Structural Engineer's Visit - How Much?

Lips

Hello folks,

I need to have a supporting wall surveyed to see if it is, in actual fact, holding the wall above, or instead likely to fall down at any moment.

My surveyor states that I should instruct a Structural Engineer to do this.

Does anyone have any knowledge of how much this might cost me?

Many thanks, in advance....

- Lips

withabix

What's the problem with the wall exactly?

(I'm a civil engineer)

adaze

we were quoted around £200, a quick call will tell you... I guess your thinking about removing a load bearing wall (or could be load bearing)? There are other ways to, sometimes, tell if the wall is lb or not.

martindow

We had a structural engineer to look at a crack in a wall. We had to pay travelling time as there was the best part of an hour's journey each way for about 15 minutes at the house. About 300 pounds.

Lips

Thanks for that, folks. :T

£200-£300, then - I guess that's the kind of ball-park I was expecting...

@withabix - It's a supporting wall, holding the wall above. It isn't ours yet, it's in a house that we are trying to buy. During the survey, it was identified that, at some time previously, the wall has been removed to make the rooms open-plan, and then re-instated. However, there are no drawings/approvals for this work, and the surveyor said that there is no way to know if the wall was adequately supported when it was initially removed (it's now just been plaster-boarded over), except to get a structural engineer out to dig into it and see if there is a beam, arch, RSJ etc etc...

Seller won't absorb the cost of this inspection, sadly, as their logic is 'if it hasn't fallen down yet, it must be fine.' :rolleyes:

- Lips