Structural Engineer costs

absolute0

Hello,

We are planning on taking a wall out between our dining room and kitchen. The kitchen being an existing extension, so the removal of the wall will be an old external wall. In addition to this its load-bearing and ties into another previously removed wall. So two RSJs are probably required.

We've had a builder come around to quote for us, but won't quote until we've had a structural engineer draw up the changes and undertake the necessary calculations.

He is charging £700 for this. Does this price sound reasonable?

TIA

Dave

Doozergirl

Just the structural engineer? Not really, no.

My SE charges £75 an hour plus VAT. He works for a really reputable firm but I don't think he's particularly expensive. Almsot every job like that is about £150 plus VAT. The extra complication couldn't take more than another hour. I can't imagine anyone charging more than double that.

If the price includes inspection by building control, then the price is more fair.

absolute0

Thanks Doozergirl.
The price quoted includes: survey, calcs, sketches & submission of structural information to the local authority. It doesn't include local authority fees.

mrsmazza

We did the same thing 2 years ago, our SE bill was nearly £500. And it didn't include building control.

G_M

absolute0 wrote: »

Thanks Doozergirl.
The price quoted includes: survey, calcs, sketches & submission of structural information to the local authority. It doesn't include local authority fees.

That sounds reasonable then.

absolute0

OK, that makes me feel better.
Thanks

Doozergirl

G_M wrote: »

That sounds reasonable then.

Can I ask why 'then'? What part of that would you expect them to omit for a lower price?

OP, you don't need the builder to organise a structural engineer. Get some of your own quotes! I really don't think £700 is acceptable, especially when the price comes through a third party. There's certainly a means by which a price could be artificially inflated.

Johnandabby

Hourly rates will also significantly vary depending on location, London & South-East is more expensive than Midlands/North. Some companies only charge a minimum of 1 day regardless of time spent. Total of 3-6 hrs at hourly rates of £75-£150 depending on who and where.

Does the £700 include vat? Bit of an odd figure if it does (£583.33 + vat), as most companies would quote £x + vat. If it doesn't include vat, and they are vat registered, thrn it would actually be £840.

Always worth getting comparitive quotes, and asking if there is any movement on the prices. And make sure you know if vat is chargeable so you can compare.

teneighty

When I work with my regular engineer on a project it is about
£150 for a couple of steel beams but he does his calculations from my detailed drawings and I submit the calculations to building control. Although I still get some cheeky fee quotes of around £750 for the same job from other engineers.

I would certainly shop around and would expect to get an engineer to prepare a simple single beam design like this for well under £500. Look for small one man band outfits and phone around for fee quotes.

Davesnave

We took the recommendation of our architect and employed a 'semi-retired' engineer, who made a site visit, but might as well have stayed at home for all the good it did.

He failed to spot a external cavity wall, despite being told, "This is an old, external cavity wall," prepared a drawing which included a totally unnecessary stanchion, and then asked for £500.

Eventually, we got an amended drawing out of him, but then one of our our builders (aged 79) noticed what he'd drawn would be sticking out of the roof.

Thoroughly p*ssed off and conscious of time, we contacted building control and asked if we could amend the drawing ourselves. When they asked who the engineer was, their mirth was barely hidden, but they agreed.

So, in the end the fabricators got an 'on the back of a fag packet ' drawing and we lived happily ever after... until we discovered the architect couldn't draw accurately and we had to change the roof line.

I dare say this sort of thing goes on all the time.I haven't done much building work, so hard for me to judge. I'd just echo the advice above and get quotes from 'professionals' in the same way as for trades, even if they come recommended, as these jokers were.

benson1980

Not sure what GM is on about, that quote does not sound reasonable at all. The price that Doozergirl quoted is what we paid for structural calcs for similar work. I wouldn't pay extra for someone else to submit them to the local authority. I'd just get the structural drawings and submit them myself, plus the payable fee obviously.