How To Avoid Structural Issues In Home Extensions with Sam Dean | 118

Architecture Business Club host Jon Clayton interviews structural engineer Sam Dean of Porthouse Dean about common structural design pitfalls in home extensions and how to avoid spiraling costs. They discuss ground conditions as a major uncertainty (especially clay), the influence of nearby large trees and desiccation, and the use of low-cost desktop geological reports based on British Geological Survey borehole data to flag risk. They cover ceiling downstands and why beam position is often a cost-and-aesthetics decision between homeowner, architect, and builder, with installation complexity increasing when first-floor joists run into the beam. Sam explains cantilever “rules of thumb” and how corner bifold-door cantilevers can drive up steel and foundation demands, sometimes requiring columns and large foundations due to uplift forces. They address adding an extra storey and the case for trial holes. They also highlight risks of building onto existing, undocumented steelwork from previous extensions, which can force intrusive investigation or replacement when later loft conversions are planned. Sam explains how the architectural design can affect structural costs and outlines what to expect from a good structural engineering service. They touch on AI-generated architectural information, Sam’s launch of an AI review service, and he shares the software tool his business can’t work without. Today’s Guest Sam Dean. He started out as a materials scientist and structural engineer, spent a year in the nuclear industry, then teamed up with his friend Chris Porthouse to start PorthouseDean structural engineering. Sam then got hooked on building business systems and automations - to cut out the boring stuff and let his team do better work. When he’s not solving process problems – he’s cycling to work, playing and watching football, or baking crusty bread and homemade pizzas. — Episode Highlights 00:00 Introduction 00:39 Introducing Sam Dean 01:38 Managing Risk with Groundworks 03:08 The Clay Problem 04:08 Trees Near Extensions: The Hidden Foundation Cost Driver 04:30 When Is a Site Investigation Worth It? Practical Triggers 05:10 Low-Cost Desktop Geology Reports: A Smart Early Warning 05:49 Designers Missing Key Site Info (Like Trees) 06:59 Case Study: The 20m Oak That Shows Up Too Late 07:55 Using Maps + Clay Likelihood to Spot Risk Early 08:48 Removed Trees Still Matter: Clay Desiccation Explained 10:32 Ceiling Downstands vs Flush Beams: Set Expectations Early 11:33 “Where Do I Put the Beam?” Why Engineers Don’t Always Decide 12:13 Joist Direction Changes Everything (and Can Add Thousands) 13:01 Goalpost Frames & Rear Wall Openings: What’s Cost-Neutral? 14:00 Builder vs Client vs Architect: Who’s Steering the Decision? 14:37 Protecting the Homeowner: Budget Trade-Offs in Plain English 15:36 When Architects Aren’t On Site: How Design Intent Gets Lost 18:06 Roles, Responsibility & the Principal Designer Confusion 19:38 Why Small Projects Are So Cost-Driven (and Getting Worse) 21:07 Cantilevers 101: The Rule of Thumb That Saves Your Budget 23:12 Corner Bifolds + Floating Roofs: The Cantilever Trap 25:23 Engineering Workarounds: Columns, Anchors & Uplift Forces 27:34 Adding a Storey: Foundation Reality Checks 29:32 Building on Existing Steelwork: The Missing Calculations Problem 33:37 Prevention Playbook: Trial Holes, Checks, and Lightweight Options 36:46 Quick Wins to Avoid Spiraling Costs (Wind Posts, Pillars, Layout) 41:45 What Great Structural Engineering Service Looks Like 46:49 The Rise of AI 48:55 The One Piece of Software Sam Can't Live Without 50:18 Final Thoughts — Key Takeaways Check the Ground Early to Avoid Big Surprises Learn what's under the ground before you start building. Clay soil can be a big problem. If there are large trees near your building site (especially within 20 metres), they can make the situation worse. The tree roots dry out the clay, which means you might need to dig much deeper foundations. This can cost