Learning Center
Learn how civil and structural engineers can help you accomplish the goals you have for your property. Gain a better understanding of why you need a qualified professional engineer for certain projects and how engineering works.
The Missing Middle Bill 1110 and what it means for Washington State
written by Carmel Gregory, Planner Recently, House Bill 1110 passed the Washington State legislature and was signed into law by the Governor. This bill would allow at least 2 dwelling units on lots in most cities and in some cases 4 or 6 dwelling units. The bill is...
Short Plat: What you need to know before you decide to subdivide
If you are a landowner in the Pacific Northwest, you may be wondering if you can achieve more value from your land by dividing it into individual parcels. The answer is more complicated than a simple yes or no. If you are interested in short platting your property, it...
Bearing walls: what are they and why do we need them?
Walls do a lot of work. They keep the elements out and heat in, and they can be used to section off rooms. Some walls carry more responsibility than others, however, and bear a heavier structural load. When taking on a construction project, it's important to...
Civil Engineering FAQ
What is a civil engineer and what do they do? A civil engineer is someone who specializes in planning, designing, constructing, supervising, and maintaining both public and private infrastructure projects. These projects can include roads, developments, airports,...
Structural Engineering FAQ
Structural engineering is a complex industry and can often bring up many questions for homeowners and small contractors. Here are some common questions –and answers– that come with the discussion of structural engineering.
A guide to permitting a project in Snohomish County
If you are embarking on a residential building project in Snohomish County, you might be wondering about the permitting process. Permitting is an important step of the design and construction process that should not be overlooked. When done well, permitting goes...
What is a survey, and when do I need one?
We are often approached by clients who are eager to start on planning or engineering for a piece of land but they are surprised to hear that they first need to obtain a property survey. Whether you are studying a piece of land to understand its development potential...
How to get a site plan for your building permit
When you apply for a building permit, you will usually need a site plan. Learn what a site plan is and how to get one.
Does your civil engineering team include a land use planner? Here’s why it should.
Clients often come to us looking for civil engineering, without realizing their project requires some level of planning services. It is common for homeowners or land developers to request civil engineering services to site a new home or building on an undeveloped...
Planning an ADU in the City of Seattle? Read this first.
In 2019, the City of Seattle enacted legislation that makes it easier for property owners to build accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in areas zoned for single-family residential use. The City recently launched the ADUniverse website, featuring a gallery of pre-approved...
Taking a Residential Structure from Concept to Construction
Whether it be a new home, shop, carport, greenhouse, or landscape feature, taking a residential structure from concept to construction takes more than a pencil and a hammer. The first step toward making your construction project a reality is to understand the process...
Starting from Scratch: Engineering for Residential Sites
We often get questions from homeowners or property investors about how they can begin the process of preparing a piece of land for a new construction project. Sometimes they have a building in mind and sometimes they are simply trying to figure what is feasible on a...
Permitting in the City of Seattle
Homeowners who are trying to navigate the permitting process in the City of Seattle will find that it is more complex than other jurisdictions in the Puget Sound region. Seattle’s permit process differs from most other surrounding jurisdictions and can sometimes take...
Homeowner’s Guide to Permitting
Most cities and counties have a similar process for permitting. The time to complete permitting for each project varies, depending on how complicated the project is and where it is located – counties or larger cities can often take longer to process permits. Building...
Is Your Slope at Risk of Sliding?
Slope instability is a common problem for property owners in the Pacific Northwest because our hilly, wet conditions provide the ideal conditions for a landslide. It is important to remain vigilant in investigating slopes on and around your property, so you can...
Types of Retaining Walls
Chances are, at some point you have built a retaining wall. It may have been as child when you used sticks to shore up a sand castle or as an adult while trying to edge your garden. Retaining walls are one of the most commonly built structures and they can be found...
A Homeowner’s Guide to the Slope Stabilization Process
The Pacific Northwest provides the perfect conditions for landslides. Our naturally hilly terrain is often saturated with water from rain or runoff due to poor drainage and development. Sometimes, homeowners don’t realize that removing trees and vegetation from sloped...
Foundation Settlement 101: Why and How Foundations Fail
Whether you’ve lived in your home for many years or you are preparing to purchase a property, it is important to understand that the safety and longevity of your structure are dependent on a healthy foundation. The foundation’s job is pretty simple. A proper...
My Foundation is Settling, Now What? Steps for Successful Foundation Repair.
No homeowner is happy to learn that their property may have a foundation problem. If you see warning signs that your foundation may be in trouble, it is important to have your home professionally evaluated. It may turn out that the signs you are seeing have nothing to...
Underpinning: A Common Foundation Repair Method
Soft soil is the most common reason homes in the Pacific Northwest suffer foundation settlement. If the weight of a house is too great for the soft soil it rests upon, the house may begin to sink. This process can take a matter months, years or even decades, but if...
Why hire a structural engineer for foundation repair?
For many homeowners, embarking on a foundation repair project seems like a scary and intimidating process. After all, the foundation is the most important structural element of the home. Its failure can disrupt the structure and everything inside it. Although every...