Extension First Steps

[Apacheuk]

Hi. First time doing something like this and haven't got a clue where to start.

I want to do an ground floor extension to side and rear of the house. Obviously will need some plans to be drawn up. I have a rough idea of what I want.

So where do I start?

I probably need to shortlist 2 or 3 architects. But once I've told them what I (the wife's vision) want. Do they go away and draw up some rough plans. Is there a fee involved? I realise they would charge for each of their designs but how much? What makes a good architect?

Thanks for any advice that you can give

 

[John D v2.0]

An architect is a bit like a doctor, they discuss and understand your needs and then they suggest a course of action and if you're happy with it they can make it happen. A proper architect could be a few percent of the project value, but would probably think of many things you wouldn't.

 

[noseall]

What makes a good architect?

One that puts down on paper exactly what you need, for as little expense as possible, adhering to Building Regulations and is inherently 'buildable'.

Vague drawings, zero section drawings, small scale, planning drawings only, over use of copy 'n' paste, stuff that is not needed, stuff that is needed, zero grasp of available materials, zero grasp of building process, size (weight) of steels, zealots.....are all pet hates of competent builders.

 

[JP_]

Some builders will offer a design a build service, but this might be much more costly.
You can submit plans yourself, pretty straightforward really. Planning Portal makes it easy.
Some builders are happy to build with basic plans and manage building control themselves (make sure this is mentioned in the contract).
After doing both pay expensive architect and get a random builder, and draw myself and get a competent builder, I'd go for the second again. A good builder will often suggest alternatives to the original plans that make a better home.

 

[Notch7]

Vague drawings, zero section drawings, small scale, planning drawings only, over use of copy 'n' paste, stuff that is not needed, stuff that is needed, zero grasp of available materials, zero grasp of building process, size (weight) of steels, zealots.....are all pet hates of competent builders.

If you get paid for doing drawings.....drawings you will produce

I get it all the time with joinery. Pretty sectional drawings of windows, doors etc etc......no resemblance to what is existing or what needs to be made, theyve just been copied out of some joinery book.

I have an architect that passes me quite a bit of work -he rings me up sometimes to ask for advice on how to draw something for a client of his, he then goes away and charges £100 / hour for my expertise

 

[JP_]

That's the problem with having an architect - half the time they will draw something that the builder cannot make, or you don't really want.
For a ground floor extension, the only questions really are - where are the walls going, where are the windows and doors going, how will you connect to existing out, what the roof will look like. That's about as far as the architect needs to go for planning permission.

An architect will charge £1000 to draw some straight lines to show where your extension will be. Obviously, they are worth every penny when doing large, complex projects that need to make the most of the land etc. but if you know what you want already, why pay an architect? I blogged about how i did it here and here.

 

[^woody^]

First steps would be to trawl through the past 1000 threads on this very subject.

 

[wessex101]

Yeah bloody architects. They go to university for years, invest in setting up a practice and then have the bloody audacity to try and make a modest living by actually charging people money to provide them with a bespoke design. And then if that isn't bad enough some of the bastards come on here and give free advice. Scum the lot of em.

I'd go with the crappy DIY design every time.

 

[charliegolf]

Yeah bloody architects. They go to university for years, invest in setting up a practice and then have the bloody audacity to try and make a modest living by actually charging people money to provide them with a bespoke design. And then if that isn't bad enough some of the bastards come on here and give free advice. Scum the lot of em.

I'd go with the crappy DIY design every time.

The in between version is to draw some sketches, and ask both architects and architectural techs to give a price for working up your ideas; and making improvement suggestions. And a set of useable drawings.

 

[Apacheuk]

The in between version is to draw some sketches, and ask both architects and architectural techs to give a price for working up your ideas; and making improvement suggestions. And a set of useable drawings.

This probably the best way forward. Just need to decide about the layout