Whatever the scale of your building project, engineering consultants can help make sure every stage of planning and development is handled with care. Lending their advanced expertise, consulting structural engineers can address issues of functionality, sustainability, safety, efficiency, and design. Since these professionals touch on a comprehensive range of matters, it’s critical to make sure you choose the best person for your needs. By asking the following questions, you can narrow your search and find the skilled resources necessary for successful and cost-effective construction.

3 Questions to Ask When Hiring a Structural Engineering Consultant

What Specific Qualifications Do You Have?

Years of experience, licensing, and degrees are all good criteria to assess when choosing a reliable consultant. However, as you dive deeper into your search, you’ll need to get specifics on how their experience can help serve your specific project.

For example, if you are building around rivers or streams, you’ll want to work with a consulting structural engineer who has considerable experience with bridges, culverts, and other water-related infrastructure. By contrast, if you’re planning an industrial waste site, you’ll want to make sure your consultant has the resources and knowledge necessary to plan compliant hazardous containment structures.

How Do You Approach the Design & Work Processes?

Every consultant works differently, so it’s important to get a full understanding of how they develop projects from the start. If you’re in the development phase, you might want to ask about their land surveying and aerial imaging resources. For design, find out what programs they use and how they will address changes and adjustments to blueprints. If you are making changes to an existing site, understand what areas they will assess during a structural inspection.  

Where Can I See Examples of Previous Work?

A good engineering consultant will have a solid portfolio of previous projects that can help illustrate what they can do for your build. Find out what projects best match the challenges of your plans and if you can view them in person. You might also ask for references so that you can speak with someone who has consulted with the specialist before.

Serving the central Susquehanna Valley for nearly 50 years, Mid-Penn Engineering is an exceptional resource for any Lewisburg, PA, builder needing a reliable consultant. Possessing in-depth experience with a wide range of industrial, municipal, and building system projects, this team of consulting structural engineers can confidently address every element of new construction. Visit their website to view previous work, or call (570) 524-2214 to set up a consultation appointment.