Engineer recommending piled solutions

[Deleted member 281264]

I had a structural engineer do the work for an upcoming extension

he is suggesting piles are needed for an oak that is about 7m way, but obviously want to try and avoid piles of possible and I know sometimes engineers like to cover their backsides even if it's overkill

If I decide not to listen to the structural engineer will that effect liability?

Neighbours have an extension closer to the tree built in 1998 and no problems thus far

 

[^woody^]

Tell him to design a traditional strip foundation.

 

[jeds]

Depends on ground conditions? If it's clay it depends on the volume shrinkage. You might get away with a deep trench fill if the shrinkage is low to medium. (maybe 2 to 2.2m) Did the engineer test the soil?

 

[Deleted member 281264]

Tested the soil and it comes in at 53% plasicity

Digging past 2m and piles are probably not much different in price so might just go with them, but just seems crazy going 6m deep for a little house extension

 

[jeds]

I had to pile my own extension due to neighbours conifers. 8m deep.

 

[Deleted member 281264]

I had to pile my own extension due to neighbours conifers. 8m deep.

How much extra did it come to for your foundations?

 

[jeds]

It was £1500 about 15 years ago now, but that isn't a typical price. I had the advantage that I'd done several large jobs with the piling contractor in the previous 12 months or so. Having said that, one bloke did the job using a handheld petrol piling hammer. It was 5x 100mm piles 8m deep. He also concreted the steel piles afterwards. All complete easily in the day. The contractor gave me the steel and I built the ring beam cage myself. If you're handy this is something you could save on. From memory I think it knocked about a grand off the price.