FAQs
Common questions, answered plainly.
Do I need a structural engineer for a home extension?
In almost all cases, yes. Building control will need calculations for any new structural opening, beam, foundation or roof alteration before they sign off the work. We can usually turn around a single storey extension package within one to two weeks of a survey.
What is a Flood Risk Assessment and when do I need one?
A Flood Risk Assessment (FRA) is a report required by most local planning authorities when a site is in, or near, a flood zone, or is over a certain size. It demonstrates that the development will be safe from flooding and will not increase flood risk elsewhere. We can advise early on whether your site is likely to trigger this requirement.
How long does a typical project take from instruction to drawings?
It depends on scale. A single extension is often two to three weeks including a site visit. Larger residential or commercial schemes are scoped individually, and we will always give you a programme in writing before work starts.
Do you only work near Rugby, or across the whole country?
We are based in Rugby but work nationwide across England and Wales. Site visits are scoped into every instruction regardless of location, and a large share of our current workload is outside Warwickshire.
Can you act as an independent expert witness?
Yes. We regularly produce CPR Part 35 compliant reports for civil and structural disputes, including party wall matters, and our engineers have experience giving evidence in adjudication, arbitration and court.
Can you independently check calculations produced by another engineer?
Yes, this is our Independent Review service. It is common for funders, purchasers or main contractors to want a second, unconnected set of eyes on a design before construction, and we report clearly on any issues we find.
What happens during the initial site visit?
An engineer measures and photographs the existing structure or site, discusses your plans, and identifies anything unusual early, such as unknown foundations, tree proximity, or drainage constraints, so it does not surprise anyone later in the process.