Structural Engineering

Our wide experience and knowledge of construction methods and materials enables us to provide safe and economical structural designs for building types including traditional brick and timber, steel or concrete frames, or various combinations.

Structural alterations to existing buildings

Buildings are always being changed — extensions, partial demolitions, structural alterations, and changes of use. We understand the way a building was originally built in order to design safe and sympathetic alterations, and to check that existing elements will not be overloaded by new work.

Appraisals of existing buildings

Building owners, or those planning to buy, often want to know whether a structure is sound — whether as a result of noticing cracks or sloping floors, or because a surveyor has recommended a report. A report from a structural engineer with technical knowledge and experience can give a useful insight into a building's problems or condition.

Services to Contractors

Building contractors engaged by a client usually build according to the designs of the client's architect and engineer, but sometimes need to engage their own structural engineer for in-house expertise. This may be needed to:

• Advise on alternative methods of construction the contractor would prefer to those proposed by the client's design team, for advantages of time, safety, or cost

• Prepare a method statement showing how the work will be built safely — often required for work close to other buildings, and sometimes presented to neighbouring party wall surveyors for approval

• Design temporary works, often part of the contractor's responsibility under the building contract

• Design structural steel connections or concrete reinforcement schedules, often left to the contractor

• Produce structural designs for the work where the contractor has been engaged on a 'design and build' contract