Structural Damage Assessment and Repair Drawings
Fire, storm, vehicle impact and water damage evaluated by a licensed engineer, then repaired with stamped drawings your building department accepts.
- Stamped by a PE licensed in your state
- Built to IBC, IRC and local amendments
- Plan-check comments answered
Structural damage assessment that leads to a permitted repair
After a fire, a fallen tree, a car through the front wall or a long-hidden leak, the first questions are always the same. Is the building safe? What has to be replaced, and what can stay? What will the building department require before the work starts? A structural damage assessment answers those questions with an engineer’s judgment instead of guesswork, and it becomes the basis for the repair permit.
PE Engineer evaluates damaged homes, apartments, garages and commercial buildings, then prepares the repair drawings and calculations needed to rebuild. Site visits are arranged through a local licensed engineer, who documents conditions with photos and measurements. Our engineers review those findings, determine the extent of structural damage, and design repairs that are sealed by a Professional Engineer licensed in the state where the building is located.
We work with property owners, restoration contractors, general contractors and public adjusters. Our reports describe what was observed and what the repair requires, written so a contractor can scope it and a building official can approve it. You receive a fixed-fee proposal first, usually the same day, and rush service is available when a building is open to the weather or occupants are displaced.
What you receive
- Site observations with photos
- Written assessment of structural damage
- Repair scope by structural element
- Repair plans, sections and details
- Supporting calculations where required
- PE stamped report and repair drawings
Types of damage we assess
Each type of damage affects a structure differently, so we tailor what we look for and how we document it.
Fire and smoke damage
Charring and section loss in wood framing, heat exposure to steel, spalled concrete and masonry, and the effect of firefighting water on floors and finishes.
Wind and storm damage
Roof and wall damage from high wind, hurricanes, tornadoes and hail, including uplifted roof framing, failed connections and racked walls.
Fallen trees and debris
Broken rafters, trusses, ridges and walls from tree impact, with temporary shoring guidance, a check of the members around the impact and permanent framing repair design.
Vehicle impact
Damage to bearing walls, columns, storefronts, garages and canopies struck by vehicles, including hidden damage to headers, posts and footings.
Water damage and decay
Rot in sills, joists and sheathing, corrosion of steel and fasteners, and foundation undermining from long-term leaks, failed flashing or flooding that went unnoticed for months.
Overload and settlement
Sagging floors and roofs from snow, stored materials or past alterations, and distress caused by foundation movement after a leak or washout.
Your Stamped, Permit-Ready Plans Start With One Upload
Send your drawings or describe the project. A licensed engineer reviews it and sends a clear, fixed-fee proposal, often within hours.
- Free and no obligation
- Reviewed by a licensed PE
- Secure file upload
How a structural damage assessment works
A useful assessment follows the load path. Damage is rarely limited to the obvious hole or char mark. A truck that strikes a garage corner can crack the header above the door, shift a post off its base and loosen the sill plate. A tree that breaks a few rafters can also overload the ridge and push out the top of a wall. Water that rots a sill can leave the wall above looking fine until it settles.
The assessment process typically includes:
- A site visit by a local licensed engineer to observe, measure and photograph the damage and the surrounding structure.
- Removal of finishes in key locations when hidden framing must be seen, coordinated with the owner or contractor.
- Review of any original plans, prior permits and photos from before the event.
- An engineering evaluation of each affected member and connection, and whether it can remain, be repaired or must be replaced.
- A written report with findings and the required repair scope.
When the building may be unsafe, the first priority is temporary shoring and protection. We provide guidance on where shoring is needed so the contractor can stabilize the structure before permanent repairs are designed.
Fire, storm and water damage evaluation
Fire damage
Wood loses strength as it chars, so we evaluate the remaining sound cross section of joists, rafters, studs and beams and compare it with what the member must carry. Light char on large members may leave adequate capacity, while engineered lumber, trusses and thin framing are often replaced. Steel exposed to high heat can distort or lose strength, and concrete and masonry can spall. Connection plates on trusses deserve special attention after a fire.
Storm and wind damage
High winds attack connections. We look for lifted roof sheathing, pulled nails and straps, displaced trusses, racked walls and damaged gable ends. Repairs restore the damaged elements and, where the jurisdiction requires it, bring the repaired portion up to current wind design requirements. For buildings that need broader strengthening, see our seismic and wind retrofit service.
Water damage
Long-term leaks cause rot in wood framing, corrosion of steel and fasteners, and erosion under footings and slabs. We map the extent of decay, identify members to replace and design repairs such as sistering, new sills and posts or rebuilt bearing points. Flood damage may bring floodplain requirements as well, which we coordinate with the repair design.
Whatever the cause, we separate cosmetic damage from structural damage. Smoke staining, minor drywall cracking and surface rust may only need cleaning or finishes, while damaged connections, bearing points and members with lost section need engineered repair.
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- Free and no obligation
- Reviewed by a licensed PE
- Secure file upload
Repair drawings, permits and the existing building code
Most structural repairs need a building permit, and the building department wants to see what will be built. Our repair drawings show each damaged area, the members to remove and replace, sizes, grades, connections, shoring sequence where relevant and general notes for the contractor. Calculations support any member that is not simply replaced in kind.
Repairs to existing buildings are generally governed by the International Existing Building Code (IEBC) or your state’s equivalent, as adopted by your jurisdiction. It distinguishes ordinary repairs, where damaged elements are restored to their pre-damage condition, from situations involving substantial structural damage, where the code may require an evaluation of the overall structure and strengthening to current standards. Determining which applies is one of the most important outcomes of the assessment, because it can change the cost of the repair considerably.
Our repair drawings are designed to the codes your jurisdiction enforces, with new framing to the NDS, steel to AISC 360 and concrete to ACI 318. Where the original structure was a manufactured truss system, we coordinate with the truss manufacturer or provide repair details directly, and our truss review and stamping service covers replacement trusses. Plan-check comments are answered and the drawings revised within the original scope at no extra charge.
Working with owners, contractors and insurance
Damage projects involve many parties. The owner wants the building safe and back in use. The restoration contractor needs a defined scope. The insurer or adjuster needs documentation of what was damaged by the event. The building official needs a permit set. Our job is to provide an engineering opinion and repair design that all of them can rely on.
Our reports are factual and engineering based. We describe what was observed, what it means structurally and what the repair requires. We do not advocate for coverage decisions, which belong to the policy and the insurer, but a clear engineering record often makes those conversations easier. When damage pre-dates the event, such as long-term rot found during fire repairs, we note it separately so the scope is transparent and every party sees the same facts.
To prepare a fixed-fee proposal, send us:
- The property address and type of building.
- A description of the event and the date it occurred.
- Photos of the damage, including wide shots and close-ups.
- Any original plans, prior reports or contractor scope you already have.
- Whether the building is occupied, open to weather or shored.
For simpler cases that only need a letter, see our structural inspection letters.
You likely need this if
- Your building had a fire or smoke damage
- A storm or tree damaged the roof or walls
- A vehicle struck the building
- Hidden rot or water damage was uncovered
- The city requires engineered repair drawings
- A contractor or adjuster asked for an engineer
How it works, start to finish
From your first message to stamped drawings, you work directly with the engineering team.
- 1Share your projectSend the address, scope and any drawings, photos or plan-check comments. Two minutes is enough.
- 2Receive a fixed-fee proposalAn engineer reviews the scope and replies with a firm price and delivery date for your structural damage assessment drawings.
- 3Engineering and draftingWe run the calculations and prepare drawings to the codes your jurisdiction enforces, checked before sealing.
- 4Stamped set deliveredYou receive a sealed PDF set ready to submit, and we answer any plan-check comments within scope.
Codes and standards we design to
Assessments and repairs follow the editions your jurisdiction has adopted, including local amendments:
- International Existing Building Code (IEBC) or your state’s existing building code
- International Building Code (IBC) and International Residential Code (IRC)
- ASCE 7 for design loads in repaired and strengthened elements
- NDS for wood framing and connections
- AISC 360 for structural steel
- ACI 318 for concrete and TMS 402 for masonry
How licensing works. Engineering drawings must be sealed by a Professional Engineer licensed in the state where your project is located. PE Engineer works with a network of state-licensed PEs, so every set is reviewed and stamped by an engineer with an active license in the state where your project is located. Their name and license number appear on the seal, exactly as your building department requires.
Related services
Structural Inspections & LettersSealed structural inspection reports and engineer letters for foundations, cracks, framing, damage, unpermitted work and existing buildings, written for the people who requested them.Explore More
Framing PlansFloor, wall and roof framing plans with joist, rafter, header and shear wall design, sealed by a licensed PE for permit.Explore More
Foundation Repair & UnderpinningSettlement and crack evaluation, helical and push pier underpinning, wall stabilization and stamped foundation repair plans for permit and for buyers.Explore MoreFrequently asked questions
Who performs the site visit for a damage assessment?
Site visits are arranged through a local licensed engineer who observes, measures and photographs the damage. Our engineering team reviews the findings, completes the evaluation and prepares the report and repair drawings, which are sealed by a Professional Engineer licensed in the state where the building is located.
Do I need an engineer after a house fire?
If the fire reached structural framing, most building departments require an engineer to evaluate it and specify repairs before issuing a permit. Even when damage looks limited, heat can weaken trusses, connections and engineered lumber in ways that are not obvious from below. An assessment also documents conditions before demolition removes the evidence.
Can damaged framing be repaired instead of replaced?
Often, yes. Sistering, new connections, added posts and reinforcement can restore many damaged members. We evaluate the remaining capacity and recommend repair where it is sound and replacement where it is not, which can keep costs down and shorten the time the building is out of use. Repair details are drawn so the contractor can build them from the existing framing.
Will my repair have to meet current code?
It depends on the extent of damage and the existing building code your jurisdiction has adopted. Ordinary repairs usually restore the pre-damage condition. Substantial structural damage can trigger evaluation and strengthening to current standards. Our assessment determines which applies to your building.
Can your report be used for an insurance claim?
Our reports document observed damage, its structural significance and the repair required. Owners and adjusters often use them as part of a claim. Coverage decisions belong to the insurer, and we provide an engineering opinion rather than advocacy. The report stays factual so it can be shared with every party involved.
How fast can you respond after a storm?
Rush service is available for damaged buildings, especially when they are open to weather or occupants are displaced. Turnaround depends on how quickly a local site visit can be arranged and the extent of damage. We tell you the timing in your fixed-fee proposal.
Get your free structural damage assessment proposal
Tell us where the project is and what you need. Attach any drawings, photos or plan-check comments. A licensed engineer reviews every request.
- Upload your filesPlans, sketches, photos or comments
- Get a fixed-fee proposalUsually the same day
- Receive stamped drawingsSealed by a PE licensed in your state