When to Call an Engineer Instead of a Contractor

By Josh Ford · Lighthouse Engineering

Habib M'henni — CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

It is a common and costly mistake: calling a repair contractor before anyone has diagnosed the problem. A contractor sells a solution; an engineer’s only product is an honest answer.

The Conflict of Interest

When the company diagnosing the problem is the same one selling the repair, the incentive runs one direction. An independent engineer has nothing to sell but the assessment, which is exactly what makes the opinion trustworthy.

Structural or Cosmetic?

Many cracks are cosmetic. A large part of our value is telling you which ones genuinely matter so your money goes only where it changes the outcome — the same principle behind our foundation inspections and structural assessments.

Diagnose First, Then Hire

Get the engineering opinion first, then take that sealed report to a contractor for pricing. You will know what actually needs doing — and you will not be talked into work you do not need. Not sure where to start? Our FAQ covers the common questions.

Have a question about your property? Talk to our engineers.