Structural Engineering Advice, Inspections and Reports Across Queensland and New South Wales
Cornell Engineers provides selected structural engineering services with a focus on forensic reporting, damage assessments, cracking and movement investigations, overland flow and site drainage assessments, insurance reporting, builder support and practical structural engineering advice.
We are based in Brisbane and can consider work across Queensland and New South Wales for the right inspection, reporting, damage, insurance, drainage or expert structural advice matter.
Our work is now more focused. We are not trying to be the cheapest engineer for every small design job. We are concentrating on work where experience, judgement, clear reporting and practical advice make a real difference.
What We Are Best Set Up to Help With
At the moment, Cornell Engineers is best set up to assist with selected structural engineering work where a clear inspection, report, assessment or practical engineering opinion is required.
Structural Inspections and Reports
Site inspections, written engineering reports, building condition advice and practical structural engineering opinions.
Cracking and Movement
Cracking, settlement, slab movement, footing movement, structural movement and older-house performance issues.
Overland Flow and Site Drainage
Assessment of overland flow, surface water, site drainage and stormwater-related movement or damage around buildings.
Forensic and Damage Reports
Fire, flood, storm, hail, impact, water damage, causation reports and structural damage assessments.
Insurance and Claim Reports
Engineering reports for insurers, claim managers, property owners and parties needing clear structural advice.
Builder Support
Practical site advice, construction support, roof capacity checks, temporary works review and selected builder support work.
Practical Videos About Drainage, Movement and Structural Problems
If you are trying to understand why a house is cracking, moving, holding water or showing signs of stormwater-related damage, our videos may help you understand what a structural engineer looks for.
Matt Cornell has recorded practical videos about site drainage, sloping blocks, waffle slabs, slab heave, cracking, inspections and structural performance. These videos are general information only, not site-specific engineering advice, but they can help explain why water management and structural movement often need proper assessment.
Visit the Cornell Engineers YouTube Channel
Recommended Video: House Drainage Problems on Sloping Land
This video is a useful starting point if you are dealing with drainage problems, water around a house, sloping land, cracking, movement or basement and garage water issues.
A More Focused Structural Engineering Practice
Cornell Engineers has been providing structural engineering services since 2003. Our past work has included residential, commercial, industrial, insurance, healthcare, aged care, retail, mining-related and public-sector structures.
These days, our direction is more selective. We are concentrating on inspections, reporting, forensic assessment, drainage-related advice, builder support and selected higher-value structural engineering work rather than taking on every general design enquiry that arrives.
This helps us give proper attention to the work we accept and provide clearer advice to clients who need experienced structural engineering judgement.
Who We Help
Our clients include property owners, builders, building designers, insurers, claims administrators, solicitors, certifiers, developers, commercial clients and government or institutional clients who need structural engineering input.
We are particularly interested in enquiries where the problem needs to be inspected, understood, explained and reported clearly. This includes cracking, movement, water damage, stormwater problems, overland flow, site drainage, structural damage, insurance claim questions and builder support issues.
- Property owners
- Builders
- Building designers
- Insurance claim managers
- Solicitors and dispute parties
- Commercial property owners
- Certifiers
- Government and institutional clients
Design Work Is Currently Limited
We still review structural design enquiries, but design work is currently limited. We are taking on design work only where the scope is clear, the information is available, the timing is realistic and the job fits our current capacity.
We may not be able to assist with every small residential alteration, minor deck, pergola, carport, retaining wall, retrospective certification request or urgent design enquiry. Where possible, we will let you know early so you can make other arrangements.
For selected commercial, industrial, builder support or higher-value structural engineering work, we may still be able to assist where the scope, fee and risk position are suitable.
Why Clients Come to Us
Clients come to us when they need practical structural engineering advice backed by experience, local knowledge and clear communication.
- We explain structural issues in plain English.
- We understand cracking, movement, water, drainage and damage-related problems.
- We provide written reports that are clear, practical and useful.
- We understand insurance, builder support, certification and dispute-sensitive work.
- We are willing to say when a job is not the right fit.
- We focus on structural engineering judgement, not just producing generic paperwork.
Registered Professional Engineer of Queensland
Matt Cornell, director of Cornell Engineers, is a Registered Professional Engineer of Queensland. Cornell Engineers provides structural engineering advice, inspections, reports and selected design services based on experience, local knowledge and practical engineering judgement.
For New South Wales matters, we will consider the nature of the advice required, the location, inspection requirements and any registration or compliance requirements before confirming whether we can assist.
Where We Work
Cornell Engineers is based in Brisbane and can consider selected work across Queensland and New South Wales, especially for forensic reporting, damage assessments, insurance-related matters, overland flow and site drainage assessments, cracking and movement investigations, and expert structural advice.
For local and small design work, our service area may be more limited. For suitable reporting, inspection, damage, insurance, drainage or expert advice matters, our service area can be broader.
What Happens When You Contact Us
When you contact Cornell Engineers, we will review your enquiry and decide whether it fits the services we are currently providing.
- We may ask for more information, photos or documents.
- We may provide a fee proposal.
- We may confirm that the enquiry needs Matt’s review.
- We may advise that we are not available for the work.
- We may suggest another type of consultant if your issue is outside our current services.
This approach helps us give proper attention to the jobs we accept and provide better outcomes for the clients we can assist.
A Testimonial
Just wanted to thank you again, Matthew, for your wonderful advice on our cracked brick issue. We’re buying our first house and were pretty anxious once the building inspector pointed out the cracked bricks.
I did ring around a few companies but you were the only one prepared to talk to me about the issue rather than just jumping straight into panic mode, so thank you.
I felt absolutely confident in your advice and you were so generous with your time. We will definitely be coming back if we have further issues down the track and will recommend you to everyone.
Thanks again, Sophie
Need Structural Engineering Advice?
If your matter relates to cracking, movement, overland flow, site drainage, stormwater issues, structural damage, insurance reporting, builder support or a structural inspection in Queensland or New South Wales, please send us the details.
Please include the property address, photos, drawings or documents where available. The better the information you send, the faster we can confirm whether we can assist.