Answers from the engineers

You generally need a structural engineer whenever work changes how loads are carried through a building. That includes removing or altering walls, adding a storey or extension, installing heavy equipment or solar panels, building retaining walls, decks, platforms or new footings, or when there are signs of distress such as cracking or movement.

Your certifier, council or builder will often ask for engineer-designed drawings or a structural certificate. If you're unsure, send us a short description and a few photos and we'll tell you whether engineering is needed.

We're based in Sydney's North Shore and work across Sydney and the Central Coast, including Newcastle, the Hunter and Southern Highlands. Many design and assessment projects can be completed from drawings and photos, so we also take on work across NSW and interstate. Site inspections outside our core area may attract a travel allowance, which we'll state clearly in your fee proposal.

Use our fee proposal form or email info@tautek.com.au. To quote accurately, it helps to include:

• The site address
• Architectural or design drawings, if you have them
• Photos of the existing structure or area of concern
• Any existing structural drawings or geotechnical report
• Your timeframe and who will be building the work

We aim to issue fee proposals within 48 hours.

Every structure is different, so fees depend on what the job actually involves once we understand the site. We provide a fixed fee wherever the scope is clear, so you know the cost up front. What drives the fee for common jobs:

• Beam or wall removal: Can be as simple as sizing a single new beam, or may also need new posts or columns, additional wall supports, new footings, or fixes to underlying issues found once the wall is opened up. A simple beam skech for a wall opening would be <$1000 but additional framing and foundations design could lift that price up to a $1000-$3000 range. Every job is different and we are happy to explain the process every time.
• Rooftop solar assessment: Straightforward where structural drawings exist and the roof has spare capacity. Older buildings may need a site measure-up, detailed analysis of purlins and connections, or a strengthening design which can attract a longer process and higher fees. Typical structural review for solar installation where full drawings exist will be sub $2000 with additional fees applying for site inspections, measure up, mark ups, craning review etc.
• Extensions and additions: Depends on size, number of storeys, soil conditions, and whether existing walls and footings can carry the new loads or need strengthening. Our engineers will assess each project and step you through what needs to be completed.
• Site inspections and reports: A single visual inspection and short letter costs far less than a detailed investigation with measurements, testing and a full report.

Send us your drawings and a few photos and we'll confirm the scope and a fixed fee within 48 hours. Larger commercial and industrial projects are quoted individually.

Small residential items such as beam designs or solar assessments are typically completed within 5 business days of receiving all information. Extensions can typically take 2-3 weeks depending on the complexity (sometimes longer for architectural co-ordination), new homes varying from scope limited to the in-ground foundations and concrete slabs which could be provided within 2 weeks, through to large complex architectural homes which can take 1-2 months to coordinate and design to get the perfect result. Larger commercial or industrial projects are scheduled to suit your program. If you have an urgent deadline, tell us when you request a quote and we'll confirm what we can achieve.

Yes. Our engineers are Chartered Professional Engineers (CPEng) with Engineers Australia, listed on the National Engineering Register (NER). We also have RPEQ certification for Queensland design and Form 15 and Form 12 submission. Between them, our principals bring nearly 20 years' experience delivering commercial, industrial and residential projects with leading engineering consultancies. We currently do not have DBP Registration in NSW which is required for Class 2 Residential Apartment buildings however if you contact us with your queries we can help you understand what is needed and recommend someone who can help.

Yes. Tautek holds current professional indemnity and public liability insurance. Certificates of currency are available on request for prequalification, panels and builder onboarding.

Our drawings, calculations and certificates are prepared to the National Construction Code and relevant Australian Standards (including AS/NZS 1170, AS 3600, AS 4100, AS 4600, AS 1720 and AS 2870), and are signed by a qualified engineer. They're prepared specifically to meet the requirements of certifiers for Construction Certificates, Complying Development Certificates and Occupation Certificates.

Yes. We carry out structural inspections at key stages, such as footing excavations, reinforcement before concrete pours, and steel and timber framing. After an inspection we issue a certificate confirming the work complies with our design. Certifiers usually require these inspections, so we recommend booking them early in the build program.

In most cases, yes. The loads the wall carries need to be transferred to a new beam, with posts and footings sized to carry them safely to the ground. We design the beam (steel, timber or engineered timber), its supports and guidance for any temporary propping required, and provide drawings and a certificate for your builder and certifier.

Clues include walls running perpendicular to ceiling joists, walls directly below roof struts or upper-floor walls, and walls near the centre of the house. However, appearances can be misleading, especially in renovated homes. We recommend that a qualified structural engineer is always engaged to complete a short site inspection or a review of photos of the space above. Never remove a wall without checking first.

Yes. We provide complete structural design for residential framing, footings, slabs, steel beams and columns, and retaining walls. For first-floor additions, we first assess whether the existing walls and footings can carry the new loads, then design any strengthening required.

Unforunately apartment blocks are classified as Class 2 buildings in NSW and this requires an additional registration under the Design and Building Practitioners Act. It may be possible to remove the wall however these now come with a greater requirement for design and documentation, and additional registration for builders to complete the work. We are currently not DBP Registered as engineers however if you contact us we can review the works and guide you through the process. We can recommend you to someone who can help if required.

We design industrial portal frame buildings, braced steel frames for all project sizes, mezzanines, access platforms, walkways, pedestrian bridges, canopies and essentially any other structural steel frames. We can also assess existing steel buildings for adequacy, for example when adding cranes, plant, roof-mounted equipment or new openings.

Finite element analysis (FEA) models a steel connection in detail to check stresses in plates, welds and bolts. It's used for non-standard or heavily loaded connections where standard design tables don't apply, such as complex geometry, architectural feature connections, or connections to existing members. It often produces lighter, more economical connections than conservative hand methods. In most cases this is completed as part of the building design by us at no additional cost wherever it is required.

Yes. We regularly assess existing buildings for new plant, mechanical units, racking, signage, solar arrays and changes of use. We review available drawings (or measure on site where none exist), analyse the structure, and either certify it as adequate or design the strengthening needed. In cases where there are existing structural drawings, this is a simple process and can be completed as a desktop review. Where there are no drawings, the level of review and difficulty goes up especially with existing concrete slabs. Contact us with your requirments and we can discuss any potential sticking points.

Yes. We inspect the cracking, identify the likely cause (such as shrinkage, foundation movement, overloading or reinforcement corrosion) and assess whether it's structurally significant. You'll receive a clear report explaining the findings and recommending monitoring, repairs or strengthening as needed.

Often, yes. Depending on the situation, strengthening can use bonded carbon-fibre (FRP) sheets or strips, additional steel members, or concrete enlargement. Carbon fibre is lightweight, adds almost no thickness and can be installed with minimal disruption however is typically only suitable where minor strength upgrade is required. We design the strengthening and provide the specification and installation methodology for the contractor.

Only possible after an engineering assessment. Cutting a post-tensioned tendon can be dangerous and may significantly weaken the slab. We review the PT drawings and will require GPR scanning on site by others to locate tendons, and then can confirm a safe position for the penetration, or design strengthening where needed.Often the penetrations need to be shifted slightly to allow the core to not damage internal structural elements such as reinforcement or PT.

For new homes, extensions and most commercial projects, yes. Site classification under AS 2870, or the soil bearing capacity, determines the footing type and size. If you don't have a report, we can recommend a geotechnical engineer. For minor works we can sometimes design to conservative assumptions, which we'll discuss with you.

We design pad and strip footings, raft slabs, slabs on ground for residential, industrial and commercial pavements, bored piles and loads for screw piles. We also design foundations for light poles, substations, kiosks and miscellaneous structures, working with the manufacturer's specifications and requirements. Screw piles are typically a design and construct item where we can provide the loads and a specialist contractor completes the rest.

Yes. We design architectural exposed timber trusses, long-span glulam roof beams and feature elements, including concealed and exposed steel plate connection details that suit the architectural intent.

We can check this for you. Common examples include changing to a heavier roof, adding a spa or water tank, installing solar panels or air-conditioning units, or converting roof space to storage. We assess the existing framing and either confirm it's adequate or specify simple strengthening.

Contrary to the typical "If it is lighter then no assessment is required", changing from an older style tiled roof to a lightweight Colorbond sheet roof comes with additional issues. The roof framing typically relied on the weight of the tiles to hold it down, and changing this for sheeting can have uplift issues. Commonly additional fixings and tie downs are required. If you are looking to change your roof, we can inspect and assist or at least ensure that your contractor has considered and addressed these issues.

For commercial and industrial roofs, and for larger residential systems, a structural assessment is commonly required by the installer, building owner, insurer or certifier. It confirms the roof structure can carry the added weight and wind loads from the panels and racking. We provide a clear certification letter or report you can include in your project documentation.

Yes. We carry out site measurement and verification of the roof framing, purlins and connections, then use that to assess the structure. This is common for older commercial and industrial buildings however comes with the obvious uplift in price for these works.

Yes. We can design and certify foundations for ground-mount systems, including bored piers, screw piles and ballasted options, based on site conditions and the mounting system manufacturer's requirements. We note that these are commonly part of the manufacturers specifications and come pre-certified for certain soil types. We can review the documentation and let you know if you are required to get an additional structural design completed.

Yes. We can calculate site-specific wind loads to AS/NZS 1170.2 and check fixing spacing and capacity for the rail system. This is limited to assessment against pre-certified span tables and fixing locations which are provided by the manufacturer (typically Schletter or Clenergy). We provide a calculation report suitable for installers and certifiers. We can also prepare standard reports for installers who need them regularly. Ask us about volume pricing.

Pedestal and DC fast chargers, as well as associated switchboards and transformers, usually need a designed footing to resist overturning, vehicle impact considerations and wind loads, especially in public or commercial car parks. We design and certify these foundations in line with the charger manufacturer's specifications, and can assess existing slabs or car park structures where chargers are mounted. Cable runs in existing buildings, including penetrations, may aslo need to be assessed.

Yes. We design foundations for light poles, substations, Ausgrid kiosks and other electrical infrastructure, working with the manufacturer's loads and network operator requirements, and provide certification for construction. Typically light pole manufacturers and suppliers will provide base pole reactions for use in our calculations.

Depending on your scope, deliverables can include signed structural drawings, a structural calculation package, a design certificate, and inspection certificates during construction. For assessments, you'll receive a written report with findings and recommendations. Everything is issued in PDF, however in some cases we can provide CAD or Revit files for coordination.

Yes. Much of our work is for architects, building designers, builders and developers. We coordinate with the design team, attend design meetings and site visits, respond quickly to RFIs, and provide value-engineering advice to keep structures buildable and cost-effective.

For small jobs there's no deposit, so we can get started straight away. Once you're happy with the design, we invoice in full, and final certificates are issued when payment is received. Larger projects are invoiced monthly based on the percentage of work completed. All invoices are on 14-day payment terms, and your fee proposal sets out the terms clearly before any work starts.