FAQs

This depends on the type of project. According to the Euro-Codes and UK Building Regulations, no soil investigation is required for basic building projects (e.g. small house extension) if the soil conditions are known. The engineer is allowed to use data from neighbouring sites and we usually refer to the British Geological Society records to establish site conditions in the project area.

A trial pit is recommended to establish exact ground conditions so that the engineer can include this in their design. The builder and the building inspector would then be aware in advance of the required excavation depth. This eliminates the uncertainty facing the contractor in pricing foundations cost if the foundation depth is not known. Knowing the required foundation depth usually results in lower bids.

A soil investigation is required and we recommend this to be done as early as possible for all cases where one of the following applies:

• Special site conditions (e.g. sloping sites, marsh land, proximity to water)
• Site where there is a risk of contamination
• Basements and retaining walls
• New developments (housing, commercial, industrial, mixed use)

The cost of soil investigation vary and start at £1500 upwards. We help clients by providing a precise scope for soil investigation to guide the geotechnical engineer on what is required. Our soil investigation brief would define the following:

• The number of boreholes required
• The location of each borehole and the required depth for each borehole
• The tests required to establish soil properties, contamination, water level, gas presence
• The design parameters that need to be defined by the soil investigation in the interpretive report.

The brief above is required to ensure the design is based on accurate data so that the contractor or subcontractor responsible for foundations installation provides accurate quotes based on well-defined site condition.

As an example, one of our clients was building two new housing on a sloping site. She had received quotes ranging between £120,000 to £150,000 for the building of an embedded retaining walls that is 30m long. We were then appointed as the Structural Engineers and defined the soil investigation brief, supervised the investigation, checked the interpretive report and carried out preliminary design of contiguous piles. This was used to request revised quotes which then dropped to £90,000. Our fees for the scope definition were £1000 and the soil investigation cost £5500 (two boreholes 9-12m deep). For more information, please read our article:

A Structural Survey Report varies from a general Building Survey as it only considers the structural condition of a property. This means that it considers issues such as structural defects (cracks, distortions, vibrations), signs of subsidence or foundation movement, sings of material deterioration and likely causes. The Structural Survey should also extend to recommend any further investigation required (e.g. trial pits, monitoring, drains surveys). If repairs are required, the Structural Survey should provide an overall estimate for cost of repairs.

We have prepared Structural Survey Reports for the following types of buildings:

• Residential properties (for homebuyers and homeowners) especially properties suspected of having subsidence or having various categories of cracking.
• Commercial properties requiring alterations to establish viability of such alterations.
• Industrial buildings requiring change of use, additional loading or life extension.
• Energy structures requiring additional loading, change of function or life extension.

Our fees for preparing a Structural Survey Report vary depending on the type of property, its age and condition. As a guide, we charge £300 for a detailed visual inspection of a residential property and £300 to £450 for preparing the report. This does not include the cost of repair design if any repairs are required, although we advise on the cost of repairs.

Yes. We may decide to waive or defer the charge occasionally but in general, we need to charge for site visits.
In the initial stage, we need to come out to meet our potential clients, establish and confirm the scope and identify site conditions (neighbour’s boundaries, site conditions, drains, trees, slopes, services, etc). During execution, we also need to come out to meet the main contractor, discuss the specifications and drawings and communicate requirements face to face to answer queries and discuss measures required to mitigate risks.
Our scope and proposal always identify the number of visits that we include in our fees. We also state the cost of additional site visits. Our current rate for a site visit is £250 exc VAT unless a different rate is required (e.g. in cases where we act as Project Managers).

This really depends on the type of application. Our service includes a measured survey, initial concept design for the client’s review and drawings for existing and proposed plans and elevations with a section. This service starts at £1000 exc VAT. Some clients request additional services such as acting as their agent or preparing 3D visualization and we offer such services for an additional fee. Please contact us to discuss your exact job requirement and to obtain a binding fee.

This really depends on the type of application. Our service includes a measured survey, initial concept design for the client’s review and drawings for existing and proposed plans and elevations with a section. They also include a design and access statement or a heritage statement if the site is in a conservation area. This service starts at £1200 exc VAT. Some clients request additional services such as acting as their agent or preparing 3D visualization and we offer such services for an additional fee. Please contact us to discuss your exact job requirement and to obtain a binding fee.