5 expert tips when choosing a Structural Engineer for your building project

1. Look for recommendations from the right places

It is wise to go with a Structural Engineer who is recommended, either by friends and family who have had work done, or from a trusted industry directory. The Institute of Structural Engineers, (ISE) has a good search function on their website: visit findanengineer.com to find one of their affiliated Structural Engineers, all of whom have committed to following the Institute’s high standards.

You can also ask your Architect for a recommendation. Although Architects do not do the job of a Structural Engineer, most good Architects have a substantial amount of structural knowledge but they are not really qualified to give structural advice. Some architectural practices have engineers in-house but most will use independent companies. Conversely, most structural engineers have a basic knowledge of architectural matters but generally, members of both disciplines are needed for a typical building project.

Searching for where the company appears online may also reveal their reputation and past accolades, but also historical stories they may rather not advertise. There are plenty of trusted review platforms such as Trustpilot and Google Reviews, which will give you useful and honest reviews from past customers. You can read our reviews here.

2. Always look for a structural engineer with the proper qualifications

You should make sure your Structural Engineer is chartered with C.Eng. after their name, standing for Chartered Engineer, normally by being a member of either the Institution of Structural Engineers or the Institution of Civil Engineers. (either M.I.Struct.E. or M.I C.E.). These two disciplines overlap to a large extent and in most cases, either qualification will do. The former is more appropriate for very complex and “state of the art” structures whereas the latter is more appropriate where foundations and geotechnical matters are involved.

On the domestic scene, most mortgage companies and buildings insurers will accept either qualification. A Member of either institution automatically becomes Chartered. The ultimate qualification for a Structural Engineer is to become a Fellow, (F.I.Struct.E. or F.I C.E).

3. Look at their previous projects, references & testimonials

Most Structural Engineers will advertise past projects on their websites, so that is a good place to start. Look for projects at a similar scale to yours, and relevance to what you would be asking them to do. If they mainly showcase their larger commercial clients, and you are only looking for a steel beam for a wall you’re knocking through, there’s a chance they may over-charge you if they are trying to focus away from such small domestic jobs. You can view our past projects here. 

4. Look for companies with a long & consistent track record

Most Structural Engineers have a degree and at least four years’ training, but a lot is learned in this industry through experience, which can be very important where your money and your family’s safety are concerned. For example, a Structural Engineer from a very young firm may not bother to visit the site if she / he thinks that the job sounds very simple, but a more experienced Structural Engineer will always ask to visit the site, because she / he knows that there may be something about the site visit that flags up additional issues like evidence of ground movement or the presence of wood rot. If you are employing a local firm, a site visit is absolutely not too much to expect – and demand.

Finally, be aware that whilst the firm may have been around for decades, the Structural Engineer you are assigned may not have a lot of experience, so scrutinise the specific Structural Engineer as well as the overall firm.