So, you’ve established that your project will require a structural engineer in order to make accurate and efficient calculations. However, if for one reason or another, you don’t have a particular firm in mind to get in touch with, what should you do next?
The most important thing is that you should always aim to make measured decisions based on a number of important factors, don’t simply opt for the nearest or cheapest engineer on the market.
The following blog is intended to help you when choosing a structural engineer. We will outline some key considerations you should try to remember when drawing up a shortlist, some questions to ask a prospective structural engineer, and more.
How To Choose a Structural Engineer
Choosing a structural engineer is about finding somebody you can trust that also suits your needs. In doing so, there are a number of key considerations to ensure you receive a good service for your budget. This includes considering the needs of your project, drawing up a list of viable businesses, checking certifications, and assessing previous projects.
An unsuitable structural engineer on your project could lead to issues with a structure’s stability, significantly delay a project’s timeline, and cause unnecessary stress and cost to both the structure itself, and all stakeholders. Factors to consider when choosing a structural engineer for your project include:
What are the Requirements of Your Project?
The first and arguably most important step when choosing a structural engineer is to determine the scope and requirements of your project.
It’s vital that you determine the level and specialism of the structural engineering firm you are likely to need. There may be little use contacting a specialist low-rise residential structural engineer to do work on a 350 room hotel structure, for example.
Draw up A Reputable List
It is most common in the architectural industry, for people to establish professional connections through consistent collaborations across multiple projects. Architects will often look to rely on this network of trusted contacts when it comes to referrals and seeking outside assistance on a specific project. Therefore, if you have any people you trust in the industry, you may wish to seek their recommendation to help you draw up a list of names.
Additionally, you may want to explore an industry directory. The Institute of Structural Engineer’s (ISE) findanengineer.com is seen as a widely regarded resource when it comes to finding reputable structural engineers. It exclusively highlights engineers affiliated with the institute, guaranteeing their adherence to ISE’s high standards of quality.
Another option you may wish to consider once you have managed to draw up a shortlist of firm’s, you can also use popular review platforms such as Google Reviews or Trust Pilot to ensure that you can access and see honest opinions and reviews from previous customers.
Check Qualifications and Credentials
In order to narrow your shortlist down, it’s recommended that you ensure your chosen engineers have all the necessary qualifications and credentials. This will include checking that they are chartered with The Institution of Structural Engineers.
You should double check and verify all licences, certifications, and affiliations with their relevant organisation to ensure you are dealing with a trustworthy engineer.
Browse Past Projects
A useful tip when it comes to finding an upfront and honest structural engineering firm to work with is to check their website, how prominently are their reviews, testimonials, previous projects, etc. displayed on the site.
If a firm has no reviews or testimonials on their site, or they are hidden away and difficult to track down, it could be seen as a red flag.
It is useful to look out for projects of a similar scale or of a similar type to your own to ensure that the business has experience dealing in what you would need from them.
Consider Price
When it comes to structural engineering, you get what you pay for. Therefore, when it comes to a job as vital to the overall success of a project as structural calculations, it’s not recommended to make your decision based purely on how low the quote is — you wouldn’t cut corners when building the home, so why cut corners when it comes to the calculations? Prioritise looking for the right price, not simply the lowest.
What Questions To Ask A Structural Engineer To Ensure Trust
There are a number of questions you may wish to ask when choosing a structural engineer should you wish to ensure you are working with somebody you can rely on. This includes asking how they come up with their pricing, what their engineer process is, how long they have been established, where they are based, etc.
Choosing a structural engineer is an important job. Not only because it could shape the future of the project, but it could shape the future of any potential projects you may undertake down the road as once you find an engineer you’re happy with and trust, you won’t need to conduct a prolonged series of checks every time.
Key questions to ask a structural engineer to ensure that you can trust them include:
- Are There Any Hidden Costs?: The price of a structural engineering service will vary hugely. However, it’s possible for additional charges to exist which you may not have factored in when considering your budget.
- What Is The Company’s History?: For a complex project, you may not be too keen on working with a new company on their first job. Therefore, getting an idea of how long a firm has been operational could be useful.
- What Level Of Insurance Do They Have?: It is vital that you work with a firm that holds Professional Indemnity Insurance. This standard insurance ensures that anything to go wrong due to inadequate service or a mistake would not result in you footing a sizable fee.
- What Sort of Timeline Can They Provide?: How long structural engineering calculation work will ultimately take will depend on the specifics of the project. However, asking for a timeline can provide you with some clarity on the process.
The Importance of Working With Structural Engineers You Can Trust
Ultimately, choosing a structural engineer for your project should be seen as a decision that you can’t afford to take lightly. By keeping in mind the key factors outlined in this blog, you can ensure that the engineer you select and begin working with is one you can trust.
When choosing a structural engineering firm you can trust, you’re in the right place. Our team possesses years of experience assisting on a huge variety of different projects across the length and breadth of Britain. We possess a diverse portfolio, showcasing our inbuilt ability to handle projects of varying scale, type, and budget, without ever needing to sacrifice on quality.
Additionally, having operated in the industry for over 10 years, PorthouseDean has built a sterling reputation, both among our peers and our former clients. We also have a large number of excellent testimonials and reviews to support this. Our website is home to a number of valuable resources designed to provide insight into our work, for industry professionals, home owners, and even prospective engineers themselves.
Chartered with The Institution of Structural Engineers, we have demonstrated across years of hard work, that consistency, accuracy, and quality should always go hand in hand when it comes to the crucial structural calculator stage of a project.
If you’re on the lookout for a structural engineering firm that you can trust, you need PorthouseDean. We aim to be as transparent and responsive as possible throughout the process, ensuring that you remain as in-the-loop as possible. We also aspire to foster a relationship built through mutual respect and collaboration — allowing us to forge lasting relationships wherever possible. With clients across the UK, no matter where your project is, you’re in the right place. For more information about PorthouseDean and what we can do for you, get in touch with us today or request a quote.
