Top 5 Questions to Ask a Structural Engineer When Buying or Building in Lagos

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So you’re planning on buying a property or building a home in Lagos as an investment. Sounds great! After all, the city is booming with new development projects coming online every year. Fortunately, there are many structural engineers that specialize in designing residential construction projects in Lagos, from small home renovations to new build homes. They can provide you with the details and schematics of your design and ensure that it meets the local building code standards and other necessary permits for construction. Unfortunately, not all engineers are trustworthy. There are plenty of “structural engineers” that aren’t actually engineers at all, but rather someone who has taken a couple online courses without ever finishing their degree program. If you have no experience working with structural engineers before, it can be hard to know what to look for in an engineer or firm and how to spot red flags when they approach you offering their services.

Ask these questions before hiring a structural engineer.

Before you sign any contracts or hand over any money, you want to make sure you are comfortable working with the engineer and firm you hire. You should ask them all the questions below to get a feel for the quality of their services and experience. - Have you received any engineering awards or certifications? - What is your experience with residential construction projects? - How many projects are you working on at the moment? How many employees do you have? - How do you communicate with your clients? Do you have a dedicated phone line and emails for each project? - How do you charge for your services? Do you provide an estimate first with a breakdown of costs?

How long have you been in business?

Experience matters and most reputable structural engineering firms have been in business for at least 5 years. If the engineer you are looking to hire has been in business for less than 5 years, you should ask them how many projects they have worked on and how many of those were residential construction projects. You want to make sure they have experience designing projects in Lagos since the building code in the city has changed several times over the past decade. You also want to make sure they are familiar with the latest building code requirements.

What is your experience?

You want to make sure the engineer has worked on residential construction projects in Lagos and has plenty of experience with home designs in the city. You should ask them how many residential projects they have worked on and what percentage of those projects were in Lagos. You also want to ask them about their experience with home renovations in Lagos. Many engineers offer both new build and renovation services. While you can hire both for a single project, you want to make sure the engineer has plenty of experience working with renovation projects.

What is included in your services?

You want to make sure the structural engineer is more than just a designer. You want them to be involved in all aspects of the project, from design to permitting. You want to make sure the engineer is involved in the entire project from start to finish. Ask them what their involvement on the project is and when they will be involved in the design and permitting process.

Will there be a warranty?

This is important to make sure you are protected in the case of any problems. You want to make sure the engineer offers a warranty on their services. A warranty is a legally binding contract between you and the engineer. It is a promise that they will fix any issues you find with their work, or if they can’t they will pay to have the work redone by someone else. Unfortunately, not all engineers provide warranties. If the engineer you are working with doesn’t offer a warranty, consider hiring another engineer.

Are there any red flags I should know about?

Unfortunately, there are plenty of red flags to watch out for when hiring an engineer. Here are some warning signs you should be aware of when hiring a structural engineer in Lagos. - Poor communication: If the engineer you are working with is hard to get a hold of or doesn’t respond to emails or phone calls quickly, you should be wary. - Too cheap: Structural engineers charge for their time and expertise. If the engineer charges you a low rate, it’s likely because they aren’t providing you with the level of service you need. - Unrealistic promises: You should be wary if the engineer promises you a quick turn around on your project or a low cost without explanation.

Conclusion

The structural engineer is one of the most important members of your construction team. Choosing the right structural engineer can be an overwhelming task. To make sure you get the best engineer for your project, it’s important to ask the right questions before hiring them. With these top questions in mind, you’ll be able to find the best structural engineer for your project in no time. Now, it’s time to get started on your project. Make sure you choose the right structural engineer for your project by asking these five crucial questions. You’ll be glad you did.