · 11-02-2010, 09:52 AM

There are many things the engineer/architect has to consider. Most of it involves doing the 'load-bearing" math.
He/she will likely do more than just look, like measuring. When I had the plans drawn up for my home, it was $1,600.
He's been back numerous times and has always answered questions I had on the phone.... all at no new charges, even when I offered.

DM