Building Survey Reports

The cost of a report should range depending on what is required from the engineer to inspect and report on. Usually for a London domestic property of 3 bedrooms you should expect a range of between £750+VAT - £850+VAT. For larger domestic properties such as 5 bedrooms detached houses expect the cost to rise up to £1500+VAT or more depending on scale.

A structural engineer can help with specifying structural elements required for altering an existing building or creating a new one. This can be done by doing drawings & calculations to support the build and comply with building regulations (part A – Structure). A structural engineer can also prepare a structural report as a specialist on structural defect issues such as subsidence, movement and cracking etc. A surveyor role can be diverted to carry out general building surveys on the overall condition of the building, provide valuations or act as an expert witness to resolve a dispute. Party wall surveyors can also help with sorting out party wall disputes and ensuring compliance with party wall act.

If you have concerns about a structural defect within your property then you should hire a structural engineer to visit and inspect your property and advise you whether the defects are ongoing, historic and whether they are serious or minor. Also if you are preparing to embark on structural works within your property such as creating an extension or loft conversion or even knocking down walls or chimney breasts, it is always recommended to hire a structural engineer to make an inspection and prepare the necessary drawings & calculations to confirm which walls are structural and how to create support required to achieve your aspirations.

Yes, we have a list of reputable building contractors and could potentially make a recommendation for your specific project.

This will depend on many design factors and parameters and there is definitely no one set answer. For example a solution to reduce beam weight might be done by choosing two lighter beams instead of one beam or by changing architectural layout and inserting a column somewhere along the span of the beam or by changing the structural layout of the beams, etc. The options can be endless so best to discuss specific requirement with the project engineer with open mind that each project is different and solutions can vary from project to another.

Cracks in walls, ceilings and floors are caused by several different reasons. Depending on the size, exact location and frequency of the cracks, the risks associated can vary substantially. Subsidence or movement of foundations can often cause cracking and structural damage to the building above. There are often a variety of causes for these movements and the investigation and remediation can vary based on the cause and associated risk.

If construction work is proposed in a project, involving altering the existing structure, adding significant loads or building a new structure, then you will need a structural engineer. If you are unsure whether the alterations are structural (such as whether a wall is load bearing or if removing a chimney has structural implications) then you will also need advice from a structural engineer.