Structural engineers for homeowners
If your builder or architect has told you that you need a structural engineer, this is the page to start on. We produce the calculations and drawings Building Control needs, explained in plain English, at a fixed fee agreed before we start.
What we cover.
Most homeowners meet a structural engineer once, usually at short notice, and usually because someone has said the work cannot proceed without one. We try to make that straightforward. You tell us what you are doing, we tell you what is needed and what it costs, and you get a package your Building Control officer will accept.
- Removing a load-bearing wall or forming a new opening
- Single and double-storey extensions
- Loft conversions, dormers and roof alterations
- Chimney breast removal
- Garage and basement conversions
- Cracks, movement and subsidence concerns
- Structural reports for a house purchase
- Beam and lintel sizing for a builder
What homeowners actually involves.
The most common job we do for a homeowner is a beam calculation. A wall is coming out, something has to carry the load that wall was carrying, and Building Control will not sign the work off without calculations showing the replacement beam is adequate. We size the beam, check what it bears onto, specify the padstones, and issue a drawing and calculation package.
The second most common is worry. A crack has appeared, a floor feels bouncy, a survey has flagged movement, and nobody has told you whether it matters. We look at it, tell you what is happening structurally, and say plainly whether it needs work or monitoring or nothing at all. A report that says the building is fine is a perfectly good outcome and we issue plenty of them.
You do not need to understand Eurocodes to work with us. You need to know what it costs, how long it takes, and whether Building Control will accept it. We answer those three things before you commit.
We size the beam, design the supports and issue a full design and drawing package Building Control will accept, at a fixed fee agreed before we start. If you are worried about a crack or a bouncy floor rather than planning work, we will look at it and tell you plainly whether it needs action or monitoring.
Do I really need a structural engineer, or is my builder enough?
Your builder can build it. What they usually cannot do is provide the calculations proving the structure is adequate, which is what Building Control asks for. If the work affects anything carrying load, a wall, a floor, a roof, an opening, you will almost certainly be asked for engineer's calculations. It is cheaper to get them before the work starts than to stop mid-job.
- Designs checked and signed by a Chartered Structural Engineer
- Fixed fee agreed before we start
- Building Control ready package
- Plain English explanation, not just calculations
- Target turnaround of one to two weeks
From enquiry to sign-off.
Enquiry
Send drawings or describe the problem. We confirm the scope, the deliverables and a target timescale.
Information
We agree the survey, drawings or data we need and any site access required.
Engineering
Design, calculation or assessment to the relevant Eurocodes and UK National Annex.
Issue
A clear, defensible report or set of calculations, with assumptions and limitations stated.
Common questions
What will it cost?
It depends on how many structural elements need designing, whether we need to survey the existing structure, and what the ground is doing. We quote a single fixed fee in writing before starting, so you know the figure before you commit. Send drawings or describe the job and we will come back with a number.
How long will it take?
We aim to turn calculation packages around in one to two weeks from receiving drawings. If you are mid-build and stuck, tell us and we will say honestly whether we can help sooner.
What do you need from me to quote?
Whatever you have. A sketch, an architect's drawing, or photographs of the wall and the rooms above and below it. If you have nothing, describe the job and we will tell you what we need.
Will Building Control accept your calculations?
Our packages are prepared to be submitted to Building Control and are written to be read by a building control officer. We design to the Eurocodes and the UK National Annex.
I have a crack. Is it serious?
Most are not, but some are. Cracks that are widening, diagonal, wider at one end, or accompanied by sticking doors are worth looking at. Send photographs and we will tell you whether it warrants a visit.
Tell us what you are building.
Send the drawings or describe the project. We confirm scope, deliverables and a realistic timescale.
Start a project