What we do

During the 10+ years of running Plan Structures Howard has completed a wide variety of structural designs on all different types of building, however in recent years he has specialised in working on residential buildings for homeowners, Architects and builders. As an experienced structural engineer Howard can assist with any aspect of structural design for your residential project, such as:

• Design of steel beams to enable the removal of load bearing walls.
• Design of roof alterations & strengthening to facilitate loft conversions.
• Design of foundations, steel beams, timber roofs and lintels for new extensions.
• Review of existing houses & foundations to facilitate whole house renovations & alterations.
• Design of new houses from foundations to roof timbers and everything in between.

Structural designs are completed in all common building materials (steel, timber, masonry & concrete) suitable for residential projects.

How we do it

Howard will be your sole point of contact during the course of the entire project enabling him to provide personal and consistent advice from the very first phone call or meeting to the completion of the structural works. Every project, small or large, follows the same process to ensure that the design provided meets the client’s needs and responds to the requirements of each building. Howard’s process is:

• Every project starts with an initial house visit that has two aims; the first is to gain a better understanding of the existing structure prior to any design work being completed, the second is to discuss the client's aspirations for the project to ensure the structural solution meets their needs.
• Following the house visit structural calculations are completed to enable Building Control sign-off.
• A set of CAD based structural drawings and details are then provided to enable effective communication of the principal structural elements required to the builder.
• Fast and effective response to any queries raised during the course of the works.

Larger projects may require increased input either at the beginning of the project to assist the Architect setting structural zones or during construction to help monitor the works.

Where we do it

Plan Structures is based in central Southampton with most of our projects located in Hampshire (including the New Forest, Portsmouth & Winchester), West Sussex (including Chichester & the South Downs), Dorset (including Bournemouth, Poole & Weymouth) & Wiltshire (including Salisbury) but Howard does work all across the South of England and beyond.