Self-Made Duplex

Posted by courtbas (376 days ago)

Is it possible to make a duplex out of two flats on the consective floors? If so, how to do this properly and legally? Any advices would be appreciated. Thanks.

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Posted by Bruce33 (375 days ago)

check your pm

Posted by courtbas (375 days ago)

Brue33,

I sent you an email. Please check.

Posted by Bruce33 (374 days ago)

check your e-mail.

Thx

Posted by spaceren (354 days ago)

Hi

Also wondering about this, specifically the costs of good but reasonably priced contractors, engineer and AP. Any recommendations of people actually used for approved stairs between floors?

Thanks for any comments!

Posted by WoDer (354 days ago)

spaceren

The cost for the AP and Engineer is 70 to 80k,
if you want more info, please send me an e-mail: wpe@wpe-engineering.com

Posted by spaceren (353 days ago)

Thanks WoDer - what about typical constructions costs?

Posted by adrianzoozoo (222 days ago)

We just put two together, side by side through a structural wall. You can usually go up and down through the floor slab as well.

You need approval from Buildings Department. I can recommend a good guy to handle the project if you want. Normal cost is about HK$60-80k for the engineering/approval work, plus your building costs. email me on adrianzoozoo@yahoo.co.uk

Posted by Kingswood Country (222 days ago)

"Normal cost is about HK$60-80k for the engineering/approval work"

Why does it cost 60 to 80K for such an insignificant tiny job ? Thats a huge amount of money based on largely calculated labour, so where is the money going ?

I could have a 15,000ft2 home designed, engineered and have all the documents lodged back home for less than 80K... And thats weeks worth of work, of a far more complicated variety..

So, where is the money going just to survey some already existing structural drawings, an on site survey to plan the cut out of an area of 4 to 6m2, and what reinforcement modifications need to be made ?

Posted by Adfundum (222 days ago)

The money goes to the Resident Engineer. What you can get for this money in your home country is not relevant.

If you want to know more you can sent me a pm as we are doing all the time this kind of work.

Posted by Kingswood Country (222 days ago)

Mate I don't care if its voltare, Engineers don't earn that much. At that rate you're talking PHD levels of income generation, and they don't earn anywhere near that.

Whats the itemization of where the money is going? Thats the question I am asking, whats the detailed answer.

HK is not renowned for having much of a regulated building industry, yet countries that have a stack of building codes and conformance regs, don't charge anywhere near the amount you're stipulating for such a straight forward job.

Wheres the money going besides into the pocket of the worlds highest paid structural engineer ?

Posted by Adfundum (222 days ago)

KC

I am always in need for a Resident Engineer. If you find one who do the work for less than 60-80k, please let me know. We are always in need for such person. Just let you know that the cost for each drawing submitted to the BD is 12k, hopefully you can help me in this matter as well. It would save a lot for my company.

THX

Posted by marcusboy (220 days ago)

I need some advice. I bought ground floor one room flat with about 900 sq ft garden. Becos the buidling is constructed on a slighly hignehr level that the rest of the buidling on its right, there is currently space use for storage (about 3 feet high but same level as the garden) beneath the flat proper. The contractor informs me I can dig another 5 feet into the ground so that I can an extra room (like a basement flat). My question is, can I dig outwards to wards the garden - about 6 feet or so so that the stairs will be towards this 6 ft terrace which fronts the new room rather than having a stairs which leads into the room (thus utilising room space)? Would I need any approval for this? The measurements of the current srorage space is approximately 19 feet x 7.5 ft x 3 ft. I really appreciate any advice or suggestions.

Thank you in advance.

Posted by vanilla (220 days ago)

KC,

It's not the Engineer's caluclation that costs that you are paying. It is the the the Engineers signature and the Architects signature you are paying for as the are the ones taking up the liability. They are people with licences approved by the Government, offcourse they would have an equal status of a PhD. With the numbers of years of schooling and training before they can get their licenses, what's the difference? To a certain degree, people's lives are still in their hands!!!

Posted by adrianzoozoo (197 days ago)

I just noted comments from Kingswood Country that HK$60-80K handle the engineering/approval work.

I would say in response that you need to know what is involved to appreciate why it costs that much. Firstly you have to deal with the Buildings Department and that requires many hours to handle, let alone the numerous site visits to accompany their staff, before, during and after completion of the work.

The engineer also has to do the design calculations and drawings and then submit, megotiate and amend accordingly with the buildings department.

All told, I expect the total work they did ran into hundreds of man hours.

Try finding something cheaper. I did (HK$50K quote) , and the preliminary design I got back was to bolt on enormous steel plates on either side of the wall (10 cm thick!), resulting in a door height lower than I am tall - ie. a hobbit house.

HK$70k for a proper solution was good value as far as I'm concerned.

Posted by maddog (159 days ago)

Hi All. I have an opportunity to buy the flat next door to mine. I just got the structural plans from the Management Company and the wall I need to connect the two is a structural one. Anyone recomment someone who can help with the building regs etc. Can be Cantonese or English speaking.
Thanks
Tim

Posted by Adfundum (159 days ago)

you can call 91622171 . we always deal with such applications.
www.wpe-engineering.com
wpe@wpe-engineering.com

Thx

Wolfgang