Different jobs
Home inspectors walk the whole house: roof, mechanicals, electrical, plumbing, and visible structure. They are generalists by design. When they see a crack, a slope, or a questionable beam, their report often says to consult a structural engineer. That is not a dodge. That is the limit of the license.
A structural engineer does not replace the home inspection. Bob will not tell you about the water heater. He will tell you whether the crack the inspector photographed is finish, settlement, or a wall that needs work — and he will say so as a licensed professional engineer.
When to call Bob
After a home inspection flags foundation, framing, or movement. Before you buy a house or barn with visible settlement. Before you remove a wall or add a room. When a contractor's foundation-repair quote arrives before an engineer has looked at the building.