What is useful to prepare
The architect’s plans, even provisional ones, and the engineer’s plans if they exist. The geotechnical report, when one has been drawn up, tells us about the soil and the presence of water. Also state whether the building permit application has been filed or the permit granted.
Describe the access to the plot, stating the width of the lane, the slope, the nearby neighbours and the space for a crane or a skip. These elements influence the organisation and the cost of the structural work.
What happens after sending
We read your request and contact you again to ask the useful questions. A visit to the plot is then arranged. The quote is drawn up package by package, with the quantities and assumptions made.
No service is committed without your written agreement on the quote. Points still open, for example execution plans to come, are flagged as such.
If the plans are not ready yet
An architect’s preliminary design already makes it possible to estimate the structural work packages, stating the assumptions on the type of foundations, slab thickness and type of walls. The quote is updated on the engineer’s execution plans. If you do not yet have an architect or an engineer, we tell you which documents to gather. Their assignment remains separate from ours.
Frequently asked questions
The questions we are asked before a worksite
How long does it take to receive the quote?
The time depends on how complete the plans are and the size of the packages. We give you a date at the first discussion, after seeing the available documents.
Does the quote cover the whole house?
No. It covers the structural work packages you entrust to us among earthworks, foundations, reinforced concrete, masonry, slabs or the extension. The roof structure, roofing, installations and finishing are priced by other companies.
Can I request a quote for an extension alone?
Yes. The extension of an existing house is a structural work package in its own right, which includes the foundations, walls and slab linked to the building. Describe the house and the planned extension and state whether you have plans. How to send them by email will be specified after the first discussion.
Does the quote commit me?
No. The quote details each item and remains a proposal as long as you have not signed it. No work starts without your written agreement, and you can remove or add items before signing.
Is a building permit needed for an extension or a raised storey?
Yes. An extension, a raised storey, or a change to the structure or the facade requires a building permit issued by the canton, with plans drawn up by an architect or an engineer. We prepare the file with you and the worksite starts once the permit is received. The official procedure is described on the website of the State of Geneva, www.ge.ch/demander-autorisation-construire.
How is the budget drawn up?
Item by item, based on the visit and the surfaces measured, with options and alternatives presented separately. You see what each choice costs and can adjust the project before signing, for example by keeping a floor or a kitchen in good condition.