What counts as structural support?

Slinky

Following on from this thread in housebuying, the poster has found an insurer asking about 'structural support in the last 15 years'. https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6358369/help-where-do-we-go-from-here#latest

We're currently building an extension where we have had to have a reinforced concrete beam as part of our foundations as we uncovered a disused well.  The work is being overseen by building control who passed the foundation work. Would this be 'structural support' in the eyes of an insurance company, or something that as part of a signed off (fingers crossed) job, is non-declarable?

Doozergirl

That's just part of your foundations.  It's quite common! 

It's nothing special, it's just a decent foundation for a new building.  None of us know what we're going to find under the ground, the foundations are simply designed accordingly. 

Section62

Slinky said:

Following on from this thread in housebuying, the poster has found an insurer asking about 'structural support in the last 15 years'. https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6358369/help-where-do-we-go-from-here#latest

We're currently building an extension where we have had to have a reinforced concrete beam as part of our foundations as we uncovered a disused well.  The work is being overseen by building control who passed the foundation work. Would this be 'structural support' in the eyes of an insurance company, or something that as part of a signed off (fingers crossed) job, is non-declarable?

In the context of the other thread, the insurers probably mean significant structural work done to remediate a structural weakness or failing - e.g. adding a pier or butress to a wall which is tipping, inserting a beam or column to increase support, shoring, compensation grouting etc.  Most people have heard of underpinning, but there are other less well known techniques of adding support... I think the insurer is using the term as a catch-all.

In your case the foundation work is part of new construction, not remediation, so I'd say it doesn't count.

Slinky

@Doozergirl @Section62 thanks both, it's what I thought, but I didn't want to be caught out by weasel words!