Should a Structural Engineer know if a house is Timber framed

[Emmers72]

Hi

I am in the middle of having a small orangery built on the back of my small 2 bedroomed house.

Work has started - in fact to roof level, all the necessary planning permissions , strucural engineer reports etc have been given and approved.

It has now come to light that my house is timbered framed. The load bearing wall downstairs in the house is due to be knocked down and new orangery is attached to this to create a more open plan downstairs.

I now have a additional bill from my builder for £2k as the orginal drawing and specifications from the structural enginner failed to notice the house was timber framed so the builder couldnt continue with any work as they couldnt fit the joists directly to the timber frame and they have had to find a work round.

My question is - should the structural engineer have know and noticed the house is timber framed...... and am I able to claim this additional £2k back from the enginner.....

Thanks

Did the engineer actually go to your house or did they just work off architects drawings?

It doesn't sound brilliant on the face of it but I'm not sure you'll be able to claim the money, they are likely to argue that you would have had to do it anyway so even thought they may have missed something, if they had noticed originally you would just be doing what you're doing now anyway.

Hi

thanks for your response - yes the engineer did visit the house....

Thanks

E

Hi

I know that the builder was given additional drawings etc - i wasn't billed for these but have been billed for the additional materials.

Thanks

E

Did the structural engineer actually test/drill into the brickwork? Otherwise unless he had the original architect drawings it wouldn't have been obvious from observation that the house had a timber frame. Check his report, most engineers will have a get out clause somewhere in it. 'as far as can be ascertained/to best of knowledge etc'. If his report doesn't allow for new evidence to come to light and states 100% steel frame then you might be able to argue it, otherwise it is one of those things that your contingency budget is there for.