Structural engineer question

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We have planning permission for an extension, the next stage is (I think, I'm learning as I go along) to get drawings done for building regs and at this stage we need a structural engineer. I have asked my architect for some quotes from the engineer he uses, but I wondered should I get more - say 3 quotes in total?

How do I find a good structural engineer anyway - can anyone recommend one in the Surrey/SW London area?

Also, any idea of likely cost and what sort of questions I should be asking? The architect told me he will do a site visit, which I wanted anyway as I need to understand the various options re beams (I want to minimise the visibility of structural beams but I understand this may be more expensive), as well as I think there may be an issue with the kitchen ceiling being lower than the room adjacent to it. I guess this can be resolved, but at a cost...

Thanks in advance.

I'm an architect not a structural engineer but TBH I would not leave my client in this situation.

My approach would be to design the extension, decide what elements needed further advice / assistance and then arrange for a quote based on my detailed drawings not leave it up to the poor client to sort it out.

If my client wanted a comparative cost then I would happily ask ne ot two other engineers for an estimate.

I think your architect is being a little lazy.

However - here is the website of their professional body.

Hello,
I can recommend to use a structural engineer from Structures Made Easy Ltd in London, They do loft conversion/extensions designs for building regs/ planning at a good price.
Contact details below:

www.yell.com/b/Structures+Made+Easy-Structural+Engineers-london-W54RL-901352847.

Hope this helps!.

Thanks for your responses. I probably didn't word it very well, but my architect hasn't just left me to get on with it - he identified the need for the structural engineer based on the design, and suggested we get a quote from the one he normally uses - I asked him to go ahead and do this for me. I just wondered whether the done thing was just to go ahead with the one recommended by your architect or whether you would normally get other quotes? I'm used to getting a range of quotes for house-type things (e.g. like the process we went through before we appointed the architect).

Mann77, thanks for the link - have you used that structural engineer yourself or are you connected to them in some way?

Hello,
I am a building contractor and use them when building regs/ planning take place they offer me pretty much good prices compared to others.

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Ah OK understood. I was being a little harsh then...

My link to the structural engineers' institute may still be of use though.

Best of luck.

I'm a structural engineer. Our firm normally refers people looking for your level of work to this site to search for people locally; hope it's useful:
www.findanengineer.com/
It's worth getting comparable quotes to make sure the one your architect knows is pricing it about right. That said, if your architect is decent and has a good relationship with the engineer he/she knows then they will know each others' style, which can be efficient!

Incidentally, the reason trying to hide steel beams is more expensive (assuming you are talking about knocking through walls etc) is because it generally means cutting into the floor timbers above to recess the beam, which is more work for the builder, and also might mean you have to use a less efficient but shallower steel, which can be heavier and therefore more expensive. It's worth a chat with a builder on the typical cost differences (though your architect may have a rough idea) before you make your decision. I don't mind downstand beams, but with my job maybe I'm just odd?!

Thank you all, the links are really helpful. Much appreciated.

And yes, Ferino, that is a bit odd

Ferino should also have added that pushing the steel up into the floor above also requires temporary needles to be installed through the wall in the room above. That means punching holes through the wall and putting steel beams through to hold up the wall for the period where there is no wall and no beam. That is at least 1 or 2 extra rooms being disturbed/emptied/redecorated. Hence the expense.

Personally i would totally avoid the yellow pages or trying to pick an engineer out of the istructe listings. Total waste of time because you are after the sort of person who doesnt have to advertise. Grill your architect on why they use the person they do and ask if they can suggest someone else for comparable quotes. Really it tends to be more expensive when you get new people to work together. It is better if the team has established working relationships as they know what is required of each other so should be cheaper and quicker.

Questions? Well your job is not going to be up for the stirling prize, so probably basic stuff like what PI cover can they offer? How many projects are they currently working on? How many similar projects have they done? Whether they are a chartered engineer? And with ICE or IStructE?

Good luck