Can I use my own engineer instead of the builder's?

Generally yes — you’re typically not obligated to use a specific engineer your builder or contractor suggests, and can engage your own structural engineer if you prefer, provided they’re genuinely qualified and registered.

That said, there’s real practical value in coordination between your engineer and your builder/contractor — mismatched expectations or poor communication between separately-engaged professionals can cause genuine delays or coordination issues on your project.

If you do bring your own engineer, being upfront about this with your builder or contractor early helps ensure everyone’s working from the same design and timeline expectations from the start.

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