Re: Accessory dwelling unit…read more Houmam assisted me in designing and engineering an ADU (garage conversion). My situation was unique and very complex because of Zoning and building size. Houmam made sure what I wanted to do was possible by calling the City Of Long Beach prior to even charging me for a consult or a proposal. Although, initially, everything seemed straightforward, there were quite a few bumps in the road, and it was frustrating for all parties involved. It took about eight months for final approval because of the complexities but Houmam saw the project approval through to the end and made sure even after approval, that I had all of the info needed. He continues to be available to answer questions and follow up. He was patient and understanding with all of my questions and concerns. I look forward to updating this review with a picture of the completed project once it's done. I recommend HMS without hesitation.

Houmam was super helpful! Called him up and we were immediately able to schedule a time for him to…read morecome out and look at the crack in the garage slab of a potential home I wanted to purchase. His expertise in concrete foundations was clear when he easily explained the root cause for the crack in the slab and what the potential fixes would be. Because of him I was able to get some money back in credit from the sellers. Now I have the money to actually fix the crack.

Jeremy was informative, responsive and customer service oriented. I first called him when I noticed…read morecracks in the stucco on the outside of my house and hairline cracks on the interior drywall. He came over and did some quick measurements and was able to tell us which direction and roughly how much our foundation was settling. He explained that in our area, clay-rich soils expand and contract with the wet/dry seasons and our issue was likely due to poor drainage in our backyard that allowed water to pool and seep under the foundation prompting one side of our house's foundation to settle (sink) incrementally over the years until the tension started to cause the cracking we observed. Based on the amount that our house had settled he said we were right in the gray area between just needing to improve our drainage and monitoring for further settling, or going the more expensive route and having helical supports installed under our foundation to prevent our foundation from settling further. Jeremy was not pushing us in either direction, just presenting us the information and allowing us to make our own decision. After doing a significant amount of research on foundation settling, we looked into getting some quotes and Jeremy provided multiple contractor references. We had four contractors come out and found that they each provide free quotes that included measuring with advanced equipment to determine precisely how much the foundation has settled (only around 1-2") throughout all sides of the house. Their mapping was more detailed, but fairly consistent with what Jeremy had originally told us which provided us some level of comfort that they weren't manipulating the numbers to sell us on needing more piers. There was one contractor whose measurements came in more significant than all the others, but it was not one of the contractors that Jeremy had referenced. Even though we weren't an extreme case, for peace of mind to stop the house from having any further settling, we ended up going with a contractor that Jeremy had referenced who had proposed a middle-ground approach using a limited amount of helical supports and expanding polyurethane foam to support our problem area. We were very happy with their work and it was a solid reference from Jeremy. Jeremy did also offer to help us draw up plans and assist with permitting if we opted to go that route, but due to the smaller size of the job, we chose not to pursue that option. There is a lot to navigate with evaluating foundation issues and deciding what route to take for each individual situation. It is helpful to have a knowledgeable resource like Jeremy who helped get us started and provide some helpful guidance along the way. Thanks Jeremy. *Note - photos are of third party contractor referenced by Jeremy to give Yelpers an idea of what final work ends up looking like.

I had some areas of the house that were getting slightly misaligned and called Jeremy to come and…read moreinvestigate the reason to make sure there wasn't a foundation problem. Jeremy and his crew are extremely knowledgeable and thorough in their analysis. Furthermore, he explained to me in great detail with various drawings what was happening to the house, with the final conclusion that there wasn't a significant issue at the moment. His explanations were detailed and easy to understand. I would highly recommend Jeremy if you have any questions about house settling or foundation issues, and would certainly call Jeremy again if I have any further structural concerns.

First used Castillo Engineering six few years ago. They provided structural calculations for an…read moreADU. This time I asked for plans and calculations on a major interior remodel. The estimate for price and completion was more than fair. Plans required minor corrections during the construction process, as expected; but Castillo had an engineer call my contractor directly within 24 hours. Plan corrections were provided by next business day. All and all, a fair price with good customer service.

I had a really good experience with Castillo Engineering. I hired them to do the engineering work…read moreand plans for my ADU in Long Beach. Julie, the project manager moved quickly with the plans. We had some delays by the City but that was expected due to Covid and I live in a Historic District. The plans were approved by the City with very little modifications. I would recommend using Castillo Engineering.

We had a fantastic experience with Alpha Structural on a challenging structural project. We needed…read moreto replace a 25-foot beam in our cathedral ceiling and sister lots of rafters--work that could have easily turned into a major disruption if done from the exterior. The team found a smart solution to complete the entire project from inside the house, which allowed us to avoid opening the roof and dealing with weather exposure. That alone gave us a lot of peace of mind. Aldo, the structural assessor, was especially helpful throughout the process--patient with our many questions, clear in his communication, and thorough. Erick was consistently responsive as things came up. On site, Gilberto did excellent work with the team and provided steady, capable support through the build. Overall, we're very grateful for their professionalism, problem-solving approach, and the quality of the finished work.

Chris came to advise and measure for a drainage system and was incredibly knowledgeable and…read morethoughtful about the project. His expertise and experience is valuable to us. In addition, we have to commend him for previous work. He is completed on our property on foundation work, including a retrofit. We will always have Chris come to the rescue. Way to go Chris.

I had the pleasure of working with an exceptional engineer Hamid who drafted the plans to convert…read moreour kitchen into an open-concept layout, which required removing a previously load-bearing wall. From start to finish, the level of professionalism, expertise, and attention to detail was truly outstanding. The engineer demonstrated a deep understanding of structural integrity while also respecting the design vision for the space. He carefully evaluated the existing structure and developed precise plans to safely support the load while allowing us to achieve the open, modern kitchen we wanted. His calculations and documentation were thorough and well-organized, which made the permitting and construction process much smoother. What impressed me most was his ability to balance technical precision with practical solutions. He communicated clearly, answered all questions patiently, and ensured the plans were easy for the contractor to follow. The result was a seamless transformation--our kitchen now feels bright, spacious, and beautifully integrated with the rest of the home. If you need an engineer for structural modifications, especially for projects involving load-bearing walls, I highly recommend his services. His expertise, reliability, and commitment to quality truly set him apart.

I had a crack in my driveway. Got my foundation inspected, it was fast, efficient and stress free .read more

We are very happy and grateful with the team at Orohaus Design!…read more Martin and his team helped us design our new two-story accessory dwelling unit for our home. At first the process seemed daunting to build the ADU. Orohaus Design helped guide us through the process and made it easy to get the ADU approved. Martin provided many different floor plan alternatives and provided 3d renderings to help us visualize the process. His team got the project swiftly approved with Patrick in the Planning Department and with Bill Spoja in Building Department. Right now we are in construction and the team has been helping our contractor with questions. I can't wait for the finished project. I highly recommend Orohaus Design.

Orohaus Design (Martin) did a fantastic job creating a design and plans for my bathroom conversion…read moreremodel. The plans were approved by City Planner and Building & Safety with minor to no changes needed. Martin was quick to respond and helped to interface with the City planning department. I highly recommend Orohaus Design for your next house architectural and plan needs. Give them a try.

I contacted Alpha Structural for concerns about the recent development of uneven flooring…read morethroughout the house, and today they sent out Ken Crown for a free inspection. After pointing out the areas of concern to him, Ken offered a couple non-serious possibilities for the phenomenon, and was able to assure me there was no threat to either the structural integrity of the house or the cement slab foundation - and pretty much bottom-lined it, saying there's really nothing to worry about. I really appreciated Ken's easy-going demeanor, and sensed zero interest in him trying to sell me a repair service that wasn't needed. Ken is just an honest guy offering his experienced opinion - in no doubt, putting yet another homeowners' unwarranted concerns to rest. Would be nice If all companies sent inspectors who operated the same way as Ken.

No,! we called these guys out for some water mitigation and talk about egotistical know it all with…read morethe price four times more than the next guy. Terrible attitude and the office staff was just as bad or worse. After I told him I would never do business with them. I'm pretty sure they sold my information and now I have all kinds of people bugging me about similar jobs. Run from this company

Emad Makar did a Soil Analysis and Engineering report so that we could replace a retaining wall…read more His fee was reasonable and he quickly worked on the project at our property. He set expectations on when he could deliver the report and met the timeline. It is a detailed report that will be used by LA County to authorize a permit. We are happy with the quality and timeliness of the services provided. We appreciate Emad's effort and the quality of the report. We will use his services again if we have projects in the future

Emad came out to inspect a property we are in the process of buying. He did a thorough inspection…read moreand sent me a report the next day! He was very detail oriented and great with communication. Super friendly and would recommend for any engineering tasks you need done!

If you are an Architect looking for an engineering firm Parlee Engineering is your company of…read morechoice. They do fantastic work and are very easy to do business with. They service Los Angeles County, Orange County, and San Diego. Don't sweat if you are in the desert they got you covered too! I would definitely recommend Parlee Engineering to all!

From the owner: Locally owned and operated for over 35 years, we are the regions number one choice for all your…read moreremodeling and structural engineering services. With projects all around California we are known for our excellent design, engineering, and construction services. We find that effective communication between architects and engineers is vital for a dream to become reality and that is why we are your full service drafting and design company. Our structural engineer experts provide you with all the knowledge you need to start and complete your building design project. We specialize in new home construction, additions, and remodeling projects for residential and commercial properties. When time is of the essence, there is no other remodeling company you will need. Call Today!