Cracks under Steel Beam

[endecotp]

(the structural engineer) to actually exist and not be the builder's imaginary friend.

The builder was asked for the SE calcs following the BC visit, nearly 2 weeks ago, and despite regular requests still has not provided them.

Clearly there is no structural engineer.

The builder lied to you about something pretty important.

You should dismiss him, and get legal advice. Your difficulty is that you will need to find someone to finish the work, and you’ll want that to be at the original builder’s expense. You need a lawyer with relevant experience to tell you how to extract money from him most effectively,

Does he trade as a limited company?

 

[stevie888]

Clearly there is no structural engineer.

The builder lied to you about something pretty important.

You should dismiss him, and get legal advice. Your difficulty is that you will need to find someone to finish the work, and you’ll want that to be at the original builder’s expense. You need a lawyer with relevant experience to tell you how to extract money from him most effectively,

Does he trade as a limited company?

I agree with all this.

You have a design that has been properly done and presumably checked by BC? The cleanest way forward is to instruct another builder to work to those drawings. You'll need to sack no 1 properly.

 

[Charlie George]

Might be a good idea to get someone in to support the steelwork as a precaution, this could drag on for a while.

 

[billm]

Clearly there is no structural engineer.

The builder lied to you about something pretty important.

You should dismiss him, and get legal advice. Your difficulty is that you will need to find someone to finish the work, and you’ll want that to be at the original builder’s expense. You need a lawyer with relevant experience to tell you how to extract money from him most effectively,

Does he trade as a limited company?

No mention of Ltd Company on paperwork, site board, Web site or Companies House so possibly a sole trader - trading for 30 years according to web site

 

[Dereekoo]

What is the span of the beam between the supports
What is the size of the beam
What is the span of the roof between the beam and the inner beam
What is the size of the joists supporting the roof and their spacing
I assume the roof between the inner beam and outer beam is just a flat bit of roof that will be subject to snow loading?

 

[billm]

What is the span of the beam between the supports
What is the size of the beam
What is the span of the roof between the beam and the inner beam
What is the size of the joists supporting the roof and their spacing
I assume the roof between the inner beam and outer beam is just a flat bit of roof that will be subject to snow loading?

I am there again tomorrow, I'll do a top down sketch and take those measurements and will put a couple of acrows under while I'm there just to be safe.

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

In the meantime, I think it would be prudent to have another SE do some calcs and see if they agree with the builders version.

There is absolutely zero chance that any actual SE will say that this is acceptable.

I claim the "told you so" prize over the fake SE. It sounds like you've finally accepted that your builder is a cowboy, and that their pretend SE doesn't actually exist.

Now accept that the botch job that's been built based on nothing will need major structural changes. There's absolutely no way that balancing a 10m beam on two edge-on 100mm padstones is OK.

Ensure all work is stopped immediately. I'd suggest that the concept of a builder who's lied and misled getting to actually continue with the job shouldn't be an option, even if they are guided by an actual SE in future. If they've lied and botched about this then you don't know what else they're up to - they're clearly happy to con you, and do not care about your welfare or safety.

You need to end the contract with them immediately. It will definitely delay the project, but it won't come to any real harm, assuming that the original back wall of the house remains sealed. The blocks may get stains and wet marks, but I assume it's all going to be rendered anyway so it won't matter. Next spring may be a realistic time-frame if you're starting again with a new builder. Definitely get some acro props under everything while you sort things out.

 

[tony1851]

Whereabouts in Manchester are you?