How often to get an engineer out during construction?

J

Joe Nonety

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I'm buying a house from a new development and was recommended to get an engineer out at every stage of construction to view foundations, plastering, etc.?
This seems a bit excessive (and expensive) - what's the done thing?
 
If you have a mortgage, your bank will require your engineer to sign off on the work completed as each stage payment becomes due. If you're lucky enough not to have a mortgage and your builder doesn't charge stage payments, then I would wait until the house is completed.
 
Agreed with Lorz, if you're not in the first category - you could get the engineer to check when major work has been completed - like roof strenghtening or RSJ's put in - just for your own peace of mind.
 
In my case I needed the engineer at each stage payment including the final snag list for the bank. Wheather the bank need it or not I'd advise you use and engineer. The main reason is that if there are problems in the future you can sue your engineer. For this reason you should confirm that he has profesional indemnity insurance.
Try to use somebody recommended to you. Mine was impossible to contact and I have my doubts weather he ever visited the house apart from the one time I met him there for the snag list. He refused to come back to confirm if the snags were corrected.
 
the person is buying in a new development, so is it necessary to have an engineer out at each stage, also will he get permission from builder ? the buyer doesn't own the house until final payment, also how will they know when each stage is complete and ready for inspection - do you think the builder will tell them ?

Agree is building house yourself and need finance, then it is a muct, but in my experience I don't know anyone who had an engineer to unspect building work on a purchase of property on a new development.
 
Thanks for advice.
I do have a mortgage (Perm. TSB), but they said that while they do send out an engineer at every stage, its more to verify that a specific stage is completed so the next stage payment can be released, rather than an indepth inspection.
The houses is homebonded which makes me wonder if they send out engineers at every stage, seeing that they're the ones that are guaranteeing it structurally for 10 years.
Also, foreman said he'd no problem with an engineer allowed on site although I'm not allowed.
 
Homebond offers a 10 year gaurantee against major structural defects. You're engineer should be working on your behalf to ensure the house build is up to scratch at every stage. Shortcuts taken during the build may not be visable when the house is completed.
My mortgage is also with PTSB but they requested a letter from my engineer before releasing each stage payment. They at no stage offered to send out their own engineer. Are you sure they are doing this and if so will they send you the reports? If you yourself are not allowed on site its all the more reason to employ an engineer.
 
cool2 said:
The main reason is that if there are problems in the future you can sue your engineer.
Click to expand...

AFAIK the engineer will most likely include a disclaimer stating that as he was not on-site during the entire construction stage he cannot be held responsible for works that he did not oversee.
 
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