Residential

CKR Engineers has the experience you need to design new houses and renovate and add additions to existing houses

Do you want to build a new home, or remodel or add to an existing house?

Are you concerned that:

Your house will meet current code provisions?
Your structural design will be cost-efficient?
Your builder will have thorough and well considered plans from which to build?
Someone will be available to answer questions and address issues that may arise during construction?

Building a new home is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, one you want to be sure it is done correctly. You want an engineer who can help work with you and your architect or home designer to design the home of your dreams. By utilizing our decades of experience designing all sizes of houses, we have the expertise to ensure your new house will be a success.

Why Do I Need A Structural Engineer?

We have found it useful to explain the function of a structural engineer by comparing a building to a human body. An architect or home designer determines hair color, eye color, height, weight, etc. – essentially everything visible on the outside. A structural engineer designs the bones, tendons, and ligaments – everything necessary for the body can stand. In a house, the structural engineer designs the beams, rafters, joists, walls, etc. to resist the weight of ice and snow and resist the effects of windstorms and earthquakes. Our design is shown on structural plans, which show the beam sizes, foundation sizes, shear walls, etc., and details showing the builder how to build the house.

Do I also need an architect or a home designer?

Architects and home designers perform similar functions. Either one can determine how large your house can be and still fit on your lot, suggest room sizes, and produce plans showing how the house will look. Architects are generally recommended for the design of larger homes, due to their increased complexity and customization. CKR Engineers can work with plans created by either one.

Can CKR design my remodel or addition?

Yes. We can create architectural plans and structural designs for all sorts of remodels and additions. Often, remodels or additions require us to visit the house to take measurements and determine existing conditions. Our experience includes the following:

How Much Does Structural Design Cost?

Cost depends on the size and complexity of the house. We can provide a cost estimate using preliminary plans or after discussing the project with you.

Do I need to find someone else to create floor plans and elevations, or can CKR create these for me?

We can create floor plans and elevations for smaller homes (less than about 5000 square feet). The design process consists of the following steps:

Meet with our design team to discuss the type and size of house you want, the location where it will be built, and any other specific criteria you have. Providing us with pictures of houses that you like is particularly helpful.
Our design team will create preliminary floor plans and elevations based on information gathered in the initial design meeting. These preliminary plans will be sent to you for approval. Any changes you have at that point will then be incorporated into the design.
After final approval of the floor plans and elevations, CKR will complete the structural design, creating framing plans, details, and calculations necessary to obtain a building permit and build the house.

We recommend that larger homes be designed by architects, due to their greater complexity and customization. If you don’t already have an architect, we have several that we can recommend.

How Do I Get Started?

We look forward to working with you and are ready to assist with your homebuilding needs. Please give us a call today to get started.