Search the Community
Showing results for tags 'foundations not designed correctly'.
-
Can anyone help please? We took on a structural engineer who was recommended (and cheap) and we have had nothing but problems. He took 9 months to provide calculations which meant nothing to me (I know they're not meant to..... hence the reason we paid him), so they were passed onto the architect. All seemed well, foundations were poured, we took on LABC as our warranty and they over saw the foundations. We stopped due to lack of funds and are waiting for the sale of our house to go through now, but we got an email from LABC saying that their engineer has reviewed our plans, the SE calculation and the ground investigation report provided and (2 months after the foundations were poured) he doesn't think they have been designed correctly! It is very naughty when they had all this info at the start, to come back at this late stage, but basically the foundations we have have not been designed to take enough weight and should have had steels in them. This is according to the soil investigation report (which the SE had). So so I have spent 2 months chasing my structural engineer as I need him to come back with why he has designed it the way he has, which may be enough, but he keeps ignoring my emails and calls, or I get the odd one saying he will respond, then nothing. I can not by pass him otherwise I would and we have already taken on a second SE to complete some of the things that were unclear from his calculations. So (in a long winded way..... sorry) my question is.... does anyone know where I take this as I cannot get a response. I know that SE have warranties, how would I find out who this is? Or would it be a case of instructing a solicitor? Small claims court..... I just have no idea? We paid 7k for our foundation and simply do not have money to put this right if it comes to it, so surely his warranty should cover him? I know LABC go over the top, presumably most insurers do? I have pleaded with the SE etc.... and been extremely patient and we paid him to do a job.... where do we go from here? We can't do anything else until he can satisfy LABC's questions (it has been passed by building control though) and we may need to get a mortgage at some point. I know the SE had a breakdown a couple of years ago which explains a few things..... but it's just bad work ethics. Any help would be greatly appreciated, I have tried googling and looking into everything I can to find out..... but I just have no clue what to do! Thanks everyone and a happy new year to you all