FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: Minimum information we need to provide any calculation?

A: Some architectural drawings would be ideal. However in the absence of such drawings a basic dimensioned sketch, some annotated photographs and a written description may be enough for us to provide the initial appraisal and a preliminary calculations. If we need any further information we will email you to let you know.

Q: Are the calculations I get are Building Regulations application compliant?

A: Yes, they are suitable for your Building Regulations application

Q: Done and checked by qualified person?

A: Yes, all calculations and drawings(if any) are approved by a chartered structural engineer.

Q: What about Professional Indemnity Insurance?

A: Yes, typically covers upto £1,000,000. Please ask for additional cover if required for larger projects.

Q: How much will it cost?

A: Each Structural Calculation typically would cost between £50 to £100 (+VAT), once we receive your architectural drawings then we will provide you a detail quotation clearly stating the no of Structural calculations required and the total cost including the cost of all structural drawings (if any) .

Q: Once I have received your quotation how do I proceed?

A: Once you are happy with our quotation simply send us an email stating that you are happy with the quotation and you are instructing us to proceed with our calculation and drawings(if any) production. This email will be the treated as a legally binding agreement between you and SYDAS LTD.

Q: How long will it take to receive the final structural calculations/drawings after initiation?

A: Normally the calculations are delivered within 10 working days, however this can vary depending on the project size and current workload, and we will let you know the expected delivery date in our quotation.

However if you need the calculations to be delivered within 2-3 working days then you can opt for our urgent delivery service. Your project then becomes our priority and an engineer will start the work immediately, and we try to deliver the calculation within 2-3 days. For such service there will be an extra 50% surcharge on top of our standard fee.

Q: Payment Strategy?

A: You will receive an invoice via email from us right after your instruction to “go ahead”. An Engineer will make a start on the calculations as soon as one becomes available, usually within one to two days, but we will not release the final approved documents until we have received the payment in full. Payment can be made straight away or you can ask us to let you know when the calculations/documentation is ready to be sent. We will then send you a payment reminder email.

Payments can be made either by, cheque, BACS, or by internet bank transfer. If you want to pay by BACS/bank transfer then you can find our bank details on the invoice we send. Please note that if you pay by cheque then the calculations will not be sent to you until the money actually been received. If you are in a rush to receive the documentation we would advise you to do bank transfer instead.

Q: How do I communicate with the engineer who is looking after my project?

A: Via email or over phone.

Q: In which format the documents will be sent to me?

A: All our calculations/drawings/documentation is issued via email in pdf format. Hard copies of documentation can be provided at an additional cost, please specify such request at initial quotation stage for ease of planning.

Q: What if Building Control has questions regarding calculations?

A: Although very uncommon, however checking engineer from local council may have some comments/questions regarding our calculations. If so, we will answer the questions and if necessary revise our calculations/documentation free of charge until he/she is satisfied.

However, if the checking engineer asks for any additional calculations which have not been covered within our original quotation, or ask for calculations of any item which you asked us not to proceed with from our original quotation, then provision of such calculations will be subject to additional payments.