Structural Engineer Devon

RSJ beams and wall removals across Devon

Opening up older layouts is one of the most common requests across the county. Many Devon homes were built with small, closed-off rooms. A simple RSJ can turn two awkward rooms into a single, useful space.

What we check before designing your RSJ:

• Floor span directions in older homes
• Irregular stone walls in villages and rural cottages
• Bearing strength when walls are mixed construction
• Padstone needs and how loads pass to footings
• Moisture and corrosion risks in coastal areas

Loft conversions in Devon

Loft conversions are popular across the county, especially where families want more space without extending the footprint.

Structural elements we design for Devon lofts:

• Ridge beams
• Dormer support
• Stair trimmers
• New joist layouts
• Strengthening to old rafters where needed

Structural calculations Devon

Whatever the project size, you need structural calculations that Building Control can trust. We provide clear, direct calcs that match your drawings and answer the questions inspectors normally ask.

Devon Building Control expectations:

• Well-matched drawings and calcs
• Clear assumptions
• No confusing theory
• Simple sketches
• Straight answers when they query anything

Extensions and renovations

Extensions vary across Devon. Some houses sit on steep plots, others need retaining walls, and some older cottages have shallow footings. We design what you need so your builder can build safely.

Common extension types in Devon:

• Kitchen-diner rear extensions in Exeter and Exmouth
• Side extensions in Torquay and Paignton
• Larger rear extensions in South Hams villages
• Garden rooms on sloping ground around Newton Abbot and Teignbridge

Timber design Devon

Timber is common in many Devon homes, especially older ones. We’re often asked to check spans or upgrade parts of the structure during renovations.

Typical timber issues in the county:

• Mixed joist sizes in old cottages
• Overspanned ceiling joists in older terraces
• Wet or softened timbers in coastal homes
• Dormer framing issues in loft conversions

Subsidence and movement in Devon

Devon has pockets of clay, older foundations and large mature trees close to houses. Some homes show signs of settlement or cracking.

Causes we see locally:

• Clay pockets around Exeter and Newton Abbot
• Stone walls without proper foundations
• Tree roots pulling moisture from the ground
• Coastal ground conditions near Exmouth and Torbay

“SECalcs handled the RSJ for our kitchen-diner extension near Exeter. The drawings were clear and the builder followed them without any fuss.”

“We converted our loft in Torbay. The calcs were quick and Building Control approved them straight away.”

“We live in a small rural cottage and needed advice about movement cracks. SECalcs visited and gave us a clear plan for repairs.”