Structural engineering,
permits, and assessments across Ontario.

An engineering letter is a signed and stamped document from a Professional Engineer, addressed to a specific recipient such as a city, lender, insurance carrier, or buyer's lawyer. The letter confirms a specific structural fact within the engineer's professional opinion. Common examples include confirming that a basement modification is structurally adequate, that a previous repair was completed properly, or that an existing roof framing system can carry the loads in question.

Kernel Engineering Canada Inc. holds a Certificate of Authorization from Professional Engineers Ontario, the practice authorization required to offer engineering services in the province. The firm also carries professional liability insurance and commercial general liability insurance at the levels required for site attendance and inspections.

Engineering and drawing work typically takes one to three weeks after the site visit. City review times vary — generally 2 to 6 weeks for residential, 6 to 12 weeks for commercial Part 3 work. Actual timelines depend on the municipality's queue and are outside our control. Each file is tracked and followed up directly with the plans examiner.

Drawings can only be stamped after a full engineering review. The Professional Engineers Act limits stamping to work the engineer has personally directed or verified. If the existing drawings are sound, the review is brief. If incomplete or non-compliant, redrawing is usually faster. Scope is confirmed in writing before any review begins.

Yes. Coordination with contractors, framers, drafters, architects, home inspectors, and insurance adjusters is part of most projects. Our engineers also correspond directly with the city's plans examiner where required. Bringing the other parties into the conversation early helps the file move without duplicated questions or conflicting instructions.

Cost depends on scope. After the first conversation a written quote is issued listing what is included, the timeline, and the fee. Quotes are typically valid for 30 days. Additional fees only arise where the scope changes.

The firm is based in Mississauga and the majority of projects sit inside the Greater Toronto Area. Projects elsewhere in Ontario are accepted case-by-case. Send the property address and a description of the scope, and we will confirm whether travel and the project make sense to take on within your timeline.

Yes. Most home inspection reports list structural items as “consult a Professional Engineer.” We attend the property, review the item, and write either a short letter confirming there is nothing to worry about or a written report with a repair scope. The output is meant to be used directly in the buyer-side or seller-side conversation, and it is usually turned around inside a week.

The default issue is a sealed PDF, which is what the city receives. DWG and RVT exchange is available on request for designers, contractors, and trades who need the working files. Tell us what software your team uses and we will issue accordingly.

A written change order is issued before any new work begins, describing the additional scope, fee, and timeline impact. Minor items — dimension clarifications and limited markup revisions — stay inside the original fee. Scope changes (relocated walls, added storeys, material changes after issuance) require a change order confirmed in writing.

No engineer can guarantee that a municipality will issue a permit or grant a variance. Every package is prepared to the Ontario Building Code, applicable CSA standards, and the city's submission policies at the time of filing. Plans-examiner comments within the original code analysis are answered as part of the quoted fee.

Letters and structural reports are addressed to a named recipient — for example, a specific homeowner, lender, insurer, buyer's lawyer, or municipality. The letter is prepared for that recipient's use and that use case. Other parties may not rely on the letter without written authorization. This is how engineering reliance works in Ontario and is the standard the firm operates to.

Site visits inside the GTA core (Mississauga, Toronto, Brampton, Oakville, Vaughan, Markham) are usually available within the same week. Urgent visits for insurance claims, closing-condition deadlines, or active permit reviews are accommodated when scheduling allows. Let us know the deadline up front so we can plan around it.