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Structural Engineer Costs

By Heather

Last updated 11th October 2024 - Reading time: 15 mins

At a Glance

The average structural engineer costs around £450 in the UK.
The duration of the job will vary depending on what's required.

In this structural engineer cost guide, you'll find:

A breakdown of the cost of structural engineer work, as well as what other costs you need to consider.
How long different types of structural engineering jobs take to complete, and an overview of what types of work a structural engineer can help with.
How to find and hire a qualified structural engineer near you.

How much is a structural engineer in the UK?

This guide covers everything you need to know, including average structural engineer costs for different types of jobs. This is essential reading if you're going to have work done on your home.

On average, the structural engineer cost (per day) will be around £450.

This guide also helps you understand what structural engineering is, what's involved in getting a structural engineer report, how long common structural engineering jobs take, and the legal complexities of structural engineering work.

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structural engineer on a construction site in the UK

Average Cost of a Structural Engineer Per Day:

£450

How Much Does a Structural Engineer Cost?
- Structural Engineer Prices
Timescales
Additional Costs
What Is a Structural Engineer?
What Impacts Structural Engineer Costs?
What's Involved in Structural Engineering?
Cost of Building Regulations and Planning Permission
Checklist: Hiring a Structural Engineer
FAQs
Sources

How Much Does a Structural Engineer Cost?

The cost of hiring a structural engineer will vary depending on the job itself. For instance, building an extension ranges from £400 – £2000, while structural engineers usually charge around £600 – £1800 for a loft conversion.

The average cost of building a house is around £200 – £2000, and internal wall removal is priced at £300 – £500.

Other jobs include chimney breast removal, which is normally priced at £100 – £500, £300 – £500 to assess your roof for solar panels and £150 – £500 to fit doors and windows.

Could someone give me an indication as to how much a structural engineer would cost? I have an old bungalow and want to do some extensive restoration work.

"This depends primarily on the location of your site; however, a brief site visit and visual assessment would typically cost between £150.00 and £250.00 +VAT in London with a follow up written report costing an additional £125.00 +VAT per hour if required.

A site visit for the design of single beam over an opening (together with the necessary bearing checks) would typically cost in the region of £395.00 +VAT but can be more depending on your end supports required.

A typical loft conversion would normally cost from £750.00 + VAT with larger lofts costing more depending on your drawing requirements."

Pro-Tech Building Solutions Ltd

Structural Engineer Prices

So, how much do structural engineers charge in the UK?

The below table breaks down the cost of various structural engineer jobs:

Job Description	Average Cost
Building an extension	£400 - £2000
Removing chimney breast	£100 - £500
Loft conversions	£600 - £1800
Fitting solar panels	£300 - £500
Modifying doors and windows	£150 - £500
Building a house	£200 - £2000
Removing internal walls	£300 - £500

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Timescales

Structural engineers tend to charge an hourly or daily fee, so the longer the job is, the more you will pay. The duration will also depend on the difficulty of the job as well as accessibility and restrictions.

The below table sets out the timescale for various structural engineering jobs:

Job Description	Average Timescale
Building an extension	3 hours – 1 day
Removing chimney breast	2 hours – 1 day
Loft conversions	2 hours – 1 day
Fitting solar panels	1 - 2 hours
Modifying doors and windows	3 hours – 1 day
Building a house	7 – 10 days
Removing internal walls	3 – 5 hours

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Additional Costs

There are various other costs you need to consider when hiring a structural engineer, including:

Additional Structural Work

If building regulations are not met during a renovation, then you incur additional construction costs to ensure the changes meet building regulations. This could range from £300 for minor jobs or up to £2,000 for new property construction.

If you fail to make the changes or restore the property to its original state, then you could end up paying a fine of £5,000 or more.

Installing an RSJ

If removing any load-bearing walls, you may have hired a structural engineer to map out where the rolled-steel joist should be placed.

Typically an RSJ costs, it total, between £1,500 – £2,500 to install.

Underpinning a House

One of the most important duties of a structural engineer is checking whether the ground is level enough to ensure they are able to support any new changes. If the report they produce shows evidence of inadequate foundations, you may have to pay to underpin your house.

The cost of underpinning a house in the UK can range from £4,800 to underpin a single wall in a terrace home with resin injector and up to £36,400 to underpin a detached house with a mini-piling method.

Foundations

If there any additional issues with your foundations that are conducted in a structural engineer report, then you may need to install new foundations to provide stability.

The cost of foundations ranges from £4,000 – £12,000 depending on the type of foundations you need — although this may be lower if you decide to DIY.

What Is a Structural Engineer?

A structural engineer is a type of qualified civil engineer who specialises in designing and planning property structures to ensure they are stable and meet building regulations.

Structural engineers are trained in multiple areas, and the main part of their job is to inspect buildings and prepare reports, as well as produce structural calculations for house designs.

They can also obtain building regulations and planning permission approval, which will offer you complete reassurance that any changes are compliant.

They are hired on multiple jobs, including:

Extensions and conversions
Solar panel installation
Door and window modification
Internal wall removal
Chimney breast removal

Do we need an architect or structural engineer for a new extension?

An architect is going to be absolutely necessary to ensure you have detailed plans for the intended extension, and you will need a builder to follow these plans to complete the work.

A structural engineer MAY be needed, but only if you will be removing anything from the existing building in the process (i.e. if you are removing a supporting wall, then the structural engineer would be required to ensure this can be done safely and securely).

If the extension is very simple, then you may not need a structural engineer and only require the architect and builder(s).

P Hughes Architecture Ltd

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What Impacts Structural Engineer Costs?

To determine the cost of structural engineer jobs, you need to consider several factors in your budget before hiring someone, as the following points will determine their final quote.

Type of Job

Structural engineers usually charge an hourly or daily rate. However, their final price will depend on the type of job they are involved in.

For instance, smaller jobs such as modifying doors and windows cost around £150 – £500, while consulting on solar panel installation ranges from £300 – £500.

Larger projects such as building a new property could cost anywhere from £200 – £2,000, £400 – £2,000 for an extension and £600 – £1800 for loft conversions.

Other common jobs include chimney breast removal, which costs around £100 to £500, while internal wall removal is normally priced at £300 – £500.

structural engineers on a large construction site

Location of Property

Where you live is also a contributing cost factor, as both small and large structural engineering companies may charge more for properties in central areas where there is a lot of traffic.

They may also set higher rates for residents in remote areas which are further away, so you may want to try and find a local structural engineer who is more affordable.

If you live in London, you could expect to pay around £100 per hour or more for structural engineering services, while companies in the north-west may only charge £50 per hour.

Ease of Access

Structural engineers may put their prices up if there is restricted access to a property. For instance, if a roof survey is conducted on a steep roof, they may charge extra, as it will take longer to inspect.

What's Involved in Structural Engineering?

To help you understand the structural engineering process, here is a breakdown of the process for different jobs.

Building an Extension

Before having an extension built, a structural engineer will assess the structure of the property, which will help them draw up their design plans.

They will then draw up plans and lay out the structural calculations for the roof, the first floor, and walls to ensure the extension will be structurally sound and meets building regulations.

Removing Chimney Breast

If removing a real chimney breast, you will need to consult a structural engineer who will assess the chimney breast and roof to ensure it is safe to remove.

This could also involve drawing up plans to install support beams to secure the structure of the property.

Loft Conversions

Loft conversions that involve altering roof trusses will require the help of a structural engineer who will conduct a survey on the roof to ensure it is safe enough to support a loft conversion.

They will also conduct structural calculations for roof beams to make sure they are positioned correctly while also making sure the conversion is safe.

Fitting Solar Panels

If you are considering installing solar panels, then you may need to hire a structural engineer to conduct a roof survey to check the safety and security of the roof.

This will enable them to decide whether your roof is strong enough to support solar panels. They will also assess the size and capability of the mounting systems that the solar panels will sit on.

two tradespeople maintaining solar panel installations

Modifying Doors and Windows

When renovating your home, you may decide to change a window to a door or vice versa. If multiple door and window alterations are made, structural engineering may be important to ensure that new installations align with regulations.

This is especially important if a wall is load-bearing, as a structural engineer will survey the doorway or window opening and offer their advice and plans for modifications.

Building a House

For new properties, structural engineers will design and plan the skeleton of the home, which will include everything from load-bearing walls to the roof and foundations.

They will create a mathematical plan to ensure that building regulations are met and the property measurements are realistic.

Removing Internal Walls

If expanding space in your home by removing internal walls, then a structural engineer’s services will come in handy, especially if the wall is load-bearing.

They will offer their expert advice on the type and size of rolled steel joist you need to fix onto the beams to support the load-bearing wall during removal.

Is it a structural engineer that I need to tell me whether a wall has been removed correctly?

"If it is/was a load bearing wall, then yes. Some may say no, but I would always recommend this is done so you don’t have problems later on. If it was not load bearing, then no."

Perfect & Son’s

Cost of Building Regulations and Planning Permission

When building or changing the structure of a property, you need to consider building regulations and planning permission to ensure any structural changes are safe and compliant.

To ensure you meet building regulations and planning permission, you may want to consider hiring a structural who will ensure that any plans and designs are within the limits of permitted development. And if not, they can help you calculate the costs of getting planning permission.

tradespeople on a construction site looking at a building plan

While it is not a legal requirement to hire a structural engineer, it is worthwhile as it can limit problems from occurring during, and after, the building process.

The role of a structural engineer is to inspect the area where you want to make changes and produce a report that will point out any issues.

Once the inspection is complete, they will then proceed to map out measurement and design ideas which meet the current regulations to ensure your property is safe and secure.

If you do not hire a structural engineer to conduct an inspection report, then this could result in expensive repairs later down the line, as you may end up building an extension, removing a wall, or having to pay to replace doors or windows if they are unsafe.

What plans do I need for a dormer loft conversion? Truss roof, built in 2013, 3 bed semi detached, permitted development. I think an architect may be a bit overkill for what I am trying to achieve. I was thinking building regulation plans or can I just do a building notice? I assume I will also need a structural engineer to do the calcs.

"You will need plans for building control which show all the structural requirements including a possible engineers report to validate the adequacy of any steel beams. If your property is in a conservation area you may also require architectural plans for planning submission."

David John Builders

Checklist: Hiring a Structural Engineer

Before hiring a structural engineer, you should ask several questions to ensure that you are hiring a reliable and hard-working tradesman. To help you understand what to look for, take a look at the following checklist.

Inquire about their qualifications which should include a degree in structural or civil engineering
Ask about their experience and only hire them if they have previous involvement with a similar job
Request proof of previous experience in the form of review or images if possible
Check to see if they are registered under the competent person’s scheme or any other accredited structural engineering organisation

Can a competent builder or building team put in a steel support without the need for a structural engineer?

"Building control will want a structural engineer to provide drawings, calculations, and design. It's not just the steel, it's also the padstones sizes. He will back his design with his indemnity insurance. So you will need a structural engineer depending on the complexity of the works depends on his costs. Allow £400 – £1,200 for a domestic project."

Head Property Maintenance

FAQs

What are structural engineer calculations?

A structural calculations report is basically an outline of the project design and building work which includes everything from foundations and structural works to materials and measurements for beams and joists.

The report is a vital part of renovations as it ensures that building regulations and planning permission approval is met. It also prevents disputes during the building process as long as the calculations are followed.

When is a structural engineer required?

You should consider hiring a structural engineer if you plan on renovating your home or building a new property, as they will be able to inspect and report on the condition of the property and calculate the best way to make changes while complying to building regulations.

You may also want to consult with a structural engineer if you any structural issues such as subsidence, sagging ceilings or roofing problems, as they will provide you with the best complaint solution.

Can a structural engineer draw up plans?

If you are just hiring a structural engineer without the help of an architect, then they can provide you with structural calculations as well as drawing up the building plans.

How much are structural engineer reports?

The average structural engineer survey cost is around £300 to £400. However, this will vary depending on the inspection job, the location and ease of access.

Can a structural engineer design a house?

Structural engineers do contribute to the design of a property to a certain extent. However, if you are looking for a design expert, you may want to consider hiring an architect or an interior designer instead.

What's the difference between an architect and a structural engineer?

Architects are responsible for designing buildings and modifications so that they have the layout, usability, and aesthetic that someone is looking for.

Structural engineers are responsible for ensuring that a structure can safely perform its function, so they will be involved in selecting materials and designing the structure.