What Does a Structural Engineer Actually Provide?
Updated: Sep 22
When planning a home extension, loft conversion or other building project, it isn't always obvious which professionals you need, or at what stage you should involve them.
An architectural designer can help develop the proposed layout and prepare the drawings for your project, while a structural engineer designs the structural elements needed to make those plans work safely in practice.
At Pavol Zajac Structural Engineers Ltd, we specialise in structural design, drawings and calculations for planned residential building projects.
We work with homeowners, architects, architectural designers and builders on projects including house extensions, loft conversions, load-bearing wall removals, internal structural alterations, roof alterations, foundation design and new-build homes.
So, where does a structural engineer fit into your project?
Stage 1: Developing Your Plans and Architectural Drawings
For many residential projects, the first step is developing the initial idea into a workable design.
This may involve considering the layout, how you want to use the new space, the appearance of the property and whether planning permission is required.
An architectural designer can then prepare the drawings needed to develop the project and provide the basis for the structural design.
Need Help With Your Architectural Drawings?
If you're at the beginning of your project and need help developing your plans, we work alongside Jagma Property Services, who specialise in helping homeowners take residential building projects from their initial ideas through the architectural and planning stages.
Jagma can help with architectural drawings, planning applications and Building Regulations drawings, creating the plans needed to move your project towards the structural engineering stage.
Stage 2: Structural Design, Drawings and Calculations
Once the proposed layout and architectural drawings have been established, the structural engineering can begin.
This is where we determine how the proposed building work will be structurally supported and design the elements required for the project.
For example:
If a load-bearing wall is being removed, we calculate the loads involved and design the structural support required.
If a loft conversion is planned, we calculate and design the new floor, beams and relevant roof structure.
If a house extension is being built, we can design the foundations and supporting structural elements required for the new construction.
If the project requires structural steelwork, we can provide calculations and specifications for beams, columns, connections and other supporting elements.
The result is a set of structural drawings and calculations that provides the technical structural information needed for the next stages of the project.
What Do Structural Drawings and Calculations Include?
Structural engineering involves understanding how loads are transferred through a building and designing the structural elements needed to safely support them.
Depending on the project, our work can include:
Steel beam calculations for load-bearing wall removal
Structural layouts for extensions and loft conversions
Floor joist and roof structure calculations
Foundation design and calculations
Beam, column and structural steelwork specifications
Connection details and structural support information
The calculations determine the appropriate size, strength and specification of the structural elements required for the proposed work.
The accompanying drawings provide clear information showing your builder how the structural design should be incorporated into the project.
Stage 3: Building Regulations and Construction
Once the architectural and structural information has been prepared, the project can move towards Building Regulations approval and construction.
Structural drawings and calculations may be used by:
Your architectural designer
Your builder
Building Control
Contractors installing structural steelwork and other structural elements
Having the architectural and structural information properly coordinated helps everyone involved understand how the proposed project should be constructed.
Why Do Architectural and Structural Design Work Together?
Architectural and structural design perform different but complementary roles.
The architectural drawings establish what you want to build.
Structural engineering determines how the structural elements required for that design will work.
Working from clear architectural drawings allows us to develop a structural solution around the proposed design, helping the project move more smoothly from concept towards construction.
This is also why relationships between architectural designers and structural engineers can be valuable. Good communication between the different professionals involved can help resolve technical details earlier and provide clearer information for the construction team.
When Should You Contact a Structural Engineer?
Ideally, you should involve a structural engineer once you have a clear proposal for your building project and, where appropriate, your architectural drawings have been prepared.
Getting the structural design completed before construction begins means that beams, foundations, joists and other structural elements can be incorporated into the project from the outset.
At Pavol Zajac Structural Engineers Ltd, we provide structural design, drawings and calculations for residential building projects across the South East.
Starting a Residential Building Project?
If you're still at the architectural design or planning stage, visit Jagma Property Services to find out how they can help with your plans and architectural drawings.
If you already have your plans and need structural design, drawings and calculations, tell us about your proposed building work and send us your architectural drawings where available.
