Buildings Structural Engineer - advice needed

[gidrae]

Hi all,

we are in the process of getting a structural engineer to do some calculations for steel supports as we are going to be knocking out supporting walls (hopefully)

Any advice on what we should be asking the structural engineer?
Qualifications, insurance etc? We know what walls we would like (ideally) removed and that is about it.

What if they just pluck some calculations out of thin air, the steels are then put in by the builders the house subsides or falls down due to incorrect planning on their part?

sorry if this is a stupid question....this is our first major house alteration.

Thanks in advance

 

[^woody^]

What if they just pluck some calculations out of thin air

I suspect that there is a 50/50 chance of the house staying up or falling down. Those are good odds. I'd take them.

How many houses have you heard of falling down?

 

[chappers]

yep both of those things strictly speaking, but if an SE was in the habit of doing that he wouldn't last very long in the business.

 

[gidrae]

Very true. This guy has worked for Structural Engineer companies and has a masters degree (though is not Istructe registered)
I am probably being a bit tetchy about drastic work being carried out on an expensive purchase

 

[Nakajo]

Make sure that his PI covers the cost of rebuilding the house.