To look at the foundations of my garage to see if they'll support a first floor extension. Is it just a structural engineer I need?
Good builder will know strait away...
What's this professional called?
Is it Bob?
Don't ask a builder, get a structural engineer in.
which one ?
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Dig a hole and see how deep they are.
Probably best to speak to building control and ask what they want. Might be a structural engineers report, might just want a look down a hole.
Round our way it''d be a [i]Gary Baker[/i] or a [i]John Roberts[/i] you want to speak to, i dunno what the professional"s down your way are called.
nickjb - Member
Dig a hole and see how deep they are.Probably best to speak to building control and ask what they want.....
Most of the time building control have their own engineers for checking calcs etc.
not the ones in the north west, they don't take responsibility for that. you have to provide the evidence that substantiate a design or existing structure meets building regs. they then check you have submitted evidence to confirm your design/ structure. Whether your calcs are correct is still your risk. they do not employ engineers to check your calcs. you keep that risk/cost if it falls down. very craftily done but ownership of risk has been revised by LAs resonantly. when it falls down all they do is say 'well you said it would stand up'. you do not have to use the LA building control, just someone qualified who can interpret the building regs. there are surveyors who inspect this kindof thing, or use a structural eng. you only register your design check with the LA. not including the LA OFFICERS IN THE SITE INSECTIONS CAN TURN THEIR NOSE UP AT YOUR PROJECT THOUGH AS THEY ARE ALL looking to justify their jobs with all these cuts in budgets.
The profesional that deals with foundations and the ground is in fact a Geotechnical Engineer who is usually a Civil Engineering specialising in this or an Engineering Geologist. I know this because I am one.
However for house size projects a structural engineer might be sufficient....depends how challenging the ground is which could be seen as giving you a chicken and egg situation to determine how challenging the ground is!
some useful answers, some not so much but thanks everyone, i think i have my answer.