Why are you qualified?
I have been an engineer for 8 years and achieved my PE license in 2019. I have a mechanical engineering bachelor's degree from Mizzou, an industrial engineering master's degree from Texas Tech, and have taken hours upon hours of continuous education credits toward residential engineering topics that give me the confidence I need to help clients with their needs. I have my Certificate of Authority from the State of Missouri to conduct Engineering Business in the state, and also have professional liability insurance. Documents can be available upon request.
Why do I need you?
In a practical sense, most everything I do can be looked up online and any homeowner can educate themselves on the topics I talk about. I routinely have clients who are way more versed in their specific issue than I am due to their own research since, usually, the issues have been a pain for them for some time.
I can help due to the aforementioned license and certification - I can approve foundations that were thought to have issues and can finalize drawings for remodels that will then fast-track the permitting process instead of being held up for weeks. I also believe that my experience and education can provide extra ideas and solutions that add value to any situation.
How much do you cost?
While all costs are negotiable, my base cost for any simple inspection or general consultation is $500. While this may be a shock to some who think deciding a load bearing wall is easy to decide, I carry a lot of licensing and insurance with any decision I make. Unfortunately, these are not cheap, and I need to include those costs in my charges in order to stay in business. If multiple inspections or consultations are asked for, I definitely give more of a rebate on the extra services (two inspections will not cost $1000, most likely closer to $800). If drawings are needed, I will normally charge $800 for a stamped floor plan drawing and $500 if a stamp is not needed. For deck drawings needed for permit, I charge $1000 (deck permits consist of four different drawings). These are just estimated prices - all jobs are quoted separately and I offer free quotes for everything. I also encourage all clients to shop around for engineering services, as I do truly believe I am the best value engineering firm in St. Louis.
How long will this take?
Simple engineering reports can be sent back within 1-2 days, while drawings should be expected to take 1-2 weeks, especially if I currently have other clients. If this needs to be expedited, please let me know as I would be glad to, but will need to charge an additional fee to accommodate the increased workload.