Structural Inspection
Structural & Foundation Inspections
Before you buy. Before you renovate. Before the next storm. A KSF inspection turns guesswork into a structural plan you can trust — walked through with you on site, written into a stamped report when escrow or insurance needs one.
Planning changes after your inspection? See our structural engineering services and seismic retrofit design.
The walk-through
Three questions, one walk-through.
Most homeowners we meet have already gotten three different opinions from three different trades. We replace the guesswork with engineering. By the end of the visit, you have answers to the three questions that actually matter.
“Is this actually a problem?”
That diagonal crack in the drywall. The hairline at the foundation. The bowed beam in the basement. We tell you which findings are structural, which are cosmetic, and which deserve attention but not panic.
So you stop losing sleep over normal house behavior.“What does it cost to fix?”
We give you an engineering-backed scope of work. Not a contractor sales pitch — the actual list of what needs to be done, how it should be sequenced, and a defensible range to budget against.
So you negotiate from facts, not fear.“Is the house safe to live in?”
Most of the time, the answer is yes — with a plan. Sometimes it’s yes, today, but plan for a retrofit. Occasionally it’s no, here’s what has to happen first. We tell you which, in plain English, on the spot.
So you make an informed decision about the place your family lives.“What do I show the lender or insurer?”
Escrow, lenders and insurers often ask for an engineering report with a P.E. stamp. Send us their written request before the visit and we’ll write the report to answer it — clear for the third party to review.
So the report answers the questions they actually asked.
Inspection types
Ten inspection types. One engineering team.
Whether you’re a homeowner with a crack, a buyer in escrow, or a contractor mid-renovation, or an HOA or building owner facing the SB 721 / SB 326 balcony deadline — the right inspection is the one matched to the question you’re trying to answer.
Structural inspections and evaluations
A full structural walk of the property: foundation, framing, load paths, connections, signs of past movement. We document what we find and tell you what it means.
So your next step is informed, not guessed.Foundation assessments
Concrete condition, soil interaction, settlement signs, drainage. We look at the foundation the way the rest of the house is loading it.
So you know whether the foundation is the cause — or just the symptom.Crack and settlement evaluations
Diagonal cracks, stair-step cracks, sticking doors, sloped floors. We map what’s moved, decide whether it’s still moving, and tell you what triggered it.
So you fix the cause, not just the cosmetic.Earthquake and damage assessments
After a seismic event or impact damage, we document the structural condition for insurance claims and engineering recovery. We provide a stamped report you can submit with your claim.
So your claim moves on engineering evidence, not adjuster opinion.Load-bearing wall evaluations
You want to take a wall down. We tell you whether it’s structural, what it’s carrying, and what the rebuild costs before the contractor swings a hammer.
So your remodel plan starts from reality.Renovation and construction consultation
Mid-project surprises behind the drywall. Framing that doesn’t match the plans. Existing structure that needs an engineer to bless before work continues.
So construction keeps moving — with engineering signed off on the change.Real estate structural evaluations
Pre-purchase inspections for buyers. Pre-listing inspections for sellers. Findings translated into the language escrow, lenders, and insurance underwriters need.
So you go to close with structural certainty.Engineering recommendations and reporting
Stamped engineering reports for repairs, retrofits, permit applications, and code compliance. Written for the audience that’s asking — with the level of detail they need.
So the report actually does its job.Exterior Elevated Element (EEE) inspections — SB 721 & SB 326
California balcony-law inspections for apartment buildings (SB 721) and condominium HOAs (SB 326): decks, balconies, walkways, stairs, and their waterproofing, with the report your city and HOA require, stamped by a licensed KSF engineer.
So your building meets the state deadline — with documentation that holds up.Permit-ready structural plans and calculations
When an inspection finds work to do, the same team produces the stamped structural drawings and calculations your contractor and building department need — ready for plan check.
So the fix moves from finding to permit without a second firm.
Why homeowners choose KSF
A practice built on four constants.
These aren’t taglines. They’re the four things every client gets, regardless of project size.
Licensed P.E.
Every report stamped by a licensed KSF engineer
Since 1988
Founded in Oakland, now in Los Angeles County and the Sacramento Region too
Family-first lens
We look at your home the way you do
Your own engineering team
One accountable team, start to finish
Trusted by neighbors
What clients say
Three ways to work
Three clear ways to schedule.
Pick the inspection that matches the question — a verbal walk-through, a stamped report, or a commercial EEE inspection. The same on-site inspection every time; we adjust the documentation to fit the audience.
- On-site inspection by the KSF team
- We walk the findings with you, on site
- Your questions answered — record it if you like
Best when you want answers and direction — no formal documents.
- Everything in the verbal inspection
- Written engineering report
- P.E. stamp & signature
For escrow, real-estate transactions, insurance, and official records.
- Exterior Elevated Element (EEE) inspections under SB 721 (apartments) & SB 326 (condo HOAs)
- Balconies, decks, walkways, stairs and other elevated elements
- Stamped report with repair recommendations for your compliance deadline
Also for multi-family, mixed-use and commercial buildings — scope and pricing by proposal. Commercial engineering (calculations & drawings) also available.