Structural Engineer Reports
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Bright hallway with a long diagonal crack running up the plaster wall from the corner of a door frame, a small red marker at its tip

Independent structural & foundation engineers

Structural inspections and engineer reports. Diagnosis before repair.

Worried about cracks, sticking doors or an underpinning quote? An independent structural engineer finds the cause first and explains it in a clear report. If repairs are needed, we design and certify them, and we never sell repairs.

Get a fixed quote Get a second opinion

Fixed price before we start

Get a fixed quote

Reply within 1–2 business hours. No obligation.

Inspections from $450 + GST. Prefer to talk? 07 2150 0579

Engineers AustraliaQualified structural engineers
RPEQ registeredRegistered Professional Engineer of Queensland
Cause firstDiagnosis before any repair quote
IndependentWe never sell or carry out repairs

What we do

What does an independent structural engineer do?

The short answer

An independent structural engineer inspects a building, finds out why it's cracking or moving, and writes an engineer's report on how serious it is and what, if anything, to do. Because we don't sell repairs, the report is about the cause and the right fix, not a product. If work is needed, we design it, document it for the permit and certify it.

Most people call us when something has changed: a crack that wasn't there last winter, a door that suddenly sticks, a floor that feels out of level, or an underpinning quote that seems large. A structural inspection answers three questions: what is moving, why, and does it matter.

Typical jobs
Cracks, sticking doors, sloping floors, cracked slabs, subsidence
Time on site
One to three hours for a typical house
You receive
An engineer's report: cause, severity and options
Fees
Inspections from $450 + GST, quote reviews from $390 + GST
If repairs are needed
Design, permit documents, stage inspections and certification
Independence
Engineering only: we never sell or carry out repairs

Services

Structural inspections, reports and designs

Pick the service that matches where you are: something's cracking, you're about to buy, you've been quoted for underpinning, or you need an underpinning engineer to design and certify the repair.

Homeowners · Landlords

House structural inspections

A structural engineer inspects the whole house, finds what's moving and why, and reports what, if anything, needs doing.

Learn more
Cracks · Subsidence · Movement

Foundation & crack reports

Cracks measured and rated, the cause of the movement found, and your options set out before anyone quotes a repair.

Learn more
Home buyers · Before you commit

Pre-purchase structural inspections

Buying a house with cracks or movement? An engineer finds the cause and what a fix could involve before you commit.

Learn more
Second opinion · Homeowners

Underpinning quote review

An independent engineer's second opinion on an underpinning quote: the cause, the method, the scope and what it leaves out.

Get a second opinion
Homeowners · Builders · Contractors

Underpinning design & certification

If underpinning is needed, we design it, prepare the permit documents, inspect the critical stages and certify the work.

Learn more
Owners · Buyers · Disputes

Building defect reports

An engineer's report on structural defects: where they are, how serious they are, the likely cause and what to do. For owners, buyers and disputes.

Learn more
Active or historic movement

Crack monitoring

Repeat readings that show whether a crack is stable, seasonal or still widening, before anyone designs a repair.

Learn more
Underpinning & restumping trades

Engineering for contractors

Designs, permit documents, stage inspections and certification for your jobs.

For contractors
Fixed fees

Structural engineer fees

On-site inspections from $450 + GST, with a fixed quote before we start.

See pricing

Engineer vs contractor

Why does independence matter?

Free inspections from repair companies are usually part of their sales process. There's nothing wrong with that, but it means the person diagnosing the problem is also selling the cure. An independent engineer is paid for the diagnosis, whether or not you ever do a repair.

That changes the advice. We start with the cause, because the cause decides the fix. Sometimes it's a leaking pipe or a tree, and the answer is far cheaper than underpinning. Sometimes underpinning is right, and then the design should suit your house, not the method a company happens to sell.

Already have a quote?

Our underpinning quote review checks the scope, the method and what's missing, from $390 + GST.

A repair company's free inspection

  • Free, because it leads to a quote
  • Usually recommends the method they sell
  • May not test why the house moved
  • Scope and price set by the seller

An independent engineer

  • A fixed fee, whether or not you repair
  • Finds the cause first, then the options
  • Compares methods without selling any
  • Designs and certifies the repair if one is needed

Problems we diagnose

What are the signs a house needs a structural engineer?

One sign on its own is often harmless. Several together, or one that keeps getting worse, is worth an engineer's inspection.

Cracks in walls and ceilings

Stepped cracks in brickwork, diagonal cracks from door and window corners, or cracks that keep growing.

Sticking doors and windows

Doors that suddenly bind or won't latch, and gaps opening at the top of door frames.

Sloping or uneven floors

Floors that feel out of level, gaps under skirting boards, or furniture that rocks.

Cracked or moving slabs

Cracks across slab floors, tiles cracking in a line, or a slab edge lifting or dropping.

Subsidence and heave

Part of the house sinking or rising as reactive clay shrinks and swells with the seasons.

Leaks and drainage

Leaking pipes, downpipes or poor drainage softening the ground under a footing.

How serious is the crack?

Engineers often rate wall cracks with the damage categories in AS 2870, the Australian Standard for residential slabs and footings. They run from Category 0 (hairline) to Category 5 (very severe). Width is only a guide: the pattern, location and whether the crack is still growing matter just as much.

Read: cracks in walls, when to worry

  1. Cat 0Negligible< 0.1 mm
  2. Cat 1Very slight< 1 mm
  3. Cat 2Slight< 5 mm
  4. Cat 3Moderate5–15 mm
  5. Cat 4Severe15–25 mm
  6. Cat 5Very severe> 25 mm
Damage categories for walls, with approximate crack widths. Crack width is a guide only: the number, pattern and location of cracks also matter.Source: AS 2870-2011 Residential slabs and footings, Appendix C, Table C1.

How it works

How does a structural inspection work?

Five steps from your first message to a clear answer. Steps four and five only happen if repairs are actually needed.

  1. Step 1

    Tell us what you're seeing

    Send the address, a few photos and when you first noticed the problem.

  2. Within 1–2 business hours

    Get a fixed quote

    A fixed fee and an inspection date, before we start.

  3. On site

    Inspect and diagnose

    We check the cracks, floors, walls, footings and drainage, and measure what matters.

  4. Report

    Cause, severity and options

    Our engineers report the cause, how serious it is and your options in plain English, in a report you can share with a contractor or insurer.

  5. If needed

    Design and certify the repair

    Underpinning or other repairs designed, documented for the permit, inspected and certified.

Downpipe discharging water straight onto bare soil at the base of a painted brick wall, forming a puddle against the footing
We look outside as well as in: footings, drainage, trees and paving often explain the cracks inside.
$450On-site inspection and report from + GST
$390Underpinning quote review from + GST
1–2 hrsTo your fixed quote, in business hours
Cat 0–5AS 2870 damage categories for wall cracks

Guides

Straight answers from an engineer

Plain-English guides to cracks, subsidence and underpinning, written by engineers who don't sell repairs.

Guide · 12 min read

Cracks in walls: when to worry

Most cracks in walls and ceilings are harmless, but some point to footing movement that needs an engineer. Here's how to tell the difference, using the same crack chart engineers use.

Read the guide
Guide · 14 min read

House subsidence and movement

Sticking doors, sloping floors and new cracks can all mean a house is moving. Here's how to read the signs, what usually causes subsidence and when an engineer should take a look.

Read the guide
Guide · 11 min read

What is underpinning?

Underpinning strengthens or deepens the footings of a house that has moved. Here's what it involves, the main types, and the many cases where you don't need it, from engineers who don't sell it.

Read the guide

Where we work

Structural engineers across Australia

We inspect in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Geelong, Gold Coast, Newcastle, Perth, Central Coast.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

Still unsure? Call 07 2150 0579 and an engineer will talk it through.

What does a structural engineer's inspection involve?
A structural engineer inspects the cracks, floors, walls, roof framing and footings that are causing concern, measures what matters and looks for the cause. You get a written engineer's report explaining what's happening, how serious it is and what, if anything, needs to be done.
How much does a structural engineer report cost?
Our on-site inspections with a written report start from $450 + GST for a typical house, and an underpinning quote review from documents and photos starts from $390 + GST. Design and certification are fixed-quoted for each job. See pricing.
Do you carry out or sell repairs?
No. We are engineering only: we inspect, diagnose, design and certify. We never sell or carry out repairs, so there's no reason for us to recommend more work than you need.
Should I use a structural engineer or a building inspector?
A building inspector is ideal for a general pre-purchase check. When there are cracks, movement or a repair quote to assess, you need a structural engineer, who can find the cause, judge how serious it is and design a fix if one is needed.
Are the cracks in my walls serious?
It depends on their width, pattern, location and whether they're still growing. Hairline cracks are common and often harmless; wider, stepped or growing cracks need an engineer. Our guide to cracks in walls explains the AS 2870 damage categories.
Can you review an underpinning quote I've been given?
Yes. Send the quote, any reports and photos, and an independent engineer will check whether the cause has been identified, whether the scope makes sense and what the quote leaves out. See underpinning quote review.
Do you design and certify underpinning?
Yes. If repairs are needed, we design the underpinning, prepare the documents for the building permit, inspect the critical stages and certify the work. Any licensed contractor can then build it.
How long does an inspection take?
A typical house takes one to three hours on site, depending on its size and what needs checking. We confirm the report delivery date in your quote.
Will an engineer's report help with an insurance claim?
It can. A report that identifies the likely cause of damage gives your insurer evidence to assess the claim against your policy. Read does home insurance cover subsidence?
Which areas do you cover?
Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Geelong, plus the Gold Coast, Newcastle, Perth and the Central Coast. Send the address and we'll confirm in your quote. See locations.

Before anyone quotes a repair

Find the cause before anyone quotes a repair.

Tell us what you're seeing and where. You'll have a fixed quote within 1–2 business hours, and an independent engineer's report you can act on with confidence.

Get a fixed quote Call 07 2150 0579

Inspections from $450 + GST · No obligation

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