beaIn older buildings beams over openings were not designed mathematically, as would be the case today, but sized by experience or followed rules of thumb. As a result, they are quite commonly overloaded to some degree. A smaller beam is generally cheaper than a large one as there has always been an economic incentive to
Most trees growing near our buildings cause no significant damage. However, there are instances where combination of shrinkable soils and trees could be viewed as a hazard to a building structure. Trees, hedgerows and various shrubs extract moisture from the ground and, in soils with volume change potential such as Clay, this can result in
In the past, most houses were constructed with fireplaces to provide head in almost every room. These days central heating has effectively declined the use of fireplaces, and therefore many homeowners consider removing chimney breasts as see them as a wasted floor space. Other most common reasons why people are happy to demolish chimneys are
If you are looking to improve your home you need to speak to our structural engineer Croydon from GL Design Services, a group of engineers with extensive experience in alterations and extensions to private homes. We specialise in home extensions and loft conversions increasing the space and comfort of your house, adding value to your
If you are running out of space in your home and thinking about a home extension then you need to contact us at GL Design Services and get in touch with our experienced structural engineer Croydon. We have helped hundreds of homeowners in London with their house extensions and our skilled team will put together
If you are looking to extend an existing room, build bigger rooms or just increase the number of rooms that you have in your home, you need to speak to us at GL Design Services and find out what options are available for you. There are plenty of advantages in building an extension to your home,
As a property owner, you may require temporary works solutions for various reasons, ranging from ongoing renovations to construction projects. Temporary works refer to the support structures that are used during the construction phase to ensure the stability and safety of the project. This includes shoring, propping, scaffolding, and other related components. The importance of
As a structural engineer in Croydon, we are very aware of the importance of structural calculations in design projects. In this article, we will explain what structural calculations are, and how they play a crucial role in ensuring the safety and stability of buildings. What are structural calculations? Structural calculations are mathematical and engineering calculations
At GL Design Services, we understand that good communication is key to ensuring the success of any structural engineering project. Whether it’s between us as the structural engineer in Croydon and our clients, or between different members of our team, we believe that clear and open communication is vital in achieving the best possible outcome
When you’re planning to alter the structure of your home for projects such as a loft conversion or extension, you will need a structural engineer Croydon to advise you on how to do this safely and within building regulations. At GL Design Services, we have been building our excellent reputation for over 14 years, and
When you are considering making changes to your property, or you want to build one from scratch, it is essential that you have a structural engineer Croydon on board. A structural engineer in Croydon will ensure that the integrity of the building is maintained when you are planning alterations or when it is built. Nobody
If you have grand designs in mind or a more conservative building project for improving your home or workplace, then GL Design Services is here to help. We have a structural engineer Croydon, who can assist you in achieving your goals within your budget and the agreed time scale. We pride ourselves on having built
It is fair to say that the property market is expensive. Many people find it harder to save up to buy a home, which has led to an increase in homeowners-to-be buying land and then planning to have a home built on it. Of course, this comes with its own challenges, but for many, it
Most people who own homes look for straightforward ways to add more space and value. And while there has been a trend over the recent years for those who own homes to add extensions and the like to the rear of their properties, it can be worth adding some more room within the structure you
When you are considering having a home extension built, whether it is going to be from the side of your home or the back, the process is going to be a bit tricky! After all, this is a major renovation and new build in a part of your home, which is going to take time,
When you are looking to add a room to your home, for most people, the loft is the way to go. Indeed, having a stylish and professional loft room in your home can add value, add class and can add a space for you to get away from it all. But, as you can imagine,
When you are looking for a quick way to add value to your home, you may think of having something installed. In 2023, there has been an increase in homes that are being sold having work-from-home offices built in, as these are seen as relevant to modern, remote workers. However, there are some base features
If you are looking to add value to your property in 2023, one of the easiest ways to do this is with a stylish and professional addition being made. For most people, this will take the form of an extension that is usually added to the back of the property. While classy and very high-end,
We provide complete structural solutions from concept design sketches to fully-detailed drawings developed by using CAD technology. We develop comprehensive and detailed drawing output to ensure there are no issues on site.
Removing a load bearing wall from a home to open-up the space and light-up a dull room that hardly gets any sun is a great way to improve your home and make it more appealing. While you may be worried about the cost of knocking down a load-bearing wall, it can often work out much
Removing a chimney breast from an older property is a common request we receive from homeowners who plan renovation works in their houses. However, care must be taken when planning to remove the stack and adequate support specified in the wall. You may want to remove chimney breast from a ground floor room and this
When a house is built, it will include load-bearing walls that support the weight of the structure. Load-bearing walls help to stabilise the building and gives your home the strength it needs to stay upright. Because load-bearing walls bear most of the weight of your house, it is essential that no building or renovation works
Many homeowners wonder why they would need a structural engineer for a house extension or major internal renovation. In most cases, you may be able to save yourself some money by planning out your building project yourself and then bring in a structural engineer to look over your plans and do the structural calculations for
Loft conversions have become a popular choice with homeowners who would prefer to stay where they are but need a bit of habitable space to accommodate a growing family or to create a comfortable home office to allow them to work from home. A lot of people are now realising that having a loft conversion
No matter what type of building work you are planning, getting the structural calculations right is essential for the success of your project. And nothing is more important than your structural justification for your load-bearing beams as these are integral to the safety and integrity of your building project. To cut to the chase, your
Taking on an ambitious renovation project such as a house extension is bold but you must have a plan in place that will get you the approvals from your local council and will meet with all current set of Building Regulations. Failing to get a the works regularised for your home extension or carrying out
GL Design Services are a team of chartered civil and structural engineers that work on a wide range of construction projects, including house conversions, temporary works and new builds. We are based in Croydon, London, and offer our professional services across London and the South East of England. If you are looking for high quality,
GL Design Services offer professional structural steel connection design services to customers that are fully compliant with currently UK design codes. As a leading team of UK qualified chartered engineers experienced in the calculation of many different building materials including steel, reinforced concrete, timber and masonry structures, we can provide you with a sound steel
Sometimes an independent professional is required to perform a sanity check of the proposed structural design to ensure that the proposal developed by others is structurally sound and safe to implement. This is especially important for temporary work projects during any building demolition works to make sure that everyone working on site will be safe.
House extensions can be a difficult subject to discuss when it comes to accurate costs regarding structural design part. There are many variables that may influence price approximation and support configuration such as overall size of the added part, location and size of openings, used materials, volume of glazing, ground conditions, local vegetation including water
If you are looking to improve your Croydon home with extension, then you should bring in the help of our expert team at GL Design Services. Our team of professional and experienced structural engineers have been helping Croydon residents for a long time with our services providing structural calculation reports, performing structural surveys, and consultation services to
For the past decade, the number of homeowners choosing to improve their home rather than to move home has increased from 3% to 15%. For most homeowners, choosing to improve their homes with building extensions and loft conversions is a way to maximise their living space. Also, improving home environment means that you avoid the
With so many more people working from home now than ever before in history, there has been a recent boom in homeowners having loft conversions. Loft conversions not only help people to make the best use of all the available space in their home but is now key for homeowners looking to use their loft
If you live in or around the Croydon area and are thinking about having a loft conversion in your home, it is a home improvement project that really does allow you to make the most of all the available space in your home. A loft conversion is ideal for homeowners with a growing family that
These days many homeowners like the look and feel of an open-plan living space in their homes. This has led to a surge in demand for interior wall removals to open-up rooms to make good use of the available space and let more light into the home. The only problem is that some interior partitions
Many people wonder why they should hire a structural engineer and what it would cost to hire one. We like to deliver a solution that is simple and easy to follow, so there are fewer costs and delays when it comes to carrying out the work on site. We also like our clients to understand