Structural Engineering Proposal for a Residential Addition

Structural Engineering Proposal Template: Residential Addition (Word Format)

This Structural Engineering Proposal for a Residential Addition template is a Word document for engineers quoting the structural design and documentation of home additions, including rear extensions, second-story additions, garage conversions, and new load-bearing openings. It helps you present a clear scope before site work, calculations, and permit drawings begin.

Use this residential structural engineering proposal to bill for site visits, existing-condition assessment, framing design, structural calculations, signed and sealed drawings where applicable, and coordination with the architect or contractor. The format makes it easy to distinguish your base fee from optional services such as foundation investigation, construction-phase reviews, or revisions caused by architectural changes.

Why use this structural engineering proposal template?

• Define the design scope clearly. State whether your fee covers new beams, posts, footings, floor joists, roof framing, lateral bracing, or the full addition structure.
• Protect against scope creep. List exclusions such as geotechnical reports, survey work, architectural design, MEP coordination, permit fees, and redesign after client or contractor changes.
• Make fees easier to approve. Break down the proposal into recognizable deliverables, from the existing-structure review to stamped construction documents.
• Set expectations for permit submission. Identify the governing building code, required client information, permit drawing deliverables, and the limits of your responsibility.
• Create a professional record. Include assumptions, schedule, payment terms, and revision limits in one document that the homeowner, architect, and builder can reference.

What does the template include?

• Project and client information: Property address, homeowner or client name, project description, and the proposed addition area or structural alteration.
• Scope of structural services: The precise engineering tasks, such as field observation, structural analysis, member sizing, connection details, and foundation design.
• Existing-condition assumptions: Available plans, visible framing conditions, assumed soil bearing capacity, access limitations, and any concealed conditions that may require additional work.
• Structural deliverables: Structural plans, framing notes, beam and post schedules, details, calculations, and signed and sealed documents if required by the local authority having jurisdiction.
• Fee schedule: Lump-sum design fees, hourly rates for extra services, reimbursable expenses, and optional line items for additional site visits or construction support.
• Project schedule: Expected milestones for the field visit, preliminary review, drawing issue, and final permit set, subject to receipt of complete architectural information.
• Exclusions and client responsibilities: Items not included in the proposal, plus the documents, access, approvals, and timely decisions required from the client.
• Terms and authorization: Payment schedule, revision policy, liability limitations, proposal validity period, and signature lines for acceptance.

How much should you charge for residential addition structural engineering?

Structural engineering fees vary with the addition size, complexity of the existing house, local permit requirements, seismic or wind design category, and whether the scope includes sealed plans. Use these figures as market-based starting points to adjust, not fixed price rules.

• Site visit and existing framing assessment: typically $450 to $1,200 per visit, especially when opening walls or evaluating existing floor and roof framing.
• Single beam, header, or load-bearing wall modification: commonly $1,200 to $2,500 for investigation, calculations, and a limited structural detail package.
• Small one-story residential addition: often $2,500 to $5,500 for foundation, floor, wall, and roof framing design with permit-ready structural sheets.
• Second-story addition or major remodel: generally $5,000 to $12,000 or more, reflecting the analysis of the existing structure, load paths, lateral system, and foundation upgrades.
• Hourly additional services: commonly billed at $175 to $300 per hour for redesign, coordination meetings, contractor RFIs, or work outside the agreed scope.
• Construction-phase site observations: often quoted at $600 to $1,200 per visit, plus travel where appropriate.

A fixed fee works well when architectural plans and existing-condition information are reliable. For renovation work with uncertain framing or concealed damage, include an hourly allowance or clearly priced contingency services.

Who is this template for?

• Licensed structural engineers preparing proposals for homeowners planning an addition.
• Civil or structural engineering firms supporting architects on residential renovation projects.
• Engineers designing structural alterations for general contractors and design-build companies.
• Professionals quoting work for rear extensions, attic conversions, garage additions, second-floor additions, and basement structural modifications.
• Engineers who need a Word-format proposal for projects requiring permit drawings, calculations, and professional sealing.

Frequently asked questions

Should a structural engineering proposal include stamped drawings?

It should state whether signed and sealed drawings are included in the base fee. Requirements differ by jurisdiction and project type, so identify the intended permit authority and specify that sealing is limited to the structural documents prepared under your responsible charge.

What information should I obtain before sending the proposal?

Request architectural plans, the property address, photos, the proposed addition dimensions, and any available original drawings. For major alterations, clarify whether a survey, geotechnical information, or prior inspection reports are available, since missing information can affect both scope and pricing.

How many revisions should be included in the fee?

Include a defined number of coordinated design revisions, such as one revision after the initial structural layout. State that changes to the addition footprint, roof geometry, floor layout, loads, or architectural plans after approval are billed as additional services.

Should construction site visits be included in the structural engineering fee?

Include them only when the project or local requirements justify them. A separate optional fee is often clearer, because construction timing, concealed conditions, and contractor requests are difficult to predict at the proposal stage.