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Serving Pittsburgh & Southwestern PA
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Gary J Miller Structural Engineering Services
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Unbiased Structural Engineering Answers

Structural engineer assessing a basement beam, column and foundation wall
Horizontal crack in a concrete block foundation wall

The Company Quoting the Repair Shouldn’t Be the One Deciding You Need It

If a foundation repair company tells you that you need $18,000 of work, they’re the ones who get paid for that work. That doesn’t make them wrong. It does mean you’re taking a major financial decision on the word of the person selling it.

Gary doesn’t sell repairs. He’s a licensed professional engineer, and his only product is his professional opinion about the actual condition of your foundation. Sometimes that means confirming the repair is necessary and explaining exactly what needs to be done. Sometimes it means telling you the crack you’ve been staring at for six months isn’t structural. Across more than 3,000 inspections, fewer than 5% of the homes he looked at turned out to need structural repair at all.

Either way, you’ll know before you sign anything.

Request an Evaluation More about second opinions on foundation repairs →
Professional credentialsLicensed PE in PA, NY and OH · Chartered Engineer in the UK
Recognized documentationSealed and signed reports accepted by inspectors, banks, insurers and courts
Local serviceServing Pittsburgh and communities throughout Southwestern PA
Independent by designNo affiliation with any foundation repair company

What Our Customers Say

A foundation company quoted us $16,000 for basement walls. Called Gary for a second opinion—he proved the cracks were purely cosmetic settlement. Saved us thousands.
David M.Mt. Lebanon
Our mortgage company completely halted our closing over a sloping floor issue. Gary did the inspection, issued a sealed Structural Adequacy Report the next morning, and got our loan instantly unstuck.
Sarah L.Shadyside
Unbiased, professional, and thorough. He has zero skin in the game, which gave us absolute peace of mind before buying an older home.
James R.Cranberry Township

Our Services

Beyond foundations: Our complete engineering services

Independent evaluations before you buy, build, repair or renovate. Gary J Miller, PE tells you what the structure actually needs, with no repair systems to sell.

Get Your Unbiased Inspection (412) 505-3235

Load-Bearing Wall Removals

Finished living and dining rooms before the load-bearing wall is removed
The same living and dining rooms during load-bearing wall removal, with the structural beam and framing exposed

Open Up Your Home — Safely and Correctly

Removing a load-bearing wall can dramatically improve the layout of a home, creating larger kitchens, open living areas, and better connections between rooms.

Before a structural wall is removed, the loads it supports must be properly evaluated and transferred to a new beam, columns, and supporting structure.

Our structural engineering services provide homeowners and contractors with the professional analysis and design needed to safely remove load-bearing walls.

Structural Evaluation & Beam Design

We evaluate the existing structure to determine how the wall supports the floors, roof, and other portions of the building. We then develop an appropriate structural solution for the proposed opening.

Depending on the project, our services may include:

  • Determining whether a wall is load-bearing
  • Evaluating floor and roof framing
  • Calculating loads carried by the existing wall
  • Designing steel, LVL, or engineered wood beams
  • Designing supporting posts and columns
  • Evaluating foundations and supporting construction below
  • Designing connections and bearing details
  • Preparing structural drawings and details
  • Providing PE-sealed drawings when required for permitting

A properly designed beam is only part of the solution. The loads carried by that beam must be transferred through the supporting posts and structure below, ultimately reaching an adequate foundation.

As structural engineers, we evaluate the complete load path—not just the wall being removed.

More about load-bearing wall removals

Engineered Retaining Wall Design

Engineered retaining wall on a sloped residential property

When a retaining wall needs to be replaced or a new wall is being constructed, we can develop an engineered design appropriate for the site and the loads the wall must support.

Depending on the project, our services may include:

  • Reinforced concrete retaining wall design
  • Concrete masonry retaining wall design
  • Foundation and footing design
  • Reinforcing steel requirements
  • Wall thickness and geometry
  • Drainage and backfill requirements
  • Evaluation of surcharge loads
  • Structural details and construction drawings
  • PE-sealed drawings when required for permitting

Wall systems we design

Versa-Lok style retaining wall
Versa-Lok
Keystone style retaining wall
Keystone
Redi-Rock retaining wall
Redi-Rock
Concrete gravity retaining wall
Concrete gravity
Boulder retaining wall
Boulder
Large stone retaining wall
Large stone
Pile and lagging retaining wall
Pile and lagging
Other appropriate engineered retaining-wall system
Other engineered systems
More about retaining wall design

PE Stamped Permit Drawings

Engineer marking and reviewing structural drawings by hand

Why Our Stamp of Approval Can Be Trusted

We have all of the proper credentials to place an engineering stamp on your drawings. We can provide stamped permit drawing services because our engineer:

  • Has a four-year engineering degree from an ABET accredited university
  • Passed the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam
  • Passed the Principles and Practice Exam
  • Has over 40 years of active engineering practice

We’ll help you get your building permit ASAP. Contact us today to schedule permit drawing.

More about PE-stamped permit drawings

Home Additions / New Home Drawings

Two-story new home under construction with exposed wood framing

New Home Drawings

Planning a new home? We provide professional architectural and structural drawings that take your project from initial concept through permit-ready plans.

Our services can include: floor plans, exterior elevations, foundation plans, structural framing plans, beam and header design, and construction details—all coordinated into a clear set of drawings for your contractor and building permit application.

Addition & Renovation Drawings

Planning an addition, garage, or major renovation? We combine practical design with structural engineering to create buildable, code-compliant plans suitable for permitting and construction.

Start your project with professional plans.

More about home additions and new home drawings

Bridge Design / Analysis

Engineer drawing a bridge elevation and plan by hand at a drafting table

Gary J Miller, PE, CEng is a Professional Engineer registered in Pennsylvania, Ohio and New York. He is also a Chartered Structural Engineer in the United Kingdom.

Gary was Chief Bridge Engineer from 2007–2011 for Mott MacDonald in Bristol, England and Chief Bridge Design Engineer for various firms in the USA.

He brings more than 35 years’ experience in the design of highway and pedestrian bridges.

More about bridge design and analysis

Fire Escape Inspections

Existing steel fire escape attached to a multistory brick building

Professional Structural Evaluation of Existing Fire Escapes

Fire escapes are critical life-safety structures that can deteriorate from corrosion, weather exposure, loose connections, damaged components, and inadequate anchorage.

We inspect platforms, stairs, railings, structural framing, connections, anchors, and building attachment points on residential, commercial, and multi-family properties.

When deficiencies are found, we provide clear repair recommendations and, when appropriate, engineering documentation for the property owner, contractor, or local building authority.

Have your fire escape evaluated by a structural engineer.

More about fire escape inspections