dispute with structural engineer

[george (dicegeorge)]

I had a structural engineer came round last year and produced me drawings for steelwork to reinforce some broken beams.

I called him back because I was unhappy with one of his supports being inches away from a doorway.

He came back, and charged me another £30.

He was going to phone me a month ago for an appointment but when i checked he said he was going on holiday.

Is there any pressure I can apply to him to get him to revise his paperwork?

Going to the small claims court would waste time and wouldnt get my roof redesigned.

He was recomended to me by the local builder whose metal beam for a hole in my kitchen wall was condemned by this newsgroup and by the council building inspector.

He is BCEng MIStructE anc calls himself a Consulting Structural Engineer

Is there a trade body i can threaten to raise an official complaint with?

any other ideas?

thanks

george

[James Salisbury]

Yes

Drop a note to

James

[george (dicegeorge)]

thanks, i did that 5 minutes ago - without mentioning his name as i dont want a long dispute i want a roof.

And i left him another phone message asking that when he came back to look a it does he think its safe resting his beam so close to the door or does he not?

[g]

[Lobster]

It's hard to comment on the limited info provided, but from what you've posted, it's just you that thinks this guy has made a bad call, right?... to be blunt, what makes you think you know better - that you're right and he's wrong?

David

[Roger]

Either there is a dispute or there isn't. If you do not like the terms of the contract you agreed to, the plans or the extra charges made for your "adjustments" then go elsewhere.

You might find he has done nothing wrong. If you do not like his plans then tough. The fact you will not make any form of official complaint against him or take legal action proves you don't have a valid complaint or you are trying to get the plans changed free of charge by threatening to cause trouble.

[Fredxx]

It would be useful to link to a sketch or photo of what he's suggesting. It may well be fine.

If you want legal help, then uk.legal would be more appropriate.

[dennis]

You need about a bricks worth to support a beam or lintel in normal domestic circumstances. Do you have some odd loading that makes you think it will be abnormally high loading.

If you don't trust his initial judgement maybe you should ask another engineer, if they disagree then you may have a case.

[george (dicegeorge)]

plan is to put 2 beams of metal each side of the beam above with a 'firm support'

Its holding up a lot of roof, I think there should be a long horizontal beam over the door.

[g]

stop press- he just phoned (i left a couple of answer phone messages last night) he's coming on wednesday morning.

[Fredxx]

I guess the idea is to reinforce the large timber with green painted plank nailed to its underneath.

The weight is currently being spread on D and E, and the vertical timbers under G. I presume the wall to the right is also not structurally capable of bearing weight. Therefore any way you look at it, the weight is going to be taken by the vertical timbers under G, so little point in spreading the load, if the metal beams are directly above them.

[Robert Laws]

By "firm support" does he mean new brick piers standing on new pad foundations? If so then the weight will not be taken on the old wall at all.

Robert

[george (dicegeorge)]

The surveyor came on Wednesday, said he was only responsible for the metalwork. But advised 2 long concrete lintels replacing layers E and F and blocks replacing the vertical wooden pillars and the stone infill.

He also advised me on 2x4 metal channel for the kitchen ceiling. I measured it that evening, went into leominster and ordered it on thursday, got it today and put it into place, I'll now poke around and think about it for a few days, then fix them in, gaining experience for the big beams upstairs.

I was let down by shoddy work from the first builder, I've found a new one to do the hard experienced stuff like mixing concrete and acro-propping the roof.

[g]

[g]