Chartered Structural Engineers — Huddersfield
The Beam Doctor was founded to protect homeowners from "cowboy builders" and dangerous DIY advice.
Who is The Beam Doctor?
The Beam Doctor is led by Paul Kangunga, a Chartered Structural Engineer (CEng MIStructE) based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. Unlike general builders or architects, our sole specialism is the physics of buildings—calculating exactly what keeps your roof over your head.
What does "Chartered" mean?
It means we have undergone rigorous peer review by the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE). It is the gold standard of engineering competence in the world.
Meet the Engineer — Paul Kangunga, CEng MIStructE
The Beam Doctor is led by Paul A. Kangunga (BSc, MS, CEng, MIStructE), a Chartered Engineer and Member of the Institution of Structural Engineers since 2002. Over more than 25 years he has designed and assessed structures across some of the most demanding sectors in engineering:
- Energy & infrastructure: electricity distribution substations and associated infrastructure for Scottish Power and Iberdrola.
- Rail & highways: overhead-line electrification on a branch of the West Coast Mainline, and highway retaining-wall design for Kirklees Council.
- Buildings: multi-storey commercial and residential schemes in Leeds — and, closest to home, domestic new builds, alterations and extensions across Huddersfield.
He holds an MS in Civil Engineering (specialising in Structural Engineering) from the State University of New York at Buffalo, and a BSc in Civil Engineering from the University of Malawi. He designs in steel, reinforced concrete, masonry and timber to British Standards and the Eurocodes, alongside international codes such as ACI, AISC and ASCE.
That breadth is the whole point of The Beam Doctor: bringing the rigour demanded on major energy and infrastructure projects to the steel beam over your kitchen knock-through. The same engineer who checks a substation will size your RSJ.
Why We Started This Blog
We saw too many homeowners being ripped off or put in danger. We saw builders removing chimney breasts without supporting the stack. We saw "steels" resting on timber instead of concrete padstones.
We created The Beam Doctor to be the supreme authority on domestic structural alterations. We provide the technical facts that generic home improvement blogs miss.
Expertise
25+ years across energy, rail, highways and residential structural engineering.
Education
MS Structural Engineering (SUNY Buffalo); chartered with the IStructE since 2002.
Professional Tools
Paul also develops professional tools for the engineering community, including the Structural Engineering QA Toolkit — a risk-based design check system used by consultancies across the UK.
Our Promise to You
- Safety First: We will never recommend a "quick fix" if it compromises stability.
- Independence: We are not affiliated with any building contractors. Our advice is impartial.
- Clarity: No jargon. Just clear, actionable advice on keeping your home safe.