The Ultimate Guide To Hiring a Structural Engineer

Whether you are a commercial construction company, a residential construction company or simply a resident looking to renovate their home, the value of quality buildings is rising here in the UK. Recent research seems to indicate that there is consistent growth in the number of homeowners renovating and improving their homes rather than moving property.

Back in 2013, just 3% of residents invested in improving their own homes rather than moving out, but this percentage had risen to around 15% by 2018. With the housing market incredibly saturated and demand significantly higher than supply, spending money on extensions and renovations has become the easier choice for homeowners. Around 25% of homeowners suggested that the reason that they decided to stay put in their current home - but renovate it - was because of the high cost of moving property and a sluggish market.

The lack of housing supply has even led the UK government to encourage citizens to consider building their own homes. At the moment, just 8% of homes are self-built which has influenced the government the create a ‘Right to Build’ scheme which incentivises people to build their own properties and for councils to facilitate the plots necessary for the building to take place.

If you are a resident looking to build your own home or you run a construction company, you’ll require the services of a structural engineer. Here we provide you with an ultimate guide to demystify their role in the construction process.

A structural engineer is a professional engineer who specialises in the construction of buildings; governing and analysing the strength of a structure. During the construction process of any building, a structural engineer will be on hand to help provide specific judgements on the safety and structural integrity of a structure during the design and construction stages. These professionals can also provide insight into the best type of materials for specific projects and give calculations on the length of the project and other key considerations.

Whether you’re running a commercial or domestic building project, it’s likely that you will need a structural engineer on hand to ensure it runs smoothly and safely. If you run a commercial construction organisation, it’s likely you’ll already have a team of structural engineers onboard. However, you might not quite understand if you require one for a domestic project. If you’re working on building an extension, converting your loft, removing internal walls, removing a chimney or making other similarly fundamental changes to your home, it’s likely that you’ll require a structural engineer.

The services provided by a structural engineer are often comprehensive and will fluctuate depending on the requirements for a particular project. For a residential project, it’s likely you’ll require less of the services available than if you’re working on a large-scale construction site. Some of the services that structural engineers offer include: 

● Design for steel, timber and concrete structures

● Land surveys

● Structural fault diagnosis

● Structural surveys

● Masonry design 

● Geotechnical investigation

● Briefing document preparation

● Material investigation

● Fire protection analysis

● Risk assessment

● Much more...

If you think that you may require a structural engineer for your next project, give them a call for an initial consultation to discover which of their services you’d require for the job at hand.

Structural engineers have to use a number of technologies to ensure that the work they complete is done in a safe and structurally sound manner. With accurate calculations being such a crucial part of structural engineering, technology needs to be reliable and precise.

This technology spans from the application of basic maths, which is used to make accurate design calculations about a building paired with industry knowledge of how to create a safe structure, to the tech of the future. The profession relies heavily on material science, applied maths and applied mechanics to understand how structures support each other and the connection between shape and weight as well as the impact of the environment on the buildings. Computer-Aided Design (CAD) is instrumental in the work processes of a structural engineer.

In recent years, more advanced technology has become available which is predicted to greatly impact the industry. Burgeoning technologies like artificial intelligence, virtual reality and augmented reality are becoming more widely used to assist the role of the structural engineer as well as exhibit designs and surveys in a more interactive way for clients. As technology continues to develop, it’s almost inevitable that structural engineers will continue to adopt these new sciences to make their jobs easier and to ensure that the structures they build are safe.

If you’ve decided that you would like to renovate your home rather than move to avoid the often tumultuous property market, it’s crucial that you work with a reputable structural engineer in order to secure a good service and have a safe renovation completed. For different renovation projects, you may require different services from your structural engineer, however, you’ll always need to ensure that your project is completed safely and securely.

When looking for a structural engineer for your project, you should discover as much as possible about their previous work from other similar clients. It’s a good idea to find a local firm who has worked on projects in a nearby area so that they will understand the regulations of your council and the type of ground that you live on. Working with a reputable firm who understands the regulations for the area you live in and the type of house you are looking to build is key. If you are working with an architectural firm on your renovation, you could ask for recommendations of structural engineers to ensure the team you work with are up to scratch and come recommended by professionals in the building industry. 

The costs of structural engineers will depend on the type of work you are looking to commission. A relatively small project will cost significantly less than an entire residential home building project. If you are looking for a project to be completed on a large property it will cost more than on a small property and if you simply need a survey completed, this will cost less than a full design and analysis package. For a small flat, the cost of a survey would likely be in the hundreds whereas a large detached home would likely reach into the thousands.

To find out how much your next project would be, make a list of the services you would require from your structural engineers and call a local, reputable company for a quote to get an accurate picture.

Integrated Designs & Associates Ltd is one of the leading structural engineering companies in Birmingham and we can help you with the construction and project management of your build today. Whether you’re working on a large-scale commercial project, a residential building or any other type of project, we can assist you.

We have more than 20 years worth of experience in the industry and, as such, we’ve developed an excellent reputation amongst our clients and the community we work in. If you’re struggling to understand the role of a project manager and need a little guidance on the execution of your build, look no further. We can help you with structural engineering, architectural services, domestic services and Geotech. 

In the past, we’ve worked on a wide range of both commercial and residential projects for some huge clients. If you need some assistance with your next project, get in touch today.

To find out more, please feel free to contact us today. You can find us at Integrated Designs & Associates Ltd, 38, Old Walsall Rd, Birmingham, B42 1NP, call us on 01213 582 233 or email us at contact@integratedesigns.co.uk.