Engineer quote. is this right?

[KrisK]

Hi People

I've been quoted $450 + GST for an engineer to check the plans for a 6 posted 6x5m car port. That seems pretty excessive, all he really needs to do is check footings and beam specs to hang a panel lift roller door. This is for the purposes of obtaining a Construction Certificate which ive been told i have 14 days to get...

This guy is in Sydney and is working through my draftsman. I just want to make sure I'm not getting shafted on price.

Can anyone assist? Thanks
Kris

 

[craigb]

yes seems a bit much, he/she should be able to open a book for this one, and the insurance exposure is minimal?

 

[KrisK]

craig, any recommendations? Any one in Sydney that can assist with this? I assume the engineer basically certifys it as 'ok' for the Construction Cert , right?

 

[craigb]

yes that is the case , but the project is small and if your certifier see,s or you can prove it is a text book construction, ie span sheets from building codes, the certifier may accept it as being ok, did you undertsand that???

 

[KrisK]

yep. Ive asked the draftsman why the high cost for something so simple... It shouldnt cost $2k in fees to build a $5k carport.

 

[craigb]

and his reply was??

 

[KrisK]

Email.. still waiting.

 

[craigb]

draftsmen reply, i have a big house and you re a sucker. lol

 

[BV]

all he really needs to do is check footings and beam specs to hang a panel lift roller door.

Kris

From a business point of view $450 seems normal.
His hourly rate would be at least $150/hour

If he comes to your house, that would be 2 hours including travel plus lets says he spends half an hour going over drawings and doing calcs and half an hour on the phone etc and it comes to 3 hours in total.

$150 per hour is not much these days and often what you are paying for is the risk factor in signing and giving you the ok.

Cheers

 

[KrisK]

Thanks! He is just being sent the plans, which he has already. Just want to make sure that seems about right..