Help with progressing extension

[acg83]

Hi,

I have been attempting to generate plans with which to get builders to quote against for my 2 storey rear extension to my mid-terrace property.

I am stuck with the detail of the roof and despite having approached a few local companies (one advertised as roof design/calc specialists), none want to look at the project. As a result, the project has stalled while I try to generate ever more detailed plans for a roof that i'm not sure is the best/most appropriate design.

I am not sure what i should try to do next to be honest. I am pulling some plans together to show to a builder, but i know i will need a structural engineer to look at the roof - but are they the right ones to consult if there are issues with the design as opposed to just stressing a proposed design?

Who should I be approaching with this?

Thanks in advance

Adam

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Are you expecting free advice from these people you have contacted? An architectural technician would detail it for you but who be interested in just doing an hour or so's work?

 

[acg83]

Are you expecting free advice from these people you have contacted? An architectural technician would detail it for you but who be interested in just doing an hour or so's work?

Hi,

No, I'm willing to pay to get this done because the roof design is more complicated than I was thinking and I want it to be right.

I need the design looking at as well as doing a bunch of structural calcs - so would a structural engineer be the right one to go for?

Or are you saying I'd have to get someone to do all the plans despite me having done 70% of them just to make it with their while?

 

[conny]

Ask your planning office if you can make an appointment to see one of their engineers for a chat about this.
In the 1980's I drew my own plans, (after a lot of research at the public library), for a single storey bathroom/toilet extension. Contacted planning and requested a meeting and they were brilliant. Advised that my roof timbers were just on the margin and to increase them slightly, (told me what size), and also advised on a better run for the dranage.
Altered my plans accordingly and submitted them for approval, 6 weeks later I was informed they had been passed and I could get the work carried out.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

I wouldn't trust many structural engineers to design waterproof roof junctions and personally I'd likely turn down a couple of hours work as a bit part but maybe someone would. But there are structural engineers, surveyors, architects and technicians amongst others who could do it provided they know how. But a technician should probably be your first port of call. Or just post your query in the right section on the forum like the planning and building regs section where some awesome designers hang out!

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Ask your planning office if you can make an appointment to see one of their engineers for a chat about this.
In the 1980's I drew my own plans, (after a lot of research at the public library), for a single storey bathroom/toilet extension. Contacted planning and requested a meeting and they were brilliant. Advised that my roof timbers were just on the margin and to increase them slightly, (told me what size), and also advised on a better run for the dranage.
Altered my plans accordingly and submitted them for approval, 6 weeks later I was informed they had been passed and I could get the work carried out.

WTF! Do you live in another dimension or something? Make an appointment with the local planning department and get their detailing advice! PMSL

 

[conny]

Laugh as you may, I altered the plans, the work was carried out and is still structurally sound almost 35 years later. I know this for fact because 4 years ago an old friend bought that house shortly before his retirement. He told me that previous owners had not altered it in anyway and invited me to pop round and see it. Apart from being freshly decorated it was no different.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

I don't doubt it, what is laughable is that the sheer lack of help a planning department would offer nowadays if you were to ask..

 

[conny]

As I said in my post, this was early 1980's.
As I've never been involved with them since then I can't say whether they would still be as helpful or not, but I see no harm in enquiring.