Design-Build & Structural Engineering in Medina & Clyde Hill, WA
Medina and Clyde Hill are the closest communities to our Bellevue office, about 3 miles and 10 minutes away. Homeowners in both towns most often hire ECD for whole-home remodels of larger houses, the structural engineering behind major renovations, and foundation and seismic upgrades on mid-century houses kept rather than rebuilt.
Two small towns, two building departments
Medina and Clyde Hill are separate municipalities, each with its own building and planning process and its own development rules. The City of Medina and the Town of Clyde Hill are small jurisdictions that review residential projects closely, often with more attention to neighbor impacts than larger cities give. Permit applications, review timelines and submittal requirements differ between the two, so we confirm each town's current checklist before submission.
Both towns pay close attention to building height and how a project affects neighbors. Clyde Hill is known for strict height rules intended to protect views across the hill toward Seattle, the lake and the mountains, and height is measured carefully on sloped lots. Medina reviews lakefront projects under its shoreline rules and applies tree and landscaping requirements to larger projects. Both set rules for construction hours, parking of construction vehicles and site management that are stricter than in most cities.
The houses in Medina and Clyde Hill
Clyde Hill was largely built out in the 1950s and 1960s with ramblers and split-levels on generous lots, many of which have since been replaced with larger houses. Medina mixes lakefront estates, mid-century houses on large lots and newer custom homes. The housing that reaches us tends to be either a mid-century house the owners want to keep and transform, or a newer large house where a significant renovation needs real structural engineering: long spans, steel, large openings in walls that carry lateral load.
Keeping a mid-century house instead of rebuilding is often the better choice here, because a remodel can preserve existing setbacks and height that a new house might not be allowed today. The engineer's job is to make the old structure perform like a new one where it matters: anchorage, bracing and foundations.
Site constraints in Medina and Clyde Hill
- Height and view rules, especially strict in Clyde Hill.
- Shoreline review for Medina's Lake Washington waterfront.
- Construction management rules on hours, parking, noise and site protection.
- Tree and landscape requirements on major projects.
- Neighbor sensitivity on small streets where staging and access need a plan.
Projects near Medina and Clyde Hill
Project · Bellevue · Lake HillsBearing wall out, flush beam in, kitchen opened to the family roomA 1950s rambler opened with a 16-foot flush LVL beam and two new crawlspace footings.Areas we serve
Medina, Clyde Hill, Hunts Point, Yarrow Point, and the Points communities along the Lake Washington shoreline.
Medina and Clyde Hill questions
Remodeling in Medina and Clyde Hill: common questions
Is it better to remodel or rebuild in Clyde Hill?
Often remodel, if the house's existing height and footprint are worth keeping. A new house must meet current height and setback rules, which in Clyde Hill can mean a lower or smaller house than the one already there. A remodel can keep existing nonconforming elements within limits. Our engineer compares the structural cost of keeping the house with the zoning cost of rebuilding.
How is building height measured on a sloped Clyde Hill lot?
Height is measured from a defined grade reference to the highest point of the roof, using the town's method for sloped sites. Small differences in that measurement can decide whether a second story or a raised roof is allowed. We survey grades and calculate height with the town's method before designing anything that adds height.
Does Medina allow construction on weekends?
Medina and Clyde Hill both limit construction hours more tightly than larger cities, and weekend work is restricted. We schedule loud work within the allowed hours and plan deliveries and parking to meet each town's rules. Check the town's current construction rules before planning a tight schedule around weekends.
Can you work with my architect on a large Medina renovation?
Yes. On larger custom renovations, owners often have an architect, and ECD provides structural engineering and construction. Our engineer coordinates directly with the architect so structural solutions fit the design intent, and our construction team prices and builds from the combined drawings.
Free estimate · Bellevue office
Talk to the engineer before you commit to a plan
A site visit, a scope conversation and a written budget range, at no cost.