Their output is not just a beam size. It is the calculations, the bearing and padstone details, and often the temporary works requirement that keeps the building safe while the permanent work goes in.
Projects that need one
Wall removals and new openings, loft conversions with new floor structure, extensions with beams and foundations near trees or drains, underpinning, and any repair to a structure showing movement.
Building control will ask for the calculations, so the engineer is engaged before the application rather than after work starts.
What you receive
A set of calculations and drawings covering member sizes, connections, bearings and padstones, foundation design where relevant, and notes on temporary propping.
Where the ground is uncertain, they may recommend trial holes or a soil investigation before finalising foundation design, which is far cheaper than discovering the problem in an open trench.
How it fits the programme
Engineering runs alongside the architectural drawings and feeds the building regulations application. Leaving it late is one of the more common causes of a delayed start.
We coordinate the engineer's input with our own drawings so the design that gets approved is the design that can actually be built.
Common questions
Can my builder size the beam?
No. Building control requires calculations from a suitably qualified engineer, and deflection limits mean rules of thumb are not adequate.
How much does an engineer cost?
For a typical domestic beam or opening it is a modest fee relative to the works, and it is fixed at the outset once the scope is known.
When should I engage one?
Before the building regulations application, so the calculations are part of the submission and the programme is not held up.
Do you arrange it?
Yes. We coordinate the engineer's design with our drawings and the building control process.