Beam Gone ?

Took a 'phone call from the structural engineer today. The first thing he was keen to point out was that while the junior rep from the piling company did not have his calculations last Wednesday, piling rep senior did. He obviously didn't want this stain to stay on his record !

The main purpose of the call was to explain what has gone on today. He and the senior piling guy have put their heads together and come up with a scheme for the problematic north elevation's foundations. It involves, as I described yesterday, more piles, but the beam has now gone completely. Instead, the plinth that appeared on the original plans can be put straight onto the top of the pile caps. This plinth is basically just a thicker part of the floor slab. In fact, he said that the size of this plinth has been reduced from 1.8m wide to 1m wide. I do not really understand this - the original plinth was designed for a foundation based on solid rock, so how it can now be reduced for piles escapes me. Unfortunately I was on a mobile, in the car (with hands-free !), so did not really get a chance to discuss the fine detail.

Structural engineer is now waiting for some calculations from the piling company (delicious irony there !) and will then put together a final proposal for us, and for submission to the council. I need to make sure I keep harassing him so that it happens this side of Christmas.