Articles

Structural engineering guidance for California property owners.

Understand the symptoms, evidence, and professional scope behind a structural decision before committing to repairs.

Structural inspection of damp soil and standing water around a concrete pier in a residential crawl space

Foundation Guides · August 25, 2026 · 8 min read

Water in a Crawl Space: When It Becomes a Foundation Concern

Standing water does not automatically mean foundation failure. The source, duration, and nearby structural symptoms determine what needs to be inspected.

Representative view of a fire-damaged concrete foundation with cracking, exposed reinforcement, and anchor hardware

Fire Rebuild Guides · August 30, 2026 · 10 min read

Can a Fire-Damaged Foundation Be Reused in Los Angeles?

Foundation reuse is possible in some fire rebuilds, but the decision requires documented conditions, targeted testing, structural analysis, and approval by the permit jurisdiction.

Lei Zheng

Founder & Principal Engineer, CMZStudio

California Professional Engineer

California-licensed engineering

Licensed engineering from first calculation through plan check.

Lei Zheng has held a California Civil Engineer license since 2006. At CMZStudio, he reviews structural decisions, prepares and stamps engineering documents, and supports responses through city plan check.

Official California DCA record

C-69809

CLEAR

License holder: Lei Zheng
License type: Civil Engineer
Issued: March 17, 2006

Verify license

Status verified July 23, 2026

California-licensed: 20 years
Official DCA record: C-69809

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