Structural Engineer examination

PrincessJR

Been quoted £570+VAT for a Structural Engineer to visit a house we're buying to examine the type of structural support used when a wall was removed years ago.

Will involve either making a small hole in the ceiling or lifting a couple of floorboards to gain access to see the current RSJ/support.

Seems expensive just for an opinion and maybe 1 hour of their time?

*~Zephyr~*

Where in the country are you? Because it IS expensive for, say, Wales, but probably par for the course in London.

I work for Structural engineers and we would charge around £350 for this type of work. It's not just the hour at your property but the time spent preparing a full report.

If you just want them to cast their eye over it and give you verbal advice then tell them and they might do it a lot cheaper. But if you want them to write a comprehensive report, that would be backed up their (incredibly expensive) Professional Indemnity insurance, then you have to pay a full fee.

PrincessJR

*~Zephyr~* wrote: »

Where in the country are you? Because it IS expensive for, say, Wales, but probably par for the course in London.

I work for Structural engineers and we would charge around £350 for this type of work. It's not just the hour at your property but the time spent preparing a full report.

If you just want them to cast their eye over it and give you verbal advice then tell them and they might do it a lot cheaper. But if you want them to write a comprehensive report, that would be backed up their (incredibly expensive) Professional Indemnity insurance, then you have to pay a full fee.

Thanks for the reply. We're in Worcestershire, and yes I think we probably would be better off with the report.

Doozergirl

PrincessJR wrote: »

Thanks for the reply. We're in Worcestershire, and yes I think we probably would be better off with the report.

I can recommend someone in N Worcs to quote. No link to me other than we've used him for years, very reliable, professional company and reasonably priced.

phill99

PrincessJR wrote: »

Been quoted £570+VAT for a Structural Engineer to visit a house we're buying to examine the type of structural support used when a wall was removed years ago.

Will involve either making a small hole in the ceiling or lifting a couple of floorboards to gain access to see the current RSJ/support.

Seems expensive just for an opinion and maybe 1 hour of their time?

But you are nit paying for their time. You are paying for expertise. If you were just paying for time, everybody would be paid the same.