Structural Engineer Fees

pickle pants

Hi guys, I'm currently renovating and extending my house and the architect said I legally need to employ a structural engineer also. Is this true? I've been quoted €4,000 from the structural engineer for design, tender and drawing, inspections and sign off. Is this roughly market rate? Thanks.

Metric Tensor

You legally need to comply with the building regulations.

Many/most architects would not have to qualifications/experience to design structural elements such as structural steel, reinforced concrete, foundations, load bearing walls, etc.

So although there is no rule that says you have to employ any given person you are obliged to comply with the building regulations and in many cases this involves structural designs.

I'm not sure who or what the 4k fee relates to. Is this a fee that an engineer has quoted to take over the job completely and the architect not be involved at construction stage? Or is this the architect's fee for the construction stage and the engineer's fees will be on top of this but only for structural elements?

pickle pants

Hi, thanks very much for your response. I have paid the architect 7k for design and planning. Planning is approved now so he has recommended the structural engineer, who will work alongside the architect. The architect has also quoted 1,500 for PSDP, 1,500 for site management and then a partner of his will inspect and certify the build for 1,750. Does this seem excessive? It's my first time going through something like this so I'm not really sure. Thanks.

DOCARCH

pickle pants wrote: »

Hi guys, I'm currently renovating and extending my house and the architect said I legally need to employ a structural engineer also. Is this true? I've been quoted €4,000 from the structural engineer for design, tender and drawing, inspections and sign off. Is this roughly market rate? Thanks.

What's the size/approx. value of the job?

pickle pants

DOCARCH wrote: »

What's the size/approx. value of the job?

Current house is approx 115m2 and we're adding 20m2 on the first floor. Budget is 180K but not sure if I can get the job done for that little tbh. Thanks.

DOCARCH

Form experience....note....rule of thumb....structural engineers fees tend to be in region of 2% to 3% of build cost (for standard structural engineering services). You could approach another structural engineer for a fee quote.

Edit: Just re-reading MTs post above. This is important....

Metric Tensor wrote: »

I'm not sure who or what the 4k fee relates to. Is this a fee that an engineer has quoted to take over the job completely and the architect not be involved at construction stage? Or is this the architect's fee for the construction stage and the engineer's fees will be on top of this but only for structural elements?

What I suggested above would be structural engineer, providing standard structural engineering services in conjunction with architect providing standard architectural services for tender/construction.

pickle pants

DOCARCH wrote: »

Form experience....note....rule of thumb....structural engineers fees tend to be in region of 2% to 3% of build cost (for standard structural engineering services). You could approach another structural engineer for a fee quote.

Edit: Just re-reading MTs post above. This is important....



What I suggested above would be structural engineer, providing standard structural engineering services in conjunction with architect providing standard architectural services for tender/construction.

Thanks for your help. So 4K for the structural engineer is close to 2% of 180K, so I guess that's reasonable. Regarding the 1750 the architect has said his partner will charge to inspect and sign off on the job, is this typical? I would have assumed that the architect would sign off as part of the job.

Ottoman_1000

pickle pants wrote: »

Thanks for your help. So 4K for the structural engineer is close to 2% of 180K, so I guess that's reasonable. Regarding the 1750 the architect has said his partner will charge to inspect and sign off on the job, is this typical? I would have assumed that the architect would sign off as part of the job.

Depends, if the architect is charted or not. Some architects are technicians which is fine for producing planning drawings and documents in most cases but they will not be able to provide a sign off on the build.

pickle pants

Ottoman_1000 wrote: »

Depends, if the architect is charted or not. Some architects are technicians which is fine for producing planning drawings and documents in most cases but they will not be able to provide a sign off on the build.

Thanks. Yes my architect is an architectural technologist so maybe this is the reason.

Metric Tensor

So your overall professional fees on the project will be 7K + 1.5K + 1.5K +1.75K + 4K = 15.75K

It would not be unusual to see professional fees at 8-10% of project build cost so by that measure you are in the right range. However, that's not to say a lot of people don't pay quite a bit less both on the design side and on the construction stage.

I would expect you to get quite a high level of service for that level of professional fees - some people expect less service and pay for less, some people want a higher level of service and pay for it!

Also - if you're in Dublin you will be paying quite a bit more to start with.

Gumbo

Ottoman_1000 wrote: »

Depends, if the architect is charted or not. Some architects are technicians which is fine for producing planning drawings and documents in most cases but they will not be able to provide a sign off on the build.

Not exactly true.
Some Technicians will have the required experience and PI for sign off.

Ottoman_1000

Gumbo wrote: »

Not exactly true.
Some Technicians will have the required experience and PI for sign off.

True, that is why I said in most cases. Its seems in this case though that the architect is unable to provide sign off. Hench why he is bringing in another party!

pickle pants

Also lads, is having the building signed off on by the architect's partner a legal requirement? Or is it only necessary if I want to sell the house in future?

Ottoman_1000

pickle pants wrote: »

Also lads, is having the building signed off on by the architect's partner a legal requirement? Or is it only necessary if I want to sell the house in future?

https://selfbuild.ie/advice/in-or-out-irish-building-regulations/