Need certification regarding load-bearing situation

[richard7761]

I need a builder to examine an upstairs internal wall, then to certify that it is NOT load-bearing. Then the council we give me permission to remove it.

The council guy from building services said go see a builder.

What should I expect to pay a builder, (or whoever) to certify the situation? Thanks.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Do you mean from your council Building Control? I've never heard this being requested like this before tbh. If the top of the wall has been exposed or you can see it in the loft its usually pretty obvious if its loadbearing or not.

In anycase I would think he would need a competent person (like a structural engineer) to assess it not a builder (no offence to any builders out there). I would have expected to pay say up to £50 if it is literally have a look and write a letter confirming it as no load bearing. Some engineers will quote silly figures to do this but after a ring round I would expect to find a cheapy one.

 

[richard7761]

Do you mean from your council Building Control? I've never heard this being requested like this before tbh. If the top of the wall has been exposed or you can see it in the loft its usually pretty obvious if its loadbearing or not.

In anycase I would think he would need a competent person (like a structural engineer) to assess it not a builder (no offence to any builders out there). I would have expected to pay say up to £50 if it is literally have a look and write a letter confirming it as no load bearing. Some engineers will quote silly figures to do this but after a ring round I would expect to find a cheapy one.

The wall divides the bathroon from the toilet. It's breeze block about 170Cm long. It sits on floorboards. A friend in a house of the exact same house design, says it's not load-bearing and he took it out (but he bought his council house).

I thought that the council guy (a building surveyor) was going to check whether the wall is load-bearing, but perhaps he was just checking whether the details I'd given him were correct or that I had not already removed the wall.

So, certification ought to be one of the simplest. I need structural engineer then.

 

[jeds]

SC will probably ber expensive. Try a chartered building surveyor. Should be about £75.00

 

[richard7761]

SC will probably ber expensive. Try a chartered building surveyor. Should be about £75.00

Yes, without even saying what the job is I was quoted £300 from one place and I'm looking at some (not actually considered quotes) and they go from £180 - £275.

That's just for turning up.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Yes but there are often some cheapy one man band type fellas who will do it for less, I know a couple of engineers down this way who will do a beam and calcs for about £100 so they do exist.

Really though can't you just look in the loft it should be pretty obvious if there's something sitting on it or not!

 

[richard7761]

Yes but there are often some cheapy one man band type fellas who will do it for less, I know a couple of engineers down this way who will do a beam and calcs for about £100 so they do exist.

Really though can't you just look in the loft it should be pretty obvious if there's something sitting on it or not!

Well, yes. But the council need certification.

The council guy was a surveyor, now, if he intended to look in the loft, he would have brought some kind of ladder. But he didn't so, I guess the council want tenants to pay a building surveyor - themselves or someone else. Which is perhaps reasonable?

Of course, the council should have building plans.

I live in the Wakefield area.

 

[Static]

Yes but there are often some cheapy one man band type fellas who will do it for less, I know a couple of engineers down this way who will do a beam and calcs for about £100 so they do exist.

Really though can't you just look in the loft it should be pretty obvious if there's something sitting on it or not!

I doubt that price includes any site visits that would be needed for confirmation of load bearing wall.. also time to write the report..

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Yes but there are often some cheapy one man band type fellas who will do it for less, I know a couple of engineers down this way who will do a beam and calcs for about £100 so they do exist.

Really though can't you just look in the loft it should be pretty obvious if there's something sitting on it or not!

I doubt that price includes any site visits that would be needed for confirmation of load bearing wall.. also time to write the report..

No it doesn't but if he's happy to accept my (excellent) drawings of the existing and its straightforward a site visit is often unnecessary.

The key I mentioned was that if it were straightforward ie everything exposed and obvious. If its not straightforward or obvious then it would cost more of course.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

The council guy was a surveyor

Not Building Control though?

 

[richard7761]

The council guy was a surveyor

Not Building Control though?

Well, what you do is fill in a form for when you want to make alterations, which I did. I got a phone call from someone in the council which was a call to arange for a visit. A person from the council who is a building surveyor visited, but did no inspection and told me to see a builder to obtain certification.

That's all I know.

 

[richard7761]

http://www.yorkshiresurveyors.com/

Gets great reviews.

He will probably think I am bonkers for having asked will he do the job for £50.

 

[hotrod]

I know a couple of engineers down this way who will do a beam and calcs for about £100 so they do exist.

No income tax, no VAT
No money back, no guarantee........

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

I know a couple of engineers down this way who will do a beam and calcs for about £100 so they do exist.

No income tax, no VAT
No money back, no guarantee........

Nah, he has the lot, been going longer than me and very busy like the rest of 'em!

 

[simonjay]

The council guy was a surveyor

Not Building Control though?

I hate these things where nobody knows who anyone is !
I have never known the council to send a "surveyor", but maybe things are different for council tenants ?

Simon.