Structural Engineers for Extensions & Renovations in Melbourne
Permit-ready structural drawings and calculations for extensions, renovations, wall removals, second storeys and knockdown rebuilds, from a single beam to a whole house.
We reply to every enquiry within a few business hours.
★ 5.0 on Google
10% price-match guarantee
Fixed price before we start
Licensed & insured engineers
Certified By
In short: If you're extending, renovating or removing a wall in Victoria, your building surveyor will need structural drawings and calculations before issuing a permit. We prepare them for homes across Greater Melbourne, to Australian Standards and your council's requirements. Send your plans or photos and we'll reply with a fixed price, usually within a few business hours.
We prepare residential structural drawings and calculations for homes across Melbourne, from a single beam over a new opening to full documentation for a knockdown rebuild. We work from your architect's or draftsperson's plans, or from a description and photos if you're still planning.
Melbourne's reactive clay soils matter here too: new footings for an extension have to suit the site's soil classification and work alongside the existing ones, or the old and new parts of the house can move differently.
What's included
Structural drawings and engineering calculations for your building permit
Ground floor extensions, including new footings and slabs
Upper floor additions, including assessment of existing footings and frame
Knockdown and rebuild structural design from slab to roof
Decks, verandahs and carports that need engineering
Who this is for
Homeowners planning an extension, renovation or second storey, owner-builders, and builders, architects and draftspeople who need structural engineering for a residential permit.
When do you need a structural engineer for a renovation?
Whenever the work changes how loads travel through the house: removing or moving a load-bearing wall, adding a storey, extending with new footings, enlarging openings, or adding heavy items on an upper floor. Your building surveyor will need engineering for these before issuing a permit.
Can your house take a second storey?
Often, but it has to be checked. Existing footings and walls were designed for a single storey, so an upper floor addition usually needs an assessment of the footings and frame, and sometimes new footings, posts or steel to carry the extra loads.
We look at the existing structure early, so you know what's involved before the design is finalised.
Removing a load-bearing wall
Opening up a kitchen or living area usually means replacing a wall with a beam. An engineer works out what the wall supports and designs the beam, posts and footings to carry it. See load-bearing wall removal for how it works.
Common mistakes to avoid
Assuming existing footings can take a second storey
Removing walls before the engineering and permit are in place
Finalising the floor plan before checking where beams and posts must go
Ignoring the site's soil classification for new footings
Getting started
What we need from you, and what you'll receive
What we need from you
Architectural or concept drawings, or a sketch and description
Photos of the existing house
The property address
What you want to change: walls, openings, additions
Any request from your building surveyor
What you'll receive
Structural drawings and calculations for your building permit
Beam, post and footing sizes
Footing and frame assessment for additions
Documents in the format your building surveyor expects
Answers to your builder's or surveyor's questions
How it works
From enquiry to finished documents in four steps
1
Send your plans
Architectural or concept drawings, or just a description of the job and some photos.
2
Fixed-price quote
We scope the job and confirm a price and delivery date before we start.
3
Drawings & calculations
Structural drawings and supporting calculations, checked before they leave our office.
4
Permit-ready documents
Delivered in the format your building surveyor and council expect.
What affects the cost of structural drawings?
Every job is quoted individually. The main factors are:
The size and complexity of the work
How many structural changes are involved: beams, posts, footings
Whether the existing footings and frame need assessing
Whether architectural drawings already exist
Soil and site conditions
Whether a site visit is needed
How quoting works
Send photos or plans through the form, or call us on 03 7048 4006. We reply within a few business hours (same business day, or the next business day at the latest) with a fixed price and a delivery date.
Fixed price before we start. What we quote is what you pay, with no variations appearing at invoice time.
10% price-match guarantee. Found a lower quote for the same scope? We'll match it and take 10% off.
No obligation. Ask a question or get a quote; you decide whether to go ahead.
Client reviews
What our clients say
We hold a 5.0 rating on Google. Here's a sample — you can read every review on our Google Business Profile.
★★★★★
“It was a pleasure dealing with these guys, nothing was too much trouble and the job was completed quicker than I thought possible with building surveyors being so busy nowadays”
GGraeme Black Google review
★★★★★
“Great experience working with Prem and the team! They conducted a thorough structural inspection for our property and provided prompt, professional, and detailed recommendations. Their communication was excellent throughout, and they were quick to respond to all our queries and RFIs. Highly recommend their structural engineering services!”
Almost always. Extensions involve new footings, framing and often changes to the existing structure, and your building surveyor will need structural drawings and calculations before issuing a permit.
Do I need an engineer to remove a load-bearing wall?
Yes. A registered structural engineer needs to design the replacement beam and its supports, and your building surveyor will require stamped drawings and calculations before issuing a permit.
How much does residential structural design cost?
It depends on scope: a single beam check costs far less than full drawings for a two-storey extension. We quote a fixed price before we start, and match any lower quote for the same scope with an extra 10% off.
Can you work from my architect's plans?
Yes. Send us the architectural or concept plans and we'll provide the structural drawings and calculations needed for your building permit.
How long do structural drawings take?
It depends on the size of the job. We confirm a delivery date with your fixed-price quote, before any work starts.
Do you liaise with my builder and building surveyor?
Yes. We'll deal directly with your builder, architect, draftsperson or surveyor so you're not stuck relaying technical questions.
