How to Read a Structural Engineering Report
A sealed report can look intimidating. Here is how to get the answer you actually paid for out of it.
By Jason A. Conklin, P.E. · Lighthouse Engineering
Seattle Municipal Archives from Seattle, WA — CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
A good engineering report is written to be acted on, not admired. If you know what to look for, you can pull the decision you need out of it in a few minutes.
Findings vs. Recommendations
Reports separate what we observed from what we recommend. The findings are the evidence — measurements, elevations, cracks, conditions. The recommendations are what to do about them. Reading the findings first tells you how solid the recommendations are.
The Elevation Map
Most foundation reports include an elevation map. Look at the range between the highest and lowest points and how abrupt the changes are — that is the heart of the diagnosis, as we explain in our piece on the elevation survey.
The Seal Means Accountability
A sealed report is a licensed engineer putting their name behind the opinion. It is what makes the document useful to a contractor, an insurer, or a court — and it is the standard behind every structural assessment we issue. Browse sample reports to see the format.
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