I hired A1F1 for a small project first (removing two columns in the front of my house to make a…read morenice sit-down patio). Fast, efficient, quality work that flew with high flying colors through the City Permits Department in one pass. I was impressed by them in all the ways our project worked out and hired them again for a very consequential project. Their thoroughness impressed me and my contractor ("These guys sure are covering all the bases brilliantly", he said of them). We wanted to lift up the ceiling of our kitchen and family room. Because the previous framing work was lacking and because we recently replaced our roof and installed a solar system with increased wind exposure, A1F1 explained we needed to install a big beam with a pier in concrete under the house. They provided all the drawings and calculations documentation needed for the City to approve again at first pass. Work is now under progress, and I have been at awe on how everything is working totally like clockwork. Highly recommended!

I was looking for a structural engineer to remove a wall between my kitchen and family room, I had…read morecalled various engineers ( including one that I had worked with in the past) and they all wanted a tremendous amount of money just for a site visit to advise whether it's even possible to remove the wall.. Anthony, from A1F1, took time out of his busy schedule to come out and look for almost no cost. He was on time, professional, and extremely knowledgeable. He actually advised me about another wall bordering my kitchen, and told me I could remove that wall since it wasn't load bearing. So now, I will remove 2 walls, and have a totally open floor plan. Can't say enough about the guy. If you are looking for a structural engineer, believe me, u won't get a better value.

Peiman and Laleh have been a phenomenal help. They are patient, kind, knowledgeable, and willing to…read morego the extra mile, when extra questions or issues arose with our contractor. We wouldn't be more thrilled to recommend them. Peiman's team's professionalism and skill make them a rare find for home remodeling projects in the Bay Area.

I contacted more than 20 structural engineers in attempting to even get someone to take my call,…read morelet alone to make my choice of whom to work with for seismic calculations for my home remodel project. Mr. Peiman Ghaffari of S&P Structural Engineers clearly stood out above the rest. He was the fastest to respond; the best communicator -- patient, clear, and easy to work with; and was the one who completed my project with integrity, high technical competency, and professionalism, exactly on time. I have to say I count myself fortunate for finding and choosing Mr. Ghaffari / S&P for my work and I would hope to hire him again if ever a new need arises.

We purchased an older, fixer upper and needed an engineer to look at the foundation and structural…read moresupport beams. SF Bay sent over one of their engineers whom I found to be extremely knowledgeable and presented us with options on how best to deal with the situation. We were so impressed that we hired them when it was time to do a large addition and remodel to the house. Marcus, the business owner, is an experienced engineer who really knows his trade. During the design process he worked hard to accommodate my "wish lists" that I kept adding to (yikes!). At the same time, he advised me on things I should consider in order to keep costs down. I always felt he had my interests at heart, while at the same time he was doing what was necessary to meet codes, so we could avoid problems during construction and inspections. While engineers and architects seem to be really busy these days, SF Bay's turnaround time is reasonable, and when you need something in a hurry, they try their best to accommodate. This is a top notch engineering company that charges modest and fair pricing for doing excellent work. If you are lucky enough to come across them, don't hesitate, just hire them and you will be glad you did.

I bought a new, old home and wanted the foundation and floors evaluated…read more Fast response time. They provided a quote ($600) in no time, offered to send out a sample report and asked for the address of the house. When I probed them with what the evaluation involved (such as mapping floor levelness) and whether they were independent without financial ties to contractors, I learned they don't map floor levelness. They didn't answer the bulk of my questions, and they ended stating they don't have the bandwidth to take on my project.

I want to express our gratitude for Zenith Engineers Inc. prompt, professional, and outstanding…read moreservice throughout our remodeling project. From the very beginning, we were impressed with Senthil, Ryan and other members of Zenith team's level of professionalism, prompt response, architectural knowledge and effective communication.This level of service was seamless through our entire engagement with Zenith Engineers Inc., from obtaining the building permit to successfully passing all necessary inspections by the SF Building Department. No one questions their architectural work because they are so good at what they do. We had some initial concerns after reading negative reviews, but as the project progressed, it became clear that those comments were based on personal grievances, rather than valid concerns. The team at Zenith Engineers Inc. has a high level of professional ethics and integrity. Zenith's management team had explained to us early on in the project, the strict adherence to code and compliance was paramount throughout the project. If Zenith compromises to satisfy unsatisfied clients, the building will end up being non-compliant and more importantly unsafe. We truly appreciate Zenith's commitment to quality and integrity, even if it means earning a few negative reviews along the way, which seem rather unfair to them as they are simply doing their job. I am extremely satisfied with the professional and excellent work the team at Zenith Engineers Inc. provided us and will hire them in a heartbeat for all our future structural and/or seismic engineering needs. Thank you Senthil, Ryan and the Zenith engineering team for your professionalism and support. It was our best decision to work with you and experience such high standard of professionalism, work ethic, and integrity.

After having used Zenith for multiple projects in the last few years, looks like it's finally time…read moreto look for someone else for the next one. We started using Zenith because of its responsiveness and effectiveness when it came to structural design. With them as part of our team, we were able to keep up with the City submittal and response timelines we had set. Fast forward to today, and we can't get a hold of anyone. When we do, it's always an excuse for why they didn't respond, without a resolution. We sent them the last City comments 30 days ago and have yet to get anything viable to re-submit back to the city. Given that this is a 30-unit hotel project, going with a different firm now will mean a complete re-design of the project; an absolutely painful exercise that will set us back months. Zenith knows that. So it's absolutely shameful for them to act in a way that would even suggest that our only choice is to get the entire project re-designed by another firm just to have it keep moving forward. So much for "we respond to emails within 30 minutes and always answer phone calls" as outlined on one of their online profile. Knowing how we were treated on this round of City comments and the fact that the entire company seems complacent about what they try to embody in their rhetoric, I would stay away for any future project.

Andres was phenomenal. Excellent communication. We had a structure and slab already built and he…read morecame out to confirm it was sound. 100% recommend him for any project need you have. Thank you Andres!!

Andre is the best. We had lots of settling & cracks at my mothers house in Brentwood. Andre came…read moreout & inspected everything & put our minds at rest the foundation was sound. Made a suggestion to grade the side yard for better drainage which would help the settling.

Working with Irvin at Prostruct Engineering was a breath of fresh air. After purchasing a new home…read moreand enduring my first winter, I was incredibly nervous to find significant water in my crawl space and cracks along the raised foundation. I initially signed a contract with Prostruct, but after Irvin reviewed my photos, he demonstrated a level of integrity that is rare to find. Instead of taking the job, he honestly informed me that my specific issues fell outside their scope. He took the time to explain what I was seeing, referred me to a geotechnical engineer who could actually solve the problem, and issued me a full refund. I greatly appreciated his transparency and professional guidance. I highly recommend Prostruct Engineering to anyone looking for an honest assessment--they clearly prioritize the customer's needs over their own bottom line.

I've worked with ProStruct Engineering on a couple of my projects for full plan sets, and I…read morecouldn't be happier with the experience. Their team is very professional, responsive, and easy to work with. The plans were well-prepared and detailed, and the city approved them with minimal corrections, which really speaks about their quality and attention to detail. One of the projects was on a hillside property, where the foundation requirements were quite intense, but their team handled it seamlessly with well-thought-out and detailed designs. See pics. They always delivered on time and maintained excellent communication throughout the process, keeping me informed at every step. I highly recommend ProStruct Engineering to anyone looking for reliable and efficient structural design services! A special mention to Lokesh, who I worked with directly -- he was very responsive, understood my needs clearly, and made sure everything was addressed on time.

Anura Design drew and permitted our garage-to-JADU conversion in Hayward: a roughly 350 SF studio…read morecarved out of an existing garage, with an efficiency kitchen, a full bath, in-unit laundry, and a mini-split on a parcel that already had two dwellings on it. That is a tight little puzzle, and they solved it cleanly. Here's what I'd tell anyone shopping for an ADU designer: the drawings are only half the job. The other half is the city, and that's where Anura separated itself from the other firms we talked to. Juliana, our project manager, corresponded with Hayward's permit center directly the whole way through Planning, Building Review, and fees. When our permit needed to move off owner-builder and onto our licensed general contractor, she opened the request with the City the same morning I raised it, had the form completed and returned that afternoon, and came back the next day with written confirmation from the permit technician that the contractor was linked and that I'd been added as billing contact so the fee notices would actually reach me. I never had to chase her, and I never had to call the City myself. On the design side, Roman's plan makes a small footprint feel like a real home, and the structural package from Nick held up under review. They also flagged a piece of our electrical scope on the final drawings that could be downsized, which took thousands off the construction budget for free. Precise, fast, written answers. Superb work quality. Five stars, and an easy recommendation for anyone looking at ADU, JADU, or renovation design in the East Bay.

Overall, we've found Romain to be very reliable--not only in the quality of his work but also in…read morehis professional attitude. We've had his architectural designs reviewed by friends who majored in architecture as well as several interior and landscape designers. Everyone gave very positive feedback and encouraged me to move forward with finalizing the plan. If there is any "downside," it's simply that Romain moves quickly. You'll want to share your thoughts and feedback promptly, otherwise he may be a step ahead of you. Personally, I really appreciate his energy, fast turnaround, and thoughtful consideration of details. We highly recommend Romain.

Gabe and his team are fast, reliable and a breeze to work with. We have been working with them for…read moreyears and will continue to do so. Solar Engineering Department Rodda Electric Inc.

I worked with Justen Peek for the engineering of a specialized wall project I am building. He was…read moregreat, fast and delivered exactly as promised.

I contacted Joshua B. Kardon, PhD, SE, F.ASCE, on the advice of a friend who is an architect after…read morewe won the bidding war (for $869K) on a 1924 Craftsman home in San Leandro in 2019. It had several issues, especially a problematic (cracked) original foundation. When Joshua Kardon informed us that we might have to spend a considerable portion of the above purchase price to properly fix up the house, make it earthquake-safe, and bring it up to current codes, we decided to pass on this lovely house. (He told us that replacing the cracked original foundation and raising the basement ceiling from 75 inches height to 96 inches on the 1400-square-foot home - all by itself - might cost $200-$300,000 and take many months. The home had other issues, too.) We later purchased a smaller 1954 ranch-style home in almost-as-built condition and called Joshua Kardon again for a consultation about seismic strengthening. He designed the almost-finished project that spans the front of our home and protects it against earthquakes. Joshua Kardon selected a "SkinnyBrace" by Thor Matteson, SE, of Quake Bracing LLC as the most cost-effective way to anchor our garage and the front of the house using attic collectors and garage shear walls. Nieto Valle Construction of Hayward has executed his designs and will soon finish the garage drywall and attic insulation. Joshua B. Kardon, SE, has always insisted on designing and implementing the best possible seismic strengthening solution for us and his solution is now in place. His attention to detail and insistence on doing things "the right way" are highly reassuring and have produced great results. Josh is also very personable, patient in educating us as to why certain design strategies work better, and has a great sense of humor. I would recommend Joshua B. Kardon + Co., Structural Engineers, in a heartbeat to anyone considering seismic strengthening or any other projects requiring the services of an experienced, thorough, detail-oriented, and friendly structural engineer.

Josh was very kind and helpful in providing feedback on an early inquiry as to how I should…read moreapproach working with a structural engineer and contractor in an aspirational project I've started to think through. His calm, kind and approachable energy is exactly the kind of professionalism you want on your upcoming project.