Expert Design & Engineering
Michael D. Stewart, P.E., LLC provides structural engineering and architectural design for homes on Estero Island and across the Town of Fort Myers Beach. Our work here includes elevated homes, additions to elevated homes, ground-level flood enclosures, pools and coastal foundations. Our permit sets are signed and sealed.
Structural Engineering & Design on Fort Myers Beach
Elevating Existing Homes on Fort Myers Beach
Elevated New Homes & Pile Foundations
Flood Enclosures & Corrective Permits
Home Additions & Pool Decks on Fort Myers Beach
Answering Town Review Comments
Send Message
What We Do on Fort Myers Beach
Our Fort Myers Beach work includes:
• New elevated homes, including three-story single-family residences: foundation, floor and truss framing, load-bearing walls and wind load calculations.
• Elevating existing homes, either by lifting the house onto a new foundation or by building a new living level on top of the existing structure.
• Additions to elevated homes, including additions over parking and elevated pool decks.
• Ground-level enclosures under raised homes, such as garages, storage and patios, with curtain wall and foundation design.
• Residential lift additions, with the load-bearing walls designed to carry them.
• Pool foundations, including helical piles.
• Corrective revisions for areas enclosed below the required flood elevation.
• Foundations and anchorage for site structures in the VE flood zone.
For pile foundations, see our coastal piling foundation engineer page. For additions anywhere in the region, see our home addition structural engineer page.
Elevating an Existing Home in Fort Myers Beach
If your home sits below the flood elevation, there are two common ways to raise the living space.
Lift the existing house. The house is raised onto a new elevated foundation of pilings, columns or stem walls, and the ground level below the flood elevation becomes garage and storage space. We engineer the new foundation, the wind connections that tie the house to it, and the stairs and lift.
Build on top of what is there. The ground floor stays, a new living level is built on top of the existing structure, and the ground floor is converted to garage and storage space with flood openings and flood-resistant or breakaway walls. We engineer the strengthened existing walls and columns that carry the new floor, the wind connections, and the stairs and lift.
On either path, the Town's flood rules, including the FEMA 50% rule, decide what is allowed below the flood elevation, and we check them before design starts. On Curlew Street, we designed the ground-level garage and storage enclosure and a residential lift for a recently elevated home.
Local Conditions and Permitting
Fort Myers Beach is its own town on Estero Island, with Town Hall on Estero Boulevard. Many structures in the Town sit in the special flood hazard area, so flood rules are part of plan review.
The Town enforces the FEMA 50% rule for substantial improvement and substantial damage, and it advises owners to ask a design professional how the rule affects their project.
New permit applications go through the Town's GovWell portal, and applicants may use an approved private provider for inspections. Town building permits cover pools, driveways, seawalls, fences and site work as well as buildings. Our contracts on the island include answering the Town's review comments through approval.
Fort Myers Beach Projects
Curlew Street, Fort Myers Beach. A ground-level flood enclosure with garage, storage and patio, plus a residential lift addition, at a recently elevated home. We designed the curtain walls, the foundation and the load-bearing walls for the lift, ran the wind load calculations, and delivered a combined architectural and structural permit set, signed and sealed.
Primo Drive, Fort Myers Beach. A new addition over parking and an elevated pool deck addition, with the building elevation by others. The structure uses pre-engineered wood trusses and precast hollow-core concrete plank. We issued the sealed permit set, a sealed deferred-submittal letter to the Town's private provider for the trusses and plank, and response letters to the Town's review.
Estero Boulevard, Fort Myers Beach. A new three-story single-family residence: floor plans, elevations, foundation, floor framing, truss framing with tie-downs, load-bearing walls and wind load calculations.
Estero Boulevard, Fort Myers Beach. Structural work on a new elevated three-level home on a driven pile foundation, with an open ground level and breakaway walls and a frangible slab below the flood elevation.
Estero Boulevard, Fort Myers Beach. Structural engineering for a new pool on a helical pile foundation, with sections and details.
Estero Boulevard, Fort Myers Beach. Structural design and certification of the foundation and anchorage for a 35-foot flagpole in the VE flood zone. The foundation was designed against flotation, collapse and lateral movement, and we answered the Town's flood review comments in writing.
How the Process Works
1. Send us the project. Give us the address, a short description, and any survey, photos or existing drawings you have.
2. We review it and send a proposal. We look over what you send and reply with a written proposal.
3. We design and seal the set. We prepare the drawings and calculations, and Mr. Stewart signs and seals them. When trusses or precast plank are designed by the manufacturer, we prepare the deferred-submittal letter.
4. We carry it through review. We answer the Town's review comments through approval.
Why Hire a Local Professional Engineer
When another firm handles part of a job, such as the building elevation or the pool hydraulics, we engineer our part and coordinate with theirs.
Michael D. Stewart, P.E. has practiced in Southwest Florida since 2005. The firm serves Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties and the barrier islands, with structural engineering, architectural design and MEP under one roof. Our office is in Cape Coral, and we work across Fort Myers, Estero and Bonita Springs and south to Naples. You deal with the engineer who seals the drawings.
"I TREAT EACH AND EVERY PROJECT
AS A PERSONAL PRIORITY."
Start Your Fort Myers Beach Project
Call (239) 292-7670 or send a message through our contact page. Include the address and a short description of the work.
"HIGH-QUALITY SERVICE AND QUICK TURNAROUND ARE THE MISSION."
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a structural engineer to enclose the ground level under my elevated home?
Usually, yes. Enclosing the ground level means new walls, a foundation and wind loads, and because many structures in the Town sit in the special flood hazard area, flood rules are part of the Town's plan review. We have designed a ground-level flood enclosure with garage, storage and patio under a recently elevated home, with the curtain walls, foundation and wind load calculations delivered as a signed and sealed permit set.
Can you elevate my existing home in Fort Myers Beach?
Yes. We engineer both common paths: lifting the house onto a new foundation of pilings, columns or stem walls with garage and storage below, or keeping the ground floor, building a new living level on top and converting the ground floor to garage and storage with flood openings and flood-resistant or breakaway walls. We check the Town's flood rules before design, because they decide what is allowed below the flood elevation.
How does the FEMA 50% rule affect my project?
The Town applies the rule in plan review to substantial improvements and to repairs of substantial damage. The Town advises owners to ask a design professional how the rule affects their project, and we can help you answer that question.
Can you help with an enclosure that was built below the flood elevation?
Yes. We prepare a corrective permit revision: field-measured as-built drawings, flood-resistant details, a plan to abandon or relocate plumbing, gas and electrical below the flood elevation, and direct work with the Town until it approves. See our after-the-fact permit engineer page for more.
Can you add onto an elevated home?
Yes. We have designed additions over parking, elevated pool decks, ground-level enclosures and residential lifts on the island. See our home addition page for more.
Do you design pools and pile foundations on Fort Myers Beach?
Yes. We have engineered a pool on a helical pile foundation and an elevated home on a driven pile foundation on the island. Our coastal piling foundation page covers pile work in more detail.
Do you work with private providers?
Yes. The Town allows an approved private provider for inspections, and we have issued sealed letters directly to the Town's private provider.
How fast can you turn around permit drawings?
We offer unmatched turnaround times, and 5-7 day rush turnaround is available upon request for a premium fee. Call (239) 292-7670.
How do I start a project on Fort Myers Beach?
Send us the address and a short description of the work. We will reply with a written proposal.
Is your office on Fort Myers Beach?
No. Our office is in Cape Coral, and we serve Fort Myers Beach along with the rest of Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties and the barrier islands.
Contact
Send Message
Call (239) 292-7670
Email mstewart@mstewartpe.com
Use our contact form and tell us about your project.
Michael D. Stewart, P.E., LLC
FL REG#: 72459 / CA REG#: 33003
PHONE: (239) 292-7670
EMAIL: MStewart@MStewartPE.com
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