Engineers fees

I have just completed plans for renovating my house which I had drawn up with an (non-RIAI) architect and I am now putting in for planning permission. While the architect has done a good job and been very professional, her lowly status as a non-RIAI member means she is not qualified to sign off. (Unfortunately, it proved impossible to get an RIAI architect to lower themselves to even consider such a "small" job - estimated cost €100,000! - damn building trade boom!) This now means that I need to get someone qualified to sign off and a civil engineer to verify loading and structural consistency, etc. Although this is not essential for the planning stage it will be a must before starting construction.

I'm starting to think that maybe a civil engineer would have been a better choice in the first place but now that I've gone this far... sure what can ya do? Since I already have full plans and drawings done, I'm hoping that the engineers fees won't be through the roof (ha!) but as I will need an engineer who is also qualified to sign off, I might just be kidding myself here. Anyone any ideas as to what kind of costs to expect here and anyone up for such a lowly job?

I assume you are talking about an architectural technician. All the lending institutions have criteria in place to allow tech. to sign off on builds. Its something along the lines of 10 years industry experience paired with PI insurance.

In architectural firms it is mostly techs that do all the calculations as regards the loads etc. The architect is primarily concerned with "pretty pictures".

Incidently, what qualifies as "through the roof" in your opinion?

hi sas,

Thanks for the quick reply. My architect is fully qualified but doesn't have the 10 years experience or PI insurance, therein lies the problem. Frankly, I have no idea what I mean by 'through the roof'! I'm just hoping that I won't be back to square one essentially with the design budget. Also, I'm hoping that ye nice forum chappies could gimme a ballpark figure!

SAS - I'm afraid you're wrong about the role of technicians and architects in firms - you've pidgeon-holed both professions there. Apart from the fact that there's a difference between a Technician and a Technologist, architects tend to spend the 6 years of formal education and min.2 yrs of professional education to become registered learning a couple more things than making "pretty pictures".

To the OP, I agree, it can be difficult to get someone to certify someone elses work, but there are pleanty of people out there that do so don't stress too much, however, an engineer probably would not have designed as good an extension for you - it's not what they do. Just because a Vet can stitch and knows about medication does not mean that you go to them to take out your spleen because they'll be cheaper than a surgeon!

janec said:

hi sas,

Thanks for the quick reply. My architect is fully qualified but doesn't have the 10 years experience or PI insurance, therein lies the problem. Frankly, I have no idea what I mean by 'through the roof'! I'm just hoping that I won't be back to square one essentially with the design budget. Also, I'm hoping that ye nice forum chappies could gimme a ballpark figure!

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I know of a firm in Laois that will do the 5 stage payment visits for a house build for 1650 + VAT if thats any good as a reference (Give or take).

Its very standard practise at this end of the country for one individual to get you through the planning process and a different one supervises the build. Usually it works out cheaper this way.

MG01 said:

SAS - I'm afraid you're wrong about the role of technicians and architects in firms - you've pidgeon-holed both professions there. Apart from the fact that there's a difference between a Technician and a Technologist, architects tend to spend the 6 years of formal education and min.2 yrs of professional education to become registered learning a couple more things than making "pretty pictures".

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I may have touched a nerve! I'm sure there are some very competent architects out there. However, my posting only reflects what I've been told by some civil engineers and a builder or 2 I meet from time to time.

sas said:

In architectural firms it is mostly techs that do all the calculations as regards the loads etc. The architect is primarily concerned with "pretty pictures".

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Not sure what architectural technicians you're talking about but neither architects nor arch technicians do calculations for loads for a building - that is the primary role of a structural engineer. they may work from rules of thumb or published tables but they are only guidelines.

to the OP, i would budget between 1500 to 2000 +vat for 5 site visits and a compliance cert by an engineer. that assumes that there is no structural design or drawings to be carried out, purely visits for compliance.

We're currently building an extension and like you we used a technician for the planning stage and have a structural engineer to check things over. Even if he costs us €2500, we'll still have saved €8,000 on the cost of a similar build our friends have just completed using an architect ('tho our interior designer is not short of ideas on how we can spend that surplus!)