cost of adding steel beam support in kitchen

missprice

FTBSteve wrote: »

Thanks guys - I realise my terminology was all over the place in my first post now :-)

As everyone's identified:
It's a structural engineer who should be doing the calculations/drawings, not an architect
It's Building Control who need to approve it, not planning permission

What's the recommended method for finding a reliable structural engineer?

Have a look on your local council planning portal, look for similar jobs and note the name of SE.

The problem I had was finding a SE to take in such a small job. I called the BC and asked if they knew anyone that could do this tiny job. They were careful to not recommend but did give me a name.
For info and from memory
The SE cost £250
The steel cost £100
The rest of the job including fireproof plaster board and quite a bit of making good was around £250. The making good was in with a whole lot of other stuff so is my best guess.

ic

Nothing will be right if it was done 40 years ago. The specs change all the time - it doesn't necessarily mean the work is unsafe. I've just had an extension done, and the first structural engineer I spoke to was a right doom merchant - he felt I was lucky to be alive in the house as it was and couldn't understand how my house was still standing after 120 years (and scoffed at the idea I wanted to knock out some walls). The second engineer was happy to take on the job without fuss. Problem to watch for is people will over-engineer to cover themselves and to force up the cost of the job.

Who actually highlighted to you it wasn't done properly?

Dan-Dan

FTBSteve wrote: »

Thanks guys - I realise my terminology was all over the place in my first post now :-)

As everyone's identified:
It's a structural engineer who should be doing the calculations/drawings, not an architect
It's Building Control who need to approve it, not planning permission

What's the recommended method for finding a reliable structural engineer?

long shot but whereabouts are you ?

phil24_7

ic wrote: »

Nothing will be right if it was done 40 years ago. The specs change all the time - it doesn't necessarily mean the work is unsafe. I've just had an extension done, and the first structural engineer I spoke to was a right doom merchant - he felt I was lucky to be alive in the house as it was and couldn't understand how my house was still standing after 120 years (and scoffed at the idea I wanted to knock out some walls). The second engineer was happy to take on the job without fuss. Problem to watch for is people will over-engineer to cover themselves and to force up the cost of the job.

Who actually highlighted to you it wasn't done properly?

In my experience, ALL structural engineers will over engineer their work, usually to the tune of about 100%! This gives them quite a large safety margin to cover the unforeseen.

iwanna

Had one out this week for calculations and drawing.
I recommend looking here: https://www.istructe.org/finding-a-structural-engineer/find-an-engineer

and/or here: http://www.findanengineer.com

newbridge

ic wrote: »

Who actually highlighted to you it wasn't done properly?

A RICS surveyor...

casper_g

phil24_7 wrote: »

In my experience, ALL structural engineers will over engineer their work, usually to the tune of about 100%! This gives them quite a large safety margin to cover the unforeseen.

In many domestic situations it will be cheaper to carry out a simple calculation that results in an over-engineered solution than to pay for the engineer's time to carry out a more detailed assessment.
Quite often even when a steel beam has been sized carefully for structural capacity you will end up using a larger size as it is more easily available, or more convenient for the builder (e.g. right flange width to support a wall above).

FTBSteve

A few people have said the structural engineer calcs will be £100-250.

I've had three quotes from SE's - all are coming in between £600-900 pounds. Is this just because I'm in London, or am I doing something wrong? :-)

Doozergirl

FTBSteve wrote: »

A few people have said the structural engineer calcs will be £100-250.

I've had three quotes from SE's - all are coming in between £600-900 pounds. Is this just because I'm in London, or am I doing something wrong? :-)

What are you trying to do and what are you asking them for?

FTBSteve

I need structural support for a chimney stack in the loft, so I'm asking for calculations required for gallows bracket or steel support beam.

I'm unclear if drawings are required for this, but it looks like there quotes are including drawings.