Philadelphia Structural Engineer & Special Inspections

Structural Engineering & Design Services

We provide full-service structural design and forensic evaluations for residential, commercial, and multi-family properties. Viking Engineers moves far beyond basic beam sizing; our deep field experience is instrumental in delivering robust designs that are highly economical for contractors. By knowing the precise ins and outs of site conditions—from excavation hazards to steel integration—we frequently save clients tens of thousands of dollars on construction costs while increasing structural integrity.

• Residential & Commercial Design: Comprehensive framing design utilizing wood, structural steel, reinforced concrete, and light gauge metal.
• Wall Removals & Beam Sizing: Engineering LVL and wide-flange steel beams for open-concept renovations, including beam pocket installations in shared multi-wythe party walls.
• Comprehensive Shoring & Support: Zero-settlement shoring design to safely remove existing footings and seamlessly tie into new structural steel systems.
• Foundation & Retaining Wall Engineering: Field verifications via test pits, basement slab lowering design, and load-bearing capacity assessments.
• Specialized Framing: Attic and gable truss modifications, roof load analysis, and sloped floor diagnostics.
• Multi-Family & Mid-Rise Structural Design: Complete engineered structural plans for new construction, mixed-use developments, and building conversions, including gravity framing and lateral load resisting systems.

Philadelphia Underpinning: The Viking Engineers Method

In Philadelphia, underpinning sequences typically involve excavating and pouring concrete in 3-foot to 4-foot sections, following a strict A-B-C-D sequence schedule. While this standard sequential approach is acceptable and widely used, the findings of Viking Engineers suggest that traditional finishing techniques are often not ideal when dealing with historic stone foundation walls.

The Problem with Traditional Dry Pack on Stone Foundations

The standard industry practice is to hold the new concrete pour low and fill the remaining gap tightly with "dry pack" grout. However, over the last century, the original limestone mortar between Philadelphia's rubble stone walls has frequently degraded and turned to sand. During excavation, it is highly common for loose foundation stones to drop. If a stone drops into the void, traditional dry pack cannot effectively flow around the obstruction, leaving dangerous voids and compromising the bearing capacity of the wall.

Our 100% Success Rate Methodology

Because we operate as both the structural engineers and the licensed Special Inspectors on site, we have developed a superior approach to deep foundation underpinning. Instead of relying on dry pack under unpredictable stone profiles, Viking Engineers utilizes advanced concrete consolidation techniques and rapid cure times to achieve full bearing.

The Result: Our method ensures that the concrete fully encompasses any dropped stones and entirely fills the irregular voids of the historic foundation. When our contractors strictly follow these sequence directives, our underpinning methodology has a 100% success rate. Our specific sequencing and consolidation techniques have never been the direct cause of any structural problems. It works every time.

Philadelphia Starbolts & Masonry Facade Remediation

What is a starbolt? A starbolt (or star anchor) is a heavy-duty mechanical structural tie used to arrest lateral movement and stabilize bowing, bulging, or failing brick facades on masonry structures, commonly found on city rowhomes.

The Physics of a Bowing Philadelphia Wall

Historically, Philadelphia masonry buildings never tied the floor system into the masonry walls—the joists simply rested in pockets. Over time, as joists slip, rot, and mortar crumbles, the walls rotate outward. A starbolt provides the continuity tie the building always wanted. By bolting the exterior masonry directly into the floor diaphragm, it requires surprisingly little resistance—often just 2% of the gravity load—to permanently halt a wall from bowing.

Can starbolts stabilize large historic buildings like churches?

Yes. While we routinely design standard starbolt layouts for 2- or 3-story residential rowhomes, the exact same simple starbolt concept can be scaled in size to stabilize massive structures. Tall, heavy masonry walls—such as those found on historic churches—can sustain substantial compromise for various reasons, including the loss of foundation stabilization due to underground water. By scaling up the size of the anchors and steel channels, we apply this proven concept to safely arrest extreme wall rotation. This scaled approach provides incredible structural results at a very reasonable price, effectively saving buildings that might otherwise require total wall reconstruction.

5-Year Facade Inspections

During mandatory Philadelphia 5-Year Facade Inspections, unbraced masonry walls acting as wind traps are a frequent failure point. We provide the exact structural remediation design required by L&I, including cracked masonry diagnostics, lateral support design, and brick repointing structural alternatives.

Make-Safe Engineering & L&I Unsafe Structure Resolution

How do I clear an Unsafe or Imminently Dangerous L&I violation in Philadelphia?

To resolve an unsafe structure citation from the Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I), property owners must submit a Make-Safe Engineering Survey. Viking Engineers specializes in rapid structural evaluations to clear L&I violations. We provide comprehensive make-safe remediation plans, including temporary shoring design, framing reconstruction, and stabilization for compromised masonry, fire damage, and bulging walls. Our structural engineers coordinate the necessary documentation and repair directives to make the structure safe and lift the city violation.

We routinely resolve L&I Unsafe Violations, providing rapid engineering response for the most common Philadelphia property failures, including:

• Fire damage structural evaluation and floor framing remediation.
• Bowing, cracking, and failing masonry walls.
• Settling front porches and sagging rear rowhome extensions lacking proper footings.
• Failing foundation remediation and underpinning corrections.