Structural Engineer Fees for Converting abungalow to house

gbasavar

ManofLeisure wrote: »

Based upon my experience as an architect, I think the quote is reasonable. To be honest, I do wonder about the quote for £450, due to the amount of work involved.

Hope all goes well for you .

Thank you! We are bit nervous as it is a big project and we want to save as much as possible in every phase but at the same time we don't want to compromise on quality.

Sausage11

I went through a similar project that finished last year. Floor size went from c80 sqm to 136. 2 1/2 external walls were all that remained. Everything else ripped out. New first floor. New roof. Large garage replaced by purpose built habitable annexe. From memory, my structural engineer charged around 1.5K. (I can check if you need.). We had quite a few quotes that were considerably more expensive and one that was much cheaper - 680. We started to progress with that person but he was hopeless. He called himself a 'structural technician' or some such and was not capable of creating the large open plan space without a pillar. An absolute waste of time!

Let me know if you're in Beds/Herts as I can pass on details of our SE.

Good luck with your project!

gbasavar

Sausage11 wrote: »

I went through a similar project that finished last year. Floor size went from c80 sqm to 136. 2 1/2 external walls were all that remained. Everything else ripped out. New first floor. New roof. Large garage replaced by purpose built habitable annexe. From memory, my structural engineer charged around 1.5K. (I can check if you need.). We had quite a few quotes that were considerably more expensive and one that was much cheaper - 680. We started to progress with that person but he was hopeless. He called himself a 'structural technician' or some such and was not capable of creating the large open plan space without a pillar. An absolute waste of time!

Let me know if you're in Beds/Herts as I can pass on details of our SE.

Good luck with your project!

Hi,

Thanks for your response. Our current house is around 80sqm after the extension it will be around 160sqm. We are also stripping of most apart from 80% of the existing walls. If I can ask what was the construction cost per sqm. Please pass on your SE details. I'm in greater London in Harrow area not too far from Hert. Thanks your help. It is much appreciated.

Thanks,
G

Waterlily24

We would have liked to demolish our bungalow and start again but weren't allowed to. I can't remember the cost for the structural engineer, I'll ask hubby if he remembers.

Waterlily24

We did more or less what sausage 11 did. Completely removed the roof, we kept all the existing outside walls, the original bungalow was L shaped so we squared that off and put a lounge and bathroom extension on the otherside and three bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs. Its a chalet bungalow though.

Waterlily24

Hubby said he thought it was £800 but that was in 2007/8.

Sausage11

OP, I've sent you a PM with details.

Freecall

Mr_Costcutter wrote: »

Goodness, unless the property is virtually derelict, why on earth would the OP wish to demolish it. Makes no sense to me.

Demolish and rebuild = New Build

New Build exempt from VAT

160 sq m x £1,200 (varies depending where in country) = £192,000

VAT on £192,000 = circa £38k

You can do a lot with 20% and cost per sq m is usually less for New Build anyway.

chappers

gbasavar wrote: »

There are no trees in my garden but small trees in neighbours garden which are bit far. So I'm not sure how they can assess it. Our Architect felt we can do it without demolition but we never know until SE verify it. I might drop the idea of doing work if I need to demolish and do it again. Already I'd a quote from one builder for around 120k.

It is the only bungalow in the street hence I can't really speak to anyone.

I couldn't say for sure but, it sounds like the tree survey might be surplus to requirements, there is information out there on the internet which indicates how deep foundations need to be depending on the proximity of certain species of trees and their size.
The general rule is anything built further away than the height of the tree shouldn't effect the foundations, but bear in mind that this needs to take into account the mature height of a tree. Any tree further than 25m away is generally disregarded though some leeway may be added for trees such as large oak, willow and poplar as they have the biggest effect on groundwater and subsequent shrinkage and expansion of the ground.
Has your SE visited site.

Mr_Costcutter

Freecall wrote: »

Demolish and rebuild = New Build

New Build exempt from VAT

160 sq m x £1,200 (varies depending where in country) = £192,000

VAT on £192,000 = circa £38k

You can do a lot with 20% and cost per sq m is usually less for New Build anyway.

Not sure what your point is because you have no idea as to the cost of the OP's building costs. It may be less than a half of what you have quoted.

Demolishing a property isn't always permitted.