Structural calculation and fitting needed for steel beam in loft

Mamma19

3 bed semi-detached house. The chimneys on ground and first floor were removed 25 years ago. The chimney stack in the loft remains. We have been advised that we need a steel beam inserted, so called up a structural engineering company to assess the loft and chimney stack, take measurements and provide calculations and also asked for a general structural inspection. They sent a structural technician who is an associate member of the institute of structural engineers, but a qualified chartered surveyor (but upon booking told us they would send an engineer!) The loft is empty, has a floor you can stand on and a light – so very easy access to everything. The technician spent about 5 minutes in the loft, looked around, kicked the supports near the chimney stack and took a few pictures. He said we definitely need a steel beam. He then came out of the loft and looked at the floor below. We wanted to know if the walls and floors were structurally safe. The room was empty, no furniture, easy to lift carpet and we asked him to check and offered to lift the carpet for him. He insisted it was not necessary – we did it anyway as it was necessary to ascertain the old position of the chimney, and had to prompt him as to the location of the old chimney and the cement in the floor, which he did not notice. After a brief 5 minute look downstairs he wanted to leave, at which point i reminded him about the calculations and measurements, as we had not seen him measure anything or use any tools at all or take any notes – he only took a few pictures. He was very reluctant to do the measurements, and gave several reasons as to why he could not do them. 1. he was not instructed by the office he needed to – so we phoned the office as this is the service we had clearly booked and asked for, and 2. he was only an associate member of the ISE and so not insured to do the job. Whilst we were on the phone to the company’s customer helpline the technician proceeded to take only two measurements of the main load bearing wall in the living room user a laser device and then said he had to leave. After this, we finally got a call back from the company offices who called the technician. They called us back and assured us that he took all the measurements needed for calculating the dimensions etc of the steel beam. I mentioned that he did not take measurements in the loft but was old maybe he did not need to do this. Myself and 2 others were present and we did not see the technician take a single measurement in the loft, so I am quite worried about what measurements he is going to present to the engineer for calculation. How will I know it is safe if he didn’t even measure anything in the loft? Does anyone know what should have happened if this was done properly? Who should do the measurements? What do they measure? What tools are used and how long should it take in the loft? And who is qualified to do such a brief? What should I do as we will be invoiced for a service we did not book!

Does anyone have any recommendations of someone to do the measurements, calculations, or an experienced and qualified builder? And what is a reasonable cost? I am based in Havering.

Is it better/ cheaper to just remove the whole chimney stack? (the technician said we could do this and it wouldn't effect the adjoining neighbors chimney - though I'm not so sure...)

Doozergirl

It's a steel for a chimney stack being designed, not a motorway bridge.

Londoner_1

Mamma19 wrote: »

3 bed semi-detached house. The chimneys on ground and first floor were removed 25 years ago. The chimney stack in the loft remains. We have been advised that we need a steel beam inserted, so called up a structural engineering company to assess the loft and chimney stack, take measurements and provide calculations and also asked for a general structural inspection. They sent a structural technician who is an associate member of the institute of structural engineers, but a qualified chartered surveyor (but upon booking told us they would send an engineer!) The loft is empty, has a floor you can stand on and a light – so very easy access to everything. The technician spent about 5 minutes in the loft, looked around, kicked the supports near the chimney stack and took a few pictures. He said we definitely need a steel beam. He then came out of the loft and looked at the floor below. We wanted to know if the walls and floors were structurally safe. The room was empty, no furniture, easy to lift carpet and we asked him to check and offered to lift the carpet for him. He insisted it was not necessary – we did it anyway as it was necessary to ascertain the old position of the chimney, and had to prompt him as to the location of the old chimney and the cement in the floor, which he did not notice. After a brief 5 minute look downstairs he wanted to leave, at which point i reminded him about the calculations and measurements, as we had not seen him measure anything or use any tools at all or take any notes – he only took a few pictures. He was very reluctant to do the measurements, and gave several reasons as to why he could not do them. 1. he was not instructed by the office he needed to – so we phoned the office as this is the service we had clearly booked and asked for, and 2. he was only an associate member of the ISE and so not insured to do the job. Whilst we were on the phone to the company’s customer helpline the technician proceeded to take only two measurements of the main load bearing wall in the living room user a laser device and then said he had to leave. After this, we finally got a call back from the company offices who called the technician. They called us back and assured us that he took all the measurements needed for calculating the dimensions etc of the steel beam. I mentioned that he did not take measurements in the loft but was old maybe he did not need to do this. Myself and 2 others were present and we did not see the technician take a single measurement in the loft, so I am quite worried about what measurements he is going to present to the engineer for calculation. How will I know it is safe if he didn’t even measure anything in the loft? Does anyone know what should have happened if this was done properly? Who should do the measurements? What do they measure? What tools are used and how long should it take in the loft? And who is qualified to do such a brief? What should I do as we will be invoiced for a service we did not book!

Does anyone have any recommendations of someone to do the measurements, calculations, or an experienced and qualified builder? And what is a reasonable cost? I am based in Havering.

Is it better/ cheaper to just remove the whole chimney stack? (the technician said we could do this and it wouldn't effect the adjoining neighbors chimney - though I'm not so sure...)

When i had my loft done in my 3 bed terrace the inital plans did have beam specs BUT NO CALCS. Builder threw away the beam details and put his own overspecced beams in with no calcs. Building control passed it no problems, did not even ask for calcs.

Builder also took out the entire chimney stack in loft upwards.

b123

Hi Mamma19 ,whoever was doing a survey should have investigated a structual part of the house.It means checking the layout and size of the floor joists/ ceiling joist , position of the loadbearing walls, at least and the existing support to the chmney breast, as you have mentioned.
What is not clear why do you need the survey now. There must be an exisitng support to the chimney breast which was installed when the chimney wa removed at ground floor and first floor.