Residential
Structural Engineer
If your renovation, addition, or real estate transaction requires a structural engineer, you need two things: a clear answer on what the project actually requires, and drawings that hold up to building department review.
Third Rock Engineering handles both for homeowners, contractors, and architects working on residential projects across Massachusetts.
Third Rock Engineering brings 20+ years of field and design experience as a licensed Professional Engineering firm. Residential work ranges from load-bearing wall assessments and beam sizing to stamped drawings for permitting and pre-purchase structural inspections.
Free Initial Consultation
A short phone call to discuss your project. No cost, no obligation.
Residential Structural Engineering Services
Eight residential focus areas, all delivered by a licensed Massachusetts P.E. with 20+ years of field experience.
WALL REMOVAL
Load-Bearing Wall Removal
We assess existing framing and load paths on-site before running a single calculation. Beam sizing, post design, and connection details are stamped and submitted to meet your municipality’s requirements.
FOUNDATIONS
Foundation Design and Inspection
New foundation design for additions and accessory structures, plus evaluation of existing foundations for renovations, remodels, and pre-purchase decisions. If something is wrong, you get a straight answer on what it is and what it takes to fix.
DECKS
Deck and Porch Framing Design
Code-compliant framing design that accounts for local snow loads, ledger attachment, and footing depth requirements. Drawings are built to pass inspection the first time.
RETAINING WALLS
Retaining Wall Design
Structural analysis and design for retaining walls that address grading, drainage, and lateral load requirements under Massachusetts State Building Code (780 CMR) and local amendments.
POOLS
In-Ground Pool Reinforcing Design
Massachusetts building departments require structural drawings for most in-ground pool installations. Third Rock Engineering prepares them permit-ready from the first submission.
ADDITIONS
Home Addition and Remodel Structural Evaluations
When a renovation changes load paths or affects framing, we evaluate the existing system and design accordingly.
INSPECTIONS
Pre-Purchase Structural Inspections
A P.E. (Licensed Professional Engineer) assessment before closing identifies structural issues before they become your problem.
REPORTS
Engineer Letters and Structural Reports
Written reports and engineer letters for permit applications, real estate transactions, and building department requests requiring a P.E. sign-off.
Start your project with confidence.
Get senior-level structural engineering, permit-ready plans, and straightforward answers tailored to your property and goals.
Why Work With Third Rock Engineering
You Work Directly With Andrew
No account managers, no junior staff producing your drawings. A licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) leads every site visit, every calculation, and every submission.
Designs Reflect Real Site Conditions
Existing framing, soil conditions, load paths, and local code requirements shape every design. Designs that meet theoretical minimums but create headaches on-site are not the deliverable.
MetroWest Permitting Knowledge from 20+ Years of Engineering
Our firm brings more than 20 years of structural engineering experience to every submission. We know how Massachusetts building departments operate and prepare drawings to meet local requirements on the first pass.
Transparent Pricing
Engineering fees reflect the actual project scope, complexity, permitting requirements, and coordination needs. Every engagement starts with a written agreement that defines deliverables, hours, and costs before work begins.
Building Department Support Is Part of the Engagement
Review comments and revision requests are handled as part of the project, with scope and fees defined upfront in the Engineering Services Agreement.
Structural engineering solutions built for the real world.
We combine over 20 years of field and design experience to create safe, efficient, and buildable plans.
About
Meet Andrew Hruby, P.E.
Andrew has spent 20+ years engineering residential renovations, additions, and pre-purchase inspections across Massachusetts MetroWest. He’s a licensed Professional Engineer in the Commonwealth, a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, and carries professional liability (E&O) insurance.
When you work with Third Rock Engineering, you work directly with Andrew from that first call through permitting, which means faster answers, practical decisions, and no surprises mid-project.
What Clients Say
Real projects. Real outcomes.
From sagging 1920s floors to six-figure platform redesigns that came in at half the estimate.
How a Third Rock Engineering Project Works
Free Initial Phone Call
Call 617-507-9776 or submit the contact form. Third Rock Engineering responds within one business day. Photos and existing plans help move the first call faster.
On-Site Consultation
We spend one focused hour on-site reviewing existing conditions, framing, foundations, and any structural elements relevant to your project. You leave with a professional assessment and a clear path forward.
Proposal and Engineering Services Agreement
If engineering documents are needed, a project-specific proposal covers scope, estimated hours, deliverables, and timeline. A written agreement defines everything before work begins.
Engineering, Deliverables, and Building Department Support
P.E.-stamped drawings, structural calculations, and reports prepared to your town’s submission requirements, so they’re permit-ready on the first submission. Review comments and revision requests are handled as part of the engagement.
What Massachusetts Homeowners Should Understand
Before Starting
Three things that trip up most residential projects before they start.
Each Town Enforces Massachusetts State Building Code (780 CMR) Differently
Framingham, Wellesley, and Natick each handle submissions differently. Required documentation, acceptable formats, and review timelines vary by municipality. Knowing those differences before submitting prevents delays.
Older Homes Require Closer Attention
Many Massachusetts MetroWest homes are old. That means framing, foundations, and load paths that don’t match what a template design assumes. Every Third Rock Engineering project is designed around what is actually on site.
Involving an Engineer Late Costs More
When engineering comes in after plans are finalized or construction has started, the result is redesign fees, permit revisions, and contractor change orders. Early involvement eliminates most of that.
From structural questions to stamped drawings, we can help.
Work directly with a licensed Massachusetts engineer who understands site conditions, permitting, and constructability.
Service Area
Serving MetroWest & Central Massachusetts
Based in Hopkinton, Third Rock Engineering provides structural and civil services across the region. We regularly partner with homeowners and contractors in communities such as Framingham, Newton, Natick, Weston, Wellesley, and Franklin, along with over 30 other towns throughout MetroWest and the Blackstone Valley.
Don't see your town? We serve 37 communities across MetroWest and the Blackstone Valley. View the full service area →
On-Site Consultation with a Licensed P.E.
One hour on-site with a licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.). We evaluate existing framing, foundation, and site conditions in person, give you engineering insight on feasibility and code, and leave you with a defined plan. Flat fee, payable prior to the visit.
- Project conversation: goals, scope, timeline
- On-site evaluation of existing conditions
- Professional engineering insight on feasibility and code
- Defined next steps and deliverable options
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need stamped drawings to remove a load-bearing wall in Massachusetts?
Yes. Most Massachusetts building departments require P.E.-stamped drawings for load-bearing wall removals under Massachusetts State Building Code (780 CMR), and submissions without them are typically rejected.
How do I know if my wall is load-bearing?
You usually cannot tell without a structural assessment. We review the framing and load paths on-site and give you a definitive answer.
Are your drawings prepared for my specific town?
Yes. Every set is prepared from scratch to meet your municipality’s submission requirements.
What does the $295 in-person consultation include?
One hour on-site with a licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.). We review existing conditions and provide a professional assessment with defined next steps.
How long does a residential structural engineering project take?
Most projects complete within two to three weeks from first site visit to stamped drawings. Complex scopes or multi-party coordination can take longer. Timelines are defined in the written proposal before work begins.
Do I need a Massachusetts-licensed engineer?
Yes. Stamped submissions in Massachusetts must be sealed by a Professional Engineer licensed in the Commonwealth. Out-of-state engineers cannot stamp Massachusetts submissions. Using a locally licensed engineer from the start avoids the most common cause of permit delays.
