Structural Engineer & Builder

[AllyD]

Hi - I'm new to the forum and found you through searching about lime rendering etc...

We live in East Devon and have found an 1850's farmhouse that we are considering purchasing but it requires a lot of updating and repairing. Before putting in an offer we need to know how much work is required and the likely cost.

Not having taken on a large project like this before we don't have any details of recommended builders or engineers. Friends have used builders/engineers but wouldn't recommend them. Therefore, can anyone recommend a good builder and structural engineer who would consider work in the East Devon area? Who also know about old buildings.

Many thanks in advance.

 

[LadyArowana]

Is it a listed building ? If it is, then it is worth spending some time in the planning portal of your local authority and reviewing applications for changes to listed buildings to get an idea of what is required to get approval for work to be done, and indeed whether some of the things you want to do stand a hope of being allowed. It would be a shame to have your heart set on certain things and then finding after buying that they will not be allowed.

 

[johnandrew]

Hi Ally

The building conservation directory may be a useful place to start.

Regards

John

 

[AllyD]

Hi LadyArowana - No it's not a listed building fortunately.

Many thanks for the link John - I have looked at this website but it does state that they only list the suppliers and are not recommendations from them. So I was hoping that there may be someone on this website who has used a builder/engineer in my area who they would be willing to recommend. As I know how expensive they are and don't always deliver - so just trying to avoid any wasted costs.

 

[robgil]

Hi , and welcome to the forum. Sometimes not being listed can also have a down side , for instance building work has to meet building regs which it might not have to do if it were listed. Just something to be aware of.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Hello - welcome to the forum. The cottage - it's not in Chardstock is it?

 

[AllyD]

Hi thanks for the information regarding the building regs we were ready for that one... as you seem to need building regs for everything nowadays....

No it's not in Chardstock - it's nearer Lyme Regis.

 

[lou]

I would also suggest you check out the bat situation and what the planning consent requires in relation to bats. We bought a listed property last July and submitted the plans about 6 months ago but had to wait for the end of May this year to get the bat surveys done. This has, so far, cost in the region of £1300 and we have yet to find out what we have to pay to have mitigation installed in the barn opposite (which looks like a fine place for bats already but maybe they need more comfort than the current beams afford). It's cost me more in frayed nerves and frustration - we still have to submit the mitigation plans to the Countryside Commission for Wales, wait for them to approve, and then back to the CO for their consent.

Maybe things are a little easier in England. However, our CO is lovely and is so happy that we don't want to put UPVC windows in that she's being as helpful as she possibly can be. I know they vary though, and we have Crittall metal montstrosities for window frames currently. I have heard of a CO who required these to be kept as they were part of history of the building. Perhaps I should be too nice about our CO yet until I have consent in my palm.

Good luck!

 

[vicky whitworth]

Hi AllyD, welcome. Sorry not to have caught up with you earlier. Holidays and all that. I too live in East Devon and have had both a structural engineer and a builder do work on my cottage over the last year or so. I'm not sure if I'm allowed to make recommendations on this site so it might be better if you could work out how to PM me and Ill send you some suggestions. However in the meantime I would suggest you take a look at the Heritage Coast Building Company (they have a web site) run by Mike O'Leary. They built our kitchen and bathroom extension and are based near Uplyme. They have also done work in Charmouth and Bridport so can show you what they can do - or you'd be welcome to come and have a look at our place. They do work for the National Trust too but that doesn't mean they are big and fancy and expensive but a pleasure to have around...

Could I just mention, in case no one else has, that you may be in a greensand area - as we are - and that if you are planning anything structural it's a good idea to get a structural engineer who understands greensand and its potential. Our neighbours didn't and when the rain got into their exposed footings and the greensand started collapsing it was frightening. I have been told of someone who was killed when they fell into greensand - it may be a country myth - but I wasn't prepared to risk it.

FamilyWiggs - have you been nosing in my windows - we are, indeed The Cottage, Chardstock as opposed to the many cottages there are in Chardstock.

 

[Penners]

AllyD - welcome.

If you're at the stage of thinking seriously about this purchase, then I suggest that what you really need before you finally commit yourselves is a structural survey. A Chartered Surveyor can carry out a full inspection of the building and give you a report on its condition, plus an estimate of what it will cost to rectify any faults.

No survey is an ironclad guarantee, but at least you know that a surveyor is properly trained and professionally qualified in the work (unlike most builders), and carries insurance against the possibility of negligence. Just bear in mind that nobody (not even a surveyor!) has X-ray eyes.

Be sure that you find a surveyor who is experienced in period buildings and local to the area. And, although it will cost you several hundred pounds, I do suggest that you should ask for a "full structural survey". It's not worth saving a couple of hundred to get anything less thorough.

Be sure to give the surveyor the fullest possible briefing on what you want, plus details of any specific details that are worrying you.

Find a surveyor here: http://www.rics.org/findasurveyor