How to find a structural engineer near you
Whether you’re hoping to build or renovate your home or business, as a property owner, any plans for structural work will require advice from a structural engineering consultant.
No construction site is complete without a structural engineer on the team. This type of civil engineering discipline covers structural calculations and material selections for all kinds of buildings, helping to design a structure that is strong, safe, and suitable for its intended use.
Without the guidance of a specialist, how will you ensure that your project proceeds safely and cost-effectively from start to end? For this, you’ll need qualified structural engineers to analyse your structure and guide alterations to guarantee safety and regulatory compliance.
However, if you’ve never worked with structural engineers before, or you’re unfamiliar with the area where your project will be taking place, you might not know where to find one you can trust.
Don’t know anyone in the local trade or have a reliable recommendation already? Then you’ll need to do some online research – and with ‘cowboy’ companies to worry about, simply searching for ‘structural engineers near me’ then clicking on a few links isn’t going to cut it!
To help you find a reputable structural engineering company,this blog explains the crucial considerations to take into account during your search.
7 considerations when choosing a structural engineer:
Choosing a structural engineer means finding someone trustworthy who has the proven ability to fulfil the needs of your project. So, before you can begin a proper search, you should compile a list of key requirements that you’ll need any contractor to meet – such as the type of building work, timeframe, and budget you’re planning for.
Selecting the nearest or cheapest option out of convenience could have a negative impact on your project if they turn out to be unsuitable – potentially causing delays and disruptions.
That’s why, when picking an appropriate candidate, you must look into the following seven areas and make an informed decision before proceeding to choose a structural engineer.
1) Credentials
As with any professional you hire to complete work for you, you should confirm that a structural engineer consultancy has the correct qualifications and accreditation for the job.
At the very least, a practising structural engineer’s academic qualifications should include a BSc (Bachelor of Science), BEng (Bachelor of Engineering), or MSc (Master of Science) degree.
They should also be an incorporated or chartered engineer – meaning they’re registered with a credible industry body that backs up the standard of their skills, such as the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) or the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE).
This certifies that the engineer meets the educational requirements and professional standards necessary to handle structural engineering projects competently.
2) Location
Though it may seem obvious, it’s best to hire a structural engineer who is based in the vicinity of your property or construction site, as you won’t have to travel as far for meetings or site visits.
Structural engineers will need to assess the property or site in person, not just consulting architectural plans and communicating remotely, so it is much more convenient and saves on travel costs if you engage a structural engineering company based nearby.
This will also mean they have prior experience working in the area, so they’ll be familiar with local knowledge such as ground types, planning permissions, and architectural styles.
To find local businesses, for example, you might search ‘structural engineering Manchester’ – then take a look at the companies operating within an acceptable travel radius.
3) Experience level
As mentioned, by choosing a team that has experience working locally, you’ll benefit from their understanding of building regulations in the area and relationships with local authorities.
However, it’s not just about finding structural engineers who operate nearby – it’s important to find a company that offers and specialises in the exact services you need. For example, do you need full project management, or just a specific aspect, such as a structural report, foundation design, or removal of a load-bearing wall?
Additionally, does the company primarily work with one type of building – e.g. commercial – or do they have the resources, techniques, and experience to work with residential buildings, too?
One way to check their experience level is to determine when the business started and how long they have been carrying out successful projects – do they have a long-established reputation?
4) Previous projects
Another way to investigate whether a structural engineering firm has experience working on developments relevant to your aims is to check the previous projects they’ve worked on.
Most businesses should have a portfolio or case studies on their website showing examples of work they’ve done and list the names of major companies they’ve completed projects for.
A long list of recognisable client names can go a long way in boosting their credibility, as it shows the firm is trustworthy and can deliver more complex larger-scale developments – but if you’re looking for something smaller-scale, is there evidence of their capabilities here, too?
Looking at their past projects will provide a visual representation of the kinds of work they do and give you a better idea of their diversity and scale. This will let you know whether their skill set is suitable for the scope of your construction plans, and you can even reference previous work when contacting them if it’s similar to what you want them to do for you.
5) Client reviews
If you’ve put serious thought into making any kind of major purchase before, then you’ll know the place to start is recommendations or reviews from the company’s previous customers.
Just as the structural engineering firm’s website should provide evidence of their previous projects, it should also feature client testimonials or display Google reviews with honest customer feedback. Don’t just look for 5-star reviews, though – look for specific comments about their experience that stand out, such as their level of communication.
People are also more likely to leave feedback on the company’s social media pages, so be sure to check sites such as Facebook or Instagram, which should also feature images of their work.
Looking up genuine reviews across multiple sources should help you get a clearer picture of their abilities and the satisfaction of their clients, so you know what to expect from them.
6) Communication
In any role, communication is key, but especially in situations where safety is fundamental. Even if it’s a relatively small job, such as knocking down a wall or building an extension, you can’t risk something going wrong with your structure and potentially causing it to fail.
That’s why you need to be 100% confident in the communication skills of your chosen structural engineer. You’ll have to rely on them to understand what you want and deliver it proactively, bring innovative problem-solving to the table, and explain things well both verbally and in writing to ensure you’re always in the loop and on the same page.
For your project to run smoothly – on time and within budget – you’ll need a competent structural engineer who can work well with you and other professionals involved, such as architects and builders, and who will provide a responsive point of contact throughout.
This is where it helps to set up an initial meeting with them, so you can discuss the details in person and get a feel for how you might work together and the quality of their customer service.
7) Value for money
While convenience and affordability are probably at the forefront of your mind, you must remember that you get what you pay for – and cheap poor-quality work will only cause problems and rack up greater costs down the line when you have to address errors or failures.
If you want good value for your money, you should request quotes for your project plans, which businesses should be able to give you after a no-obligation discussion with their team.
These should provide a breakdown of the anticipated costs, showing what you’ll be getting for your budget, and factoring in potential changes that you may need to allow some flexibility for.
With a cost breakdown and estimated timeline, the ball is in your court to compare quotes and consider the level of experience and quality of work they’ve delivered previously. Will they be able to deliver your vision and tailor their services to meet your needs – nothing less?
UK structural engineers you can trust
Here at RD Engineering Associates, we can proudly say that we’ve been providing a range of architectural and engineering services across North West England, including structural engineering in Manchester, for several years now. Here’s how we stack up to the checklist:
1) Both of our directors obtained MSc Civil Engineering master’s degrees in 2018. Christopher has achieved IEng MICE incorporated engineer status with the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), while Thomas is progressing towards CEng chartered engineer status.
2) Our head office is located in Wigan, and we also have a branch in Blackpool, allowing us to cover a wide area of North West England, from Cumbria down to Cheshire and beyond.
3) Together, our directors have over 25 years of industry experience in various roles and sectors. Our team also includes a skilled technical draftsman with over a decade in the industry and an organised administrator with around 20 years of management experience.
4) We have worked on a variety of projects at different scales, including collaborations with Blackpool Council, West Lancashire Borough Council, Network Rail, United Utilities, and HSBC.
5) We’re pleased to say that RD Engineering has plenty of 5-star Google reviews and positive recommendations on our Facebook page – read through our client feedback to see for yourself.
6) We pride ourselves on not just delivering high-quality results, but also working as closely as possible with our clients to bring their vision to life – all while sticking to an efficient timeline and keeping their budget in mind.
7) Our company also offers a range of great value engineering services under one roof at competitive rates. We’re happy to meet with you for a consultation and provide a no-obligation quote – and if you’re happy to go ahead, we’ll get started as soon as possible.
So, if you think RD Engineering could be the right structural engineers for you, please contact us. Call 01257 445 010 or email info@rd-engineering.co.uk to learn how our comprehensive services and client-focused approach can help your project accomplish success.