Brisbane Structural Engineers

Cornell Engineers provides structural engineering advice, inspections and reports from our Brisbane office, with a focus on work where experienced engineering judgement really matters.

We help homeowners, builders, insurers, loss adjusters, body corporates, consultants and solicitors understand what is happening with a building, why it is happening and what should happen next.

Our work now concentrates on structural investigations, forensic reporting, damage assessments, cracking and movement, drainage-related building problems, insurance matters and selected structural engineering projects.

We are based in Brisbane and can consider suitable projects across South East Queensland, regional Queensland and New South Wales.

What Our Brisbane Structural Engineers Do

Structural engineering is not just about calculations and drawings.

Often the most important part of the job is determining the cause of a problem, assessing its significance and giving the client clear advice they can act on.

Cornell Engineers is particularly well set up to assist with:

• structural cracking and building movement;
• damage caused by storm, flood, fire, impact, water or other events;
• insurance-related structural assessments;
• forensic structural engineering and causation reports;
• overland flow, stormwater and site drainage issues affecting buildings;
• structural inspections of houses, units and other buildings;
• builder and repair advice;
• expert reports and dispute-related engineering advice; and
• selected structural design, repair and strengthening work.

Cracking and Movement Investigations

Cracks in walls, ceilings, slabs and masonry are among the most common reasons people contact a structural engineer.

But the crack itself is only part of the story.

We consider the pattern and location of cracking, building construction, footing behaviour, site conditions, drainage, moisture changes, nearby works and other possible causes before forming an engineering opinion.

Our aim is to explain what the cracking means, what is likely causing it and whether repair, monitoring or further investigation is appropriate.

Read more about residential structural investigations and reports.

Forensic Structural Engineering

Forensic structural engineering is about working backwards from the damage.

We investigate the available evidence and consider competing explanations for what has occurred. This can involve site inspections, photographs, drawings, construction records, previous reports, weather events, drainage conditions, repair history and the physical behaviour of the structure.

This work is particularly useful where the cause of damage matters to an insurance claim, repair decision, building dispute or legal matter.

Learn more about our forensic engineering services.

Insurance and Damage Assessments

We regularly assist with structural damage assessments where an independent engineering opinion is required.

This may include damage associated with:

• storm and wind;
• flooding and water ingress;
• fire;
• impact;
• ground or footing movement;
• construction defects;
• drainage and moisture changes; and
• pre-existing building conditions.

Our reports are intended to be clear, evidence-based and useful to the people who need to make the next decision.

Site Drainage, Overland Flow and Building Movement

Not every structural problem starts with the structure itself.

Poor site drainage, concentrated stormwater, leaking services, changing moisture conditions or overland flow can affect footings, retaining walls, slabs and surrounding ground.

Where drainage appears to be contributing to building movement or damage, we can assess the site, document the relevant conditions and provide practical recommendations.

Residential Structural Engineering

Residential work remains an important part of what we do, but our focus has changed.

We are best suited to existing houses and units where there is a structural problem to investigate, damage to assess, a repair to consider or an engineering opinion to provide.

We no longer try to take on every small residential alteration, wall removal, deck, pergola, carport or low-fee design enquiry.

For selected residential projects, we may still assist with repair design, strengthening, structural alterations and other clearly defined engineering work where the project fits our current capacity.

Commercial and Industrial Structural Engineering

Cornell Engineers also undertakes selected commercial and industrial work where our inspection, investigation and reporting experience adds value.

This can include:

• structural damage investigations;
• assessment of existing structures;
• repair and strengthening advice;
• alterations to existing buildings;
• builder and consultant support; and
• forensic and insurance-related structural reporting.

We do not position ourselves as a high-volume structural design office. We prefer work where experienced engineering input, practical judgement and clear communication are important.

Experienced Brisbane Structural Engineers

Cornell Engineers has been providing structural engineering services since 2003.

Our director, Matt Cornell, is a Registered Professional Engineer of Queensland and has around 30 years of structural engineering experience.

Our engineering team works across investigations, inspections, reports, damage assessments, repairs and selected design work.

We aim to explain engineering issues in plain English and give clients a clear understanding of the problem and the next practical step.

When We May Not Be the Right Engineer

Not every structural engineering job is a good fit for our current practice.

We may not be able to assist with every new house, small wall removal, minor deck, pergola, carport, retaining wall, retrospective certification request or urgent low-value design job.

That allows us to give proper attention to the work we do accept.

If your matter involves structural damage, cracking, movement, drainage, insurance, a building defect, a dispute or a more complex structural question, we are much more likely to be the right fit.

Need a Structural Engineer in Brisbane?

If you need structural engineering advice, send us the property address, a short description of the issue, photographs and any relevant drawings, reports or correspondence.

The more information you provide, the easier it is for us to determine whether we can assist and prepare an appropriate fee proposal.