What should a structural engineer do?

Lbuk

I tried to contact some builders to get some quotes for opening up the downstairs and one of them said that I needed to get structural calculations done first.

I contacted structural engineer and said I needed structural calculations and he wants £400 + VAT.

Another structural engineer that I contacted with the same request wants £2400 + VAT.

The higher quote includes:
A dimensional ground survey
Design steel framing to remove walls
Design foundations for any columns
Calculations for building control
A drawing of structural elements

Now i'm worried that the £400 quote won't include what is needed to get started on the building quotes.

Can someone clarify it for me?

Section62

Lbuk said:

I tried to contact some builders to get some quotes for opening up the downstairs and one of them said that I needed to get structural calculations done first.

I contacted structural engineer and said I needed structural calculations and he wants £400 + VAT.

Another structural engineer that I contacted with the same request wants £2400 + VAT.

The higher quote includes:
A dimensional ground survey
Design steel framing to remove walls
Design foundations for any columns
Calculations for building control
A drawing of structural elements

Now i'm worried that the £400 quote won't include what is needed to get started on the building quotes.

Can someone clarify it for me?

What you probably need is the £2400 version, but you might get it with the £400 version.  You need to ask the £400 guy what is included in his proposal. He might be assuming you'll provide architect's drawings and all he needs to do is to annotate them.

ic

I've recently been through the process of planning and gaining building regs, twice (the first scheme was too expensive!).  I've paid the structural engineer a little less than what you've been quoted, but in that I got the first and second versions - he surveyed the once, and then produced detailed plans and calculations.  My architect had produced detailed drawings already, that the engineer worked from - my plans include removing several walls on the ground floor, and putting in a loft conversion.  £400 for the work involved in removing one wall sounds far more reasonable to me.  Why not get a third quote?

NSG666

One sounds like a quote for a steel beam dimensions calculation to sit on existing walls using pad stones whereas the other is to design and specify a full 'goal post' type structural arrangement with suitable foundations.You might need to get a more flexible quote covering option a and b as surely they wont know which option is necessary without an on-site survey unless they have detailed drawings to work from?

stuart45

Opening up can vary from removing a wall between the lounge and dining room, to taking a lot more of the interior and exterior walls away.