Do I need a structural engineer?

If your home improvement or domestic project involves any of the following, then you need a structural engineer:

  • removing load-bearing walls or chimney stacks
  • cutting timbers out of a roof structure
  • widening doorways or windows
  • digging basements or lowering floors
  • or building on soft or contaminated ground, or area near to large trees

Having a structural engineer on your project ensures that any work that needs a new structure is safe, or that an alteration carried out will not affect the safety of the existing building. A proficient builder or professional architect will have a good idea of whether you need to call a structural engineer or not - alternatively, while you're getting building regulations sorted out, ask your local authority (council) whether a structural engineer is required.

What is the difference between a structural engineer & an architect?

An architect works with the form and function of a building. The architect is a designer who creates a building layout. Whilst architects are able to come up with ways of making the structural engineer's recommendations fit onto their plans, they do not have the engineering know-how to assess the safety of their recommendations or alterations. Having a structural engineer's report on your project will help you when you come to sell your property and to overcome concerns that solicitors often have regarding structural changes made to buildings.

What does the title chartered engineer mean?

A chartered engineer is a qualified member of a professional institution carrying a royal charter in the UK. Being a chartered engineer carries with it the reassurance that the individual concerned has undertaken a rigorous qualification process in order to practice as an engineer. The word chartered can only apply to an individual, not a company. Chartered Engineers are entitled to use the suffix CEng after their names as a means of emphasising their status with the UK Engineering Council

What is a Project?

Project management is the way of managing change. Everything from the Olympics to organising a wedding can be considered a project. It describes the activities that meet specific objectives and can be used to introduce or improve new or existing products and services.

A project can be identified by two of the key features

1 - Time Cost & Quality

Projects need to be controlled to meet their objectives and deliver benefits. Objectives are defined in terms of expectations of time, cost and quality.

Time, cost and quality are called objectives or constraints. For example:

  • The project must be completed by January 2014 (time).
  • The project must not spend more than £500,000 (cost).
  • The project should create a searchable and informative website (quality).

Structural Engiiner Leeds

What is Project Management?

Project management focuses on controlling the introduction of the desired change.This involves:

  • Understanding the needs of stakeholders.
  • Planning what needs to be done, when, by whom, and to what standards.
  • Building and motivating the team.
  • Coordinating the work of different people.
  • Monitoring work being done.
  • Managing any changes to the plan.
  • Delivering successful results.