We had a great experience working with Amgad and the engineering team at San Mina on our home remodel. The project was fairly complex--it included expanding our living space by building two bedrooms and a bathroom above the garage, as well as removing walls in the kitchen to create an open-concept layout downstairs that required new structural support. From start to finish, their team demonstrated a high level of professionalism and expertise. They took the time to fully understand our vision and translated it into a thoughtful, well-executed design. Their structural plans were clear and thorough, which made the construction process much smoother. Even when we encountered constraints due to city regulations, they worked closely with us to develop a revised design that both met approval requirements and aligned with our needs. We love our remodel thanks to Amgad and team! read more

San Mina Engineering - Remodel After - Structural Engineers Near Me - Laguna Hills, California

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Professional, courteous, and thorough. I needed a soil memo which was required by the county building department for a home remodel project. Emad was able to make his assessment quickly and provided the documents with all the required permit information. Will definitely use Emad's services again in the future. read more

We recently both bought a house a few months ago that needed some structural work. This included removing several load-bearing walls and vaulting the living room ceiling to open up the space. We reached out to Amgad and within a few days he came out and was able to start the plan right away. It took him only 2 weeks for the plan! He also referred us to a trustworthy contractor that was able to execute the plan with no issues. From beginning to end, Amgad was very responsive. He would also work with our contractor to make sure our project went smoothly. We would definitely contact him again for any future project. read more

San Mina Engineering - Structural Engineers Near Me - Laguna Hills, California

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Amgard and his team were excellent to work with. They helped me out with my project in Huntington Harbor. Communication was clear and effortless, they fully understood my needs and vision, and the entire process was smooth. The final outcome exceeded my expectations. read more

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We had a neighbor who drove right into our house. Their insurance wanted to send out their own appraiser. I instead decided to hire an independent licensed structural engineer to review the damages. That was one of the most wise decisions. The senior structural engineer Amgrad was able to assess the situation and provided an estimate to fix the damage. He also followed through on providing details of the damage. He was very easy to work with. read more

Very professional, great service & everything was done on time. I would highly recommend this company. Our plans got smoothly through the city and contractors were able to follow them with no difficulty. We removed several retaining walls to create a more open plan. read more

San Mina Engineering - Structural Engineers Near Me - Laguna Hills, California

Thank you so much for all your knowledge and work you put into getting the approval of our wall with the city of San Juan. The wall was a long tedious job and would have been impossible without you. The other engineers we hired could not do what you did. Agmad. you are our knight in shining armor. read more

San Mina Engineering - Structural Engineers Near Me - Laguna Hills, California

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Mr. Benjamin performed pre-purchase structural evaluation of my 50 y/o home built on a hillside. He very thorough and patiently explained in layman's terms his findings which gave me confidence to purchase. After purchase, he provided a detailed structural plan for installing a window in an exterior wall which had never had a window. His plan was thorough and accurate.. accepted by City of Mission Viejo Building Dept which issued a permit for work without need for additional structural calculations.. his dedication to doing high quality work saved me $7K by not having to get more detailed structural plan with intricate calculations for installing the window. This also kept project moving forward instead of stalling for months waiting on new plan to be done and long City of Mission Viejo process.. THANK YOU AMGAD.. read more

Thank you very much Emad for calling me back and taking your time helping me/ talking me through my situation. When other companies made things extremely difficult, ,you went out for your way to ease things for us. I appreciate your knowledge and expertise in this field. I will definitely be passing word along and reaching out for your business in the near future. For anyone needing a soils engineering or perc test, I strongly suggest looking no further and using Emad. Nick read more

I reached out to San Mina Engineering for an opinion on a potential structural issue (related to a support pillar in the garage) prior to starting a major home renovation project. Emad responded quickly, had me send photos over, and then scheduled a time to come and do a more thorough inspection. We started in the garage and then walked the entire house where he proactively identified a "watch/monitor" issue with a second support pillar in the living room. We also discussed the steps that I would need to take - and how San Mina could support planning - for the removal of a load bearing wall in the kitchen. Explanations were clear and the recommendations he provided game me confidence to move forward with my renovation project. Thank you Emad! read more

Mr. Benjamin at San Mina Engineering was a great addition to the team working on my home addition and remodel. He was easy to work with, very responsive and had a fast turn around time. We built an office addition, opened up the kitchen to the family room, removed a lot of brick in the kitchen and expanded a bathroom. read more

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Amgad was extremely professional and was clear in how he would approach our project. When I told him about our time crunch, he was responsive and made sure to do exactly what we promised. We received 0 comments from the city and county about his work, and it expedited our project so that we are actually a month ahead of schedule. Thanks again! read more

San Mina Engineering - Structural Engineers Near Me - Laguna Hills, California

Emad was very responsive at providing an assessment on short notice and open to discussing, more than once, his findings with me thereafter. His written report and photographs were helpful and sent to me the following morning. Fairly priced, professional, and timely. read more

Where do I start?  This review is long overdue, but I wanted good "after pictures" to show the finished product.   I found SME Engineering on Yelp during a long arduous "to the studs" remodel on our second home in Palm Springs.  On this particular project, we wanted to basically blow out two whole walls along the back of our house and put in all sliders to create that open indoor-outdoor vacation vibe to our covered patio and pool area. This wasn't going to be an easy job to retrofit an older house with this new concept. I scoured Yelp for a structural engineer that was competent and still provided good value for the services rendered. After speaking with a few companies, I chose Amgad at SME due to his extremely responsive nature, the reviews from his former customers, he fit in our budget, and he was willing to help us find a General Contractor for the actual work (which was near impossible during all the covid remodels). Throughout the process, Amgad was cheery, helpful, insightful, and responsive to my every request. I had never worked with a structural engineer before, but Amgad made the process simple for me. In the middle of the construction, I would have nightmares that the house would collapse while the supports were holding the house up.  Despite every assurance being made to me that the process that was being taken was secure and stable, I remained nervous (that is just my nature). BUT what I came to find out towards the end of the project (from comments from the GC, the inspectors, and others in the trade), Amgad was very conservative with his approach to ensure safety if there was ever an earthquake, etc.  The footings were placed 10 ft down because of the type of soil/sand that PS is built on and the weight of our tiled roof.  Everyone I spoke to was blown away at how he took every precaution and now I feel very comfortable that nothing will happen to our new structure under any circumstances. Amgad was great ALL-AROUND to work with, but the qualities I appreciate most from him are his competency, his ability to get back to me almost immediately whenever I needed to ask him something, and his availability to be a continued resource to the GC who did the work (that he helped me secure) without charging extra to ensure that his plans were followed exactly.   Again, I was thrilled during and after working with Amgad and so I am more than happy to answer any questions you might have and I also have TONS of pictures throughout the process I am happy to show anyone if you want to private message me.   Thanks, Amgad! read more

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Great to work with Amgad and his team. They did a project for us to rebuild the retaining wall on our home. Everything went well.

Professional knowledgeable and on top of things! they take the time to listen and respond accordingly. Will definitely use them again

Communicated promptly via e-mail. Came out the next day and did a visual soil assessment. He sent the report a day later. I paid via Zelle. Emad was very knowledgeable and friendly. He answered all our questions and gave us honest advice. read more

Thanks to Amgad from San Mina Engineering for his expert guidance on our recent patio door remodel project. Amgad helped us with initial plans and engineering design for our project to replace four 8-10' patio doors and six windows including increasing the opening height for three of the doors. In addition, we found some dry rot issues in the structure after the project started where he quickly assisted in updating and issuing new plans for city approval to minimize the delay in construction. The end result came out better than expected so we now have full ceiling height door openings and much improved natural light into our home as you can see from the pictures. I would highly recommend San Mina Engineering and Amgad Benjamin for any home renovation projects or engineering services. We will definitely use them again in future for any projects. read more

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San Mina Engineering did a geotechnical (soil) testing and report for my project. Emad and the team were professional and delivered within the time frame specified. read more

I would highly recommend San Mina Engineering, Inc, Amgad very knowledgeable and consistent with the drawing to get it through with the City. Can't thanks them enough for their reasonable price and quickly solved my problem needs. read more

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Very responsive to calls and questions I have during a build. Their designs are always builder friendly and cost conscious when specifying hardware and materials. Aways a quick turn around from field measure to fully engineered plans. read more

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San Mina addressed the issues I raised in an amicable way. They were very flexible in addressing my concerns.....kudos to them.

Came to this company With an idea and they made it possible to build my dream garage. They stayed with me through the entire process. Went above and beyond to make my project successful. read more

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We wanted an inspection of our structure and foundation while still in the contingency period of escrow. Amgad came out next day and was an affordable option as a structural engineer. Quoted 25-50% less. We felt he would be less bias vs sending out a contractor who would be doing expensive foundation repairs. He let us know that there was settling but the damage had been done. That would leave us to fix the foundation cracks and wall cracks without further structural damage. Much cheaper that supporting the foundation by drilling/digging. He knew we needed the report soon so he got it to us next day. We were able to use it to get a price reduction as he provided estimated costs for the repairs. Overall good communication, honest reporting and affordable. read more

Amgad from Sam Mina Engineering bends over backwards for his clients and really takes your home or projects wellness like it's his own. I would highly suggest anyone to work with Amgad, he is fair, trustworthy and I consider him a friend. read more

Experienced, knowledgeable, reasonable fees, quick response time - Amgad / the San Mina Engineering team are so great to work with! Always professional, but never stiff - I cannot thank them enough for their amazing work! I highly recommend them / their services. read more

Been using San Mina for years on many different projects. Company is very responsive and a joy to work with. I always feel I get great value and service read more

We replaced a sliding door and adjacent window with an opening glass wall. San Mina engineering did an excellent job of working with the city of Mission Viejo to get the necessary engineering documents approved. The entire staff was responsive, pleasant and highly competent. Would use again if doing anything structural to the house. read more

I found Amgad thanks to Yelp. I contacted him and he promptly emailed and communicated with me over a weekend. I was in escrow and desperately needed a structural engineering survey since the property was on a hillside. I was under a tight contingency deadline and within a few days he was out at the property. His pricing on the survey was very reasonable. Thanks to his expertise he was able to show me the foundation issues on the property during his inspection. He detailed his findings in his survey report along with pictures. Thanks to him I was able to still buy the property but was able to get the seller to pay for the repairs. He saved me alot of headaches and money. Thanks for your help Amgad. I look forward to working with you again in the near future! read more

Amgad was absolutely amazing! I had an urgent need on a Friday for a structural engineer because the inspection contingency period for my client's escrow was only a few days. Amgad made room in his schedule and was able to get me a structural inspection immediately. He is an knowledgeable and considerate professional who has earned a place as my go to structural engineer for his knowledge, professionalism and consideration. read more

While we were in escrow on our home, a general inspector recommended we reach out to a specialist regarding certain structural and foundation issues he flagged during general inspection. I called a couple foundation repair companies and structural engineers, and Amgad and his receptionist were the most professional and provided the most prompt response. Amgad went to the house the next day and provided us a very thorough report that helped us negotiate for repair costs with the seller. He explained every detail to us and prioritized the repairs from "need to do immediately" to "preventative care to preserve the integrity of the house in the future." He is available through text which is great for follow up questions. I would highly recommend Amgad to any home buyer. He is knowledgeable, diligent and kind. Thank you Amgad! read more

I have had an extremely pleasant and professional experience with the two partners of the firm. I was in a time crunch for my inspection contingency window and they were very prompt in response via email for two days and willing to accommodate to help me meet my deadline. Although I did not use their services, I am very happy to recommend them based on their professionalism and willingness to help potential clients. Please consider speaking with Emad and his team! read more

As a realtor who represents both sellers and buyers, having a reliable, well-qualified structural engineering resource is critical for me. All too often, I am asked to advise clients on non-permitted remodels and additions when an expert's opinion is essential. Amgad has been my hands-down excellent resource for all of my structural engineering needs; he is quick to respond, detail-oriented and an excellent communicator, easily explaining the engineering details in a way my clients can understand. On top of it all, he truly tries his best to provide solutions when possible, and not only point out problems. I would never consider using anyone else but Amgad and San Mina Engineering, and I strongly recommend them every chance I get! read more

We found our dream home in Riverside and were devastated when we found out the highlight of the home--the french doors opening out onto our view and back decks--had serious structural issues. Fortunately, after reading the stellar reviews for San Mina Engineering on Yelp, we called Amgad Benjamin and are forever grateful we did. Amgad was always there to receive our calls or respond to emails or texts, and helped us understand the underlying problem behind the issue and how to address it in the most economical, yet structurally sound way. I will try to attach photos to this review so that you can see the before and after, which speaks for itself. Do not hesitate to use Amgad and his associates at San Mina--they are truly a Godsend in the midst of the chaos that is home renovation. read more

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Several months ago I discovered a severely cracked structural beam and post in my garage. I contacted my city building department and they recommended that I hire a structural engineer to evaluate the situation. After some searching, I came across Amgad Benjamin at San Mina Engineering, and immediately I knew I found the right one. Not only is Amgad earnest and kind, but he is a wonderful engineer. He came to my house with his assistant and survey the property, took measurements and photos, and within a few days he presented me with complete sets of plan and structural calculations so I can submit to the city for approval, All these for very nominal fees. Amgad also helped me find licensed and experienced contractor to do the job for me. I am so happy the construction is now complete! I cannot thank Amgad enough and I will recommend him to ANYONE who needs a structural engineer! read more

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Emad at San Mina Engineering did a great detailed job on my Soil Testing Project. He was prompt with communication, gave me an estimate with detailed scope and performed the job with great knowledge and professionalism! I would definitely recommend their services! read more

We had a great experience with Amgad. In the process of buying our first home, he was probably the most patient and communicative of the many different specialists with whom we dealt. These past few weeks we were in escrow on a beautiful, but structurally suspect 1928-built home in Floral Park, Santa Ana. Our general inspector was not able to assess the severity of the foundation issue and we are glad we decided to have Amgad conduct an inspection. He did a very thorough structural inspection and measured all the floors and documented every crack and evidence of strain in the home and helped us realize the exact cause of the significant sloping floor issues (a poorly constructed roof drainage system). He also helped us realize that the repairs would be too costly for what the seller was willing to give us in credits--we narrowly dodged a bullet, thanks to him. We felt 100% confident about our decision because of his assessment and are so relieved we decided to call in someone we really trusted to help us make such an important decision. Worth every penny. read more

This company is the best when it comes to structural and soil reports. They are very honest, straightforward, very knowledgeable, and excellent on time. Amgad and Emad treated us like a family. I'm definitely Using them on my next project read more

San Mina Engineering - Structural Engineers Near Me - Laguna Hills, California

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Amgad and company have been exceptional to work with on our extremely challenging wall removal project in Fullerton. I had a difficult time finding an engineering firm that was responsive to this type of residential project. San Mina Engineering was at my house 2 days after I contacted them, inspected the house in the dark with flashlights while i was out of town on business and moved quickly to prepare a design for permit. They met their committed dates to me for plan preparation. I was referred to Amgad from a co-worker that was also very pleased with their performance on a full kitchen/wall removal project in Aliso Viejo. San Mina Engineering was exceptional, responsiveness to text's, email and phone communication which allowed me to complete multiple corrections, revisions and inspection issues quickly. On one occasion, while at the City plan check, the Engineer working the counter would not approve the corrections without a clarification letter. Within minutes I had the letter by email and the second correction set approved. This was just in time to meet the inspection to get sign off to pour footings. They have been very realistic and competent in preparing design for existing conditions as well as unforeseen adjustments to the structural plan. I also appreciate their approach to working with my contractor's suggestions and at times pushing back to hold design. I have been in the commercial construction business for 29 years and work with a variety of structural engineering companies and I consider their expertise, professionalism, responsiveness and overall customer service to be at the top level of the engineering firms I know. I truly put them through the ringer, they worked into the night and weekends, they never missed a beat and came through big time! I would highly recommend this team. Thanks guys, we could not have tackled this without you. read more

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I highly recommend Amgad and Emad for a structural and/or geo inspection. We had them come and do structural finding summary for a house purchase. Their inspection finding is affordable and fair. Their are attentive to detail, provide a report and photos. I was on a time crunch because of escrow and I appreciate how quickly they were able to get to the home site and turn the report around! read more