Structural Engineer quote seem fair?

cgray25

I've got a single story house I'm renovating - we're altering several rooms and had the engineer out to quote. Problem is, I don't know what aspects they need to be involved in!

So we're:
1) taking down a supporting wall and turning that room into a kitchen/living room (the wall isn't supporting much, just a timber flat roof)
2) turned a bedroom into a bathroom
3) turning old kitchen into bedroom with en suite
4) putting larger windows in living room
5) have blocked off a couple of unrequired external doors

They had quoted £800 for structural/architectural drawings for building warrant submission. Now, if they needed to be involved in all of the above, it may not seem excessive. However, if they were only needed for e.g. #1 and #4 then it would seem pretty high.

Can anyone advise?

Doozergirl

It would be numbers 1 and 4 only, on face value.

I have no idea why people pay so much for structural engineers. You shouldn't need drawings of it, really but 'building warrant' sounds like Scotland, and I have no idea what they require.

cgray25

Thanks Doozergirl, you always seem to be on hand for good advice

Yes, it's in Scotland - and yes, it does seem high for 1 & 4. The main aspect was really the supporting wall, which reading around averages out at around £250 (though, many report even this being needlessly high).

System

In scotland you will require a certificate to accompany the engineers drawings for submission to building standards.
are they doing all your drainage details and specification for warrant as well as they are quoting "architectural drawings" too?
A warrant will be required to cover all that work - so if they are doing everything needed for building control then it's a reasonable quote imo

cgray25

I'm not sure r_sole, it's not been mentioned at any point - he did ask about power points we'd put in the new kitchen though.

System

I would just ask them to confirm whether there proposal is to deal with the whole warrant application and subsequent queries - if it is then you're doing well for that money imo

where are you located?

cgray25

Thanks, I'm just outside Glasgow.

bgm_co

I'm not sure what is required with a warrant. But I don't see why 2 and 3 require an engineer?