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.

Excellent service. Requested a structural evaluation for some cracks across areas of drywall at my…read moreresidential home. The onsite engineer walked my partner through the damage and inspected the foundation. Provided a thorough report with recommendations for structural improvements. Competitive rates. I appreciate their quality, service and price.

I hired SF Bay Engineering for seismic retrofit plans under the Earthquake Brace and Bolt program…read more I was told architectural drawings were required before they could proceed, so I hired and paid an architect to prepare them. After multiple back and forth and with SF Bay Engineering admitting they aren't familiar with the requirements, they terminated the contract. They refunded their engineering fee, but the architectural cost remained my responsibility. I brought the matter to small claims court, and the court ruled that because I retained the plans, reimbursement was not warranted. I recommend future clients clarify in writing how architectural costs will be handled if SF Bay Engineering terminates the contract. Happy to provide additional details upon request

Professional, knowledgeable, practical, accessible, reliable, efficient…read more Helped us navigate a difficult deck project in El Cerrito. I would highly recommend Kent for your project and I plan to use him on future projects.

Long overdue review but Kent is the best! We reached out to Kent twice:…read moreFirst was to determine if our house was structurally sound to remove a wall, so we can open up our kitchen. We've spoken to multiple contractors who mentioned the wall was not load bearing and can be quickly removed. However, after confirming with Kent, he shared knowledge about the soil in our area, potential earthquakes, and recommended specific ways to reinforce the home if the wall was removed. Second project was a seismic upgrade. Permits passed quickly, contractor worked well with Kent, and everything went smoothly. I recommend Kent to anyone who wants to learn and understand the structural integrity of your home. He's very knowledgeable of the Bay Area and creates a detail plan so you're ready to ask for bids from contractors.

Engin was absolutely amazing in helping us with our project. From the very beginning he showed…read moreexceptional professionalism, deep expertise, and a genuine commitment to getting every detail right. He treated our project as if it were his own family project, showing care, patience, and personal involvement throughout the entire process. He was also incredibly friendly and responsive, even on weekends, which made everything smooth and stress free. His dedication and clear communication gave us great confidence at every stage. ECR Engineering's work and service quality are truly outstanding. Engin provided thoughtful, cost effective, and practical solutions while maintaining top tier design and precision. It was a real pleasure working with Engin, and we highly recommend him and ECR Engineering to anyone looking for reliable, skilled, and caring structural engineering services.

Engin was very communicative and patient when describing to me the kind of work that needs to be…read moredone to reinforce retaining walls. He detailed what services may be necessary (such as soil reports), referred me to several geotechnical firms, and promptly gave ballpark estimates so I can have a good idea what to expect. I appreciate his professionalism, knowledge, and kindness.

Andrew was great to work with for our lot line survey. I highly recommend consulting with him for…read moreyour surveying needs.

After posting the initial review Andrew reached out, apologized for the delay, offered a discount…read moreand provided me with the quote later that evening. I'm updating the review to reflect that I did receive the quote, since I initially noted he had not provided one.

I recently had the pleasure of working with EAS Designers, and I couldn't be more satisfied with…read morethe experience. From start to finish, their team was professional, responsive, and genuinely committed to delivering good-quality results. Despite the recent city legalization challenges, they handled everything with transparency and expertise, keeping me informed throughout the entire process. Their knowledge of local regulations and attention to detail really set them apart and gave me peace of mind. If you're looking for a reliable and trustworthy design team, I highly recommend EAS Designers. I would absolutely work with them again and encourage others to do the same!

Arash helped us with our on going Kitchen Remodeling issue where electrician cut notches on the…read morewindow header compromising it completely. Arash visited the site on a short notice, evaluated the situation and provided with multiple cost-effective, time-effective, not too invasive solutions to bring back the strength of the header. He also took time to answer all our questions, inspected the floor above to check the load and structure etc. Very satisfied with the service. He recommended options that are feasible and quick. The whole onboarding process was quick and easy with Siavash. One day within a call got the appointment. The consultant came prepared looked at our designs. They did not upsell their service in fact they did the opposite to keep our interest in mind. I would work with EAS again when needed. Definitely recommended.

Dan and his team recently inspected our property for seismic safety as per the service I requested…read more They were thorough , seemed very knowledgeable and I enjoyed discussion our project with his team. Highly recommend.

Dan and his wife Cecilia are very professional and drama-free. His crew were very efficient in…read moretaking measurements and Dan went over the overall plan in simple language for our Earthquake Brace and Bolt project. Thanks for everything!

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.

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.

DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY -- terrible communication and shady tactics…read more I reached out to ProStruct Engineering for a simple onsite structural evaluation at my home in Danville. They sent a 10-page contract and demanded the full $1,100 upfront the same day, before any work was even scheduled. After I signed and inquired, I asked the project manager multiple times for a firm date when the engineer could come out for the survey. Instead of giving a straightforward answer, they used clear delay tactics and kept putting me off with vague responses. When I finally decided to cancel before any site visit or report was started, their own contract (Section 5.5) clearly states I should only owe a $500 "setup fee." Yet they are now treating it as if I owe the entire $1,100. This is a classic "pay us everything first, then we'll drag our feet" operation with a heavily one-sided contract designed to trap customers. Save yourself the stress, the risk of a lien on your house, and the endless runaround. There are plenty of other licensed structural engineers in the Bay Area who actually communicate and don't play games with scheduling. Would not recommend. Proceed with extreme caution.