The architect decides how the house looks and lives; the structural engineer decides whether it stands — economically — for the next fifty years.
What They Deliver
| Deliverable | Contents |
|---|---|
| Foundation design | Footing type, size, depth from the soil test |
| Frame design | Column, beam and slab sizes and grades |
| Reinforcement detailing | Bar sizes, spacing, laps, cover |
| Structural drawings | General notes, schedules, sections |
| Bar bending schedule | Cutting lengths and steel quantities |
| Site inspections | Steel and formwork before key pours |
Why It Pays
- Safety: members sized for real loads, soil and future floors.
- Economy: no over-designed columns "to be safe" — a common habit that wastes steel.
- Checkability: drawings you can measure the site against.
- Future floors: designed in, not hoped for.
When They Should Be on Site
- Footing steel before the first pour.
- Column cages and starter bars.
- Each slab before concreting.
- Any deviation or problem — cracks, soft ground, changes.
The Short Version
Get a structural design from a qualified engineer, follow it exactly, and have them check the steel before every major pour. It is a small fee against the cost of the whole frame.
