What Does An Architect Do? Part 2.

In the first part of this blog we focused on the role of the architect and the specific duties they carry out with regards to house extensions and domestic projects.  In this part of the blog we will focus more on the qualities of an architect and the benefits they can bring to a project.

Budgeting

As discussed in Part 1 an architect should discuss budget and build costs before taking on a commission to establish the financial parameters of the project, establishing an area and a rate per square metre.  This gives the client a build cost to test against their budget and establishes an initial idea of specification for the project, for which the architect can design accordingly.  An architect will not be able to design something guaranteed to be on budget, however they should get fairly close.  The build cost is ultimately tested in two ways.  On larger projects a cost consultant or quantity surveyor is employed to interpret the architect’s drawings into a cost schedule.  On most house extensions there is no allowance for paying for a cost consultant, although this is something that is probably worth the extra money paradoxically if you have an inflexible budget.  It is worth remembering though that the only real way of knowing the build cost is to have a builder price the drawings and this is indeed the way most house extensions are costed, through what is commonly known as tendering.  This process though is obviously the make or break point for many projects and comes relatively late on in the process.  A seriously over budget scheme will have either wasted fees or require further fees for redesign work.  Making an over budget scheme on budget is a time consuming and difficult process.  This therefore re-emphasises the need for serious and candid discussions up front about the ambition of the project, implicated build costs and available budget.

Impact of Design

It is said often that good design costs more.  This I feel is slightly misleading: if by good design we mean high specification or complex forms then this may be true.  But nobody would willingly sign up for bad design.  I think the point is that we can only commission design – if as a client you are flexible and open minded with regard to construction techniques, simple finishes and spatial arrangements an architect can design something good that costs less.  Ironically the benefits of good design can be hard to quantify and do not always translate into immediate financial benefits, which is something the domestic property market is often driven by.  Design is subjective – although not completely I may argue – while everyone may have their own ideal space there are still common things that people can collectively identify with as “good design” and these do add value: both financial and in terms of day to day living.  It is some of those things we will be looking to identify and expand upon below.

Design Concept

A design concept is an idea which informs a design.  Many architects will talk about the concept for a design – this could be an abstract idea (e.g. a specific form, a specific technological idea etc.), often it may be a response to something on or around the site (e.g. existing buildings, landscaping, boundaries and trees, views, orientation, movement of people and vehicles etc.), it could also be related to time (e.g. how the building functions day and night or through the seasons), or it could respond to the hidden layers of the site (e.g. historical uses and forms/layouts, geological data or soil and ground make-up).  These are just a few example of common starting points for ideas.  Different architects will think differently and be interested in different things. A strong concept will bring a more poetic outcome and a building that is working well on different levels: be it day-to-day use and its functionality, its response to the site or the existing building or its spatial arrangement and light and material qualities.

Poetic Response to Context/Concept

Many people will identify the success of a design as how it integrates into its surroundings or context.  This has long been one of the guiding aspects of development control (or planning) in this country and has often been a literal process of “borrowing” from adjacent buildings and historic styles to build more of the same.  Architects will often challenge this, as do many planning authorities nowadays, preferring instead or at least considering an interpretation of surrounding buildings and context to synthesise something new, but that still references its surroundings and is consequently of its place.  This is a way for architecture to situate itself.  A generic approach of applying the same solution regardless of location or individuality of a site is (as practised over the ages by mass builders) frowned upon by most architects, as it would (and has) result(ed) in whole swathes of the country looking the same with no individuality and that can’t be good!  That doesn’t mean elements of the design shouldn’t be generic though – there is no point reinventing the wheel either.  Just as construction techniques are generic they still have to be evolved for each site depending on various conditions and the design proposal.  Elements prefabricated off site are generic but they are often arranged on each site with variation to make something individual.  Architects are increasingly interested in how to exploit or express global or generic systems and trends against parameters specific to the project.  This can often generate dynamic, visually stimulating results.

Good Planning/Functionality

As mentioned above no-one want to commission bad design – we’ve all got examples of it I’m sure, whether its an aesthetic thing or how something works.  Making things work to their maximum ability comes through careful consideration of the user’s needs.  We often find this can come down to simple things like making sure doors are in the most efficient position and open the right way and that storage is provided but hidden away, that spaces are flexible and adaptable and respond well to that particular family’s lifestyle.  A poor designer can really wreak havoc by not considering certain household processes (recycling, gardening, cleaning, monitoring children), not allowing space for furniture (e.g a lounge with something on each wall – e.g. fireplace, t.v., window and door – is a nightmare for the client to then furnish) or simply not understanding the spatial implications of what they’ve designed (we remember infamously two male TV interior designers designing a garage which couldn’t fit a car in). 

Space and Light

This is often heralded as what perhaps make architecture rather than just buildings.  Le Corbusier, a famous modernist architect, said: “Architecture is the learned game, correct and magnificent, of forms assembled in the light.”  Architects embrace this often by thinking about rooflights – these admit 70% more daylight than windows in walls so create dramatic levels of light and lighting effects.  We like the way glazing bars in a patent glazing system cast shadows on a wall and how they move throughout the day – creating dynamic patterns (or moving wallpaper if you like) and work like a kind of sundial – giving a reading of the world outside.  These kinds of natural daylighting techniques can radically transform a space: flooding it with natural light can reveal the space to its maximum potential, lifting the mood and spirits of its users, offering up new uses and focal points and offering unexpected views of skies, trees or surrounding buildings. 

Architects will often look at full height glazing/windows or panels of folding/sliding doors.  Whereas a traditional window with a cill a metre or so above the floor level breaks the relationship with the garden/outside and admits a limited amount of natural light, full height glazing admits lots of natural light and produces a more seamless transition between inside and out.  This makes spaces seem larger as well: instead of your eye perceiving the size of the room by a solid wall opposite, the eye is drawn to the garden and beyond, enhancing the feeling of space.

The effect on the mood and spirits of the users cannot be underestimated – we often find after we have designed extensions that families naturally migrate into these spaces and want to make them their main living spaces, because they are light filled often with great views and connections to the garden.  A well-lit and well-designed space can stimulate the senses – it has been proved to help people recover from illness quicker and to improve educational results. They can focus the family and provide a space in which everyone wants to be, bringing a sense of togetherness and strengthening family bonds.

Knowledge of Local Authority Procedures

Many will employ an architect to deal with the council on their behalf.  On most house extensions and domestic projects this takes the form of two applications – for planning permission and for building regulations approval.  Some projects will not require planning permission if the works falls under the remit of permitted development.  We will be posting a separate blog on planning permission and building regulations to explain more about them in a bit more detail.  In the meantime check here: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2008/2362/schedule/made for more information on permitted development rights for homeowners.

Architects are well versed in making planning applications, most of their work will require dealings with the local council and they should therefore know how best to approach each individual application.  They are familiar with the different types of drawings required for different applications and normally produce high quality drawings which best illustrate your project and explain it to planners in the terms they are interested in.  Architects will explain the process to their clients, explain any potential problems they foresee and strategise a solution for them, prepare the relevant drawings and documentation, make the application (it is usual for the client to write a cheque or pay the council direct for the cost of the application – at Extend My House we include all fees for these applications within our own fee) and then liaise with the planning department and appointed officer, keeping the client informed of how the application is progressing.

Building Regulations get more and more complex as more building legislation is introduced.  Most architects keep very much up to date with such developments, putting them in an excellent position to make such applications on behalf of a client.  The Building Regulations Application is a technical submission made to the local authority (council) or an approved firm of private building control officers which deals with standards of design, construction, accessibility, safety and environmental measures.  A good architect will be mindful of such requirements at the earlier stages of design, which should avoid the need for redesign work just to gain the Building Regulations Approval.  However such is the complexity of the Regulations now that some amount of adjustment of the design is normally required, as this can depend on the particular Building Control Officer’s interpretation of the regulations.  An architect will produce the complex construction drawings required and liaise with the Building Control Officer in order to obtain a set of approved drawings. 

The second part of the Building Regulations approval process involves the Building Control Officer visiting the site during the build to check the construction work is being carried out in line with the approved drawings.  After they are satisfied of this, they will issue an approval certificate, normally to the architect, who will normally keep a copy and pass the original over to the client for safekeeping.

Tendering & Building

On larger and/or more complex house extensions and most non-domestic projects there is a stage of developing the building regulations drawings further into a full set of construction drawings which then get tendered to a list of builders for pricing.  On simple traditional builds this is not arguably not necessary as most builders are familiar with construction techniques for example cavity walls and pitched roofs. On bespoke projects some further drawings may be required to convey the design to the potential builders. 

You may have come across the term “design and build”, where a builder takes over control of a project early on – sometimes this happens after the architect has obtained the local authority approvals but in some cases it can involve going direct to a builder who will then either prepare designs himself for the client or employ his own architect.  The latter is not advised as we feel it gives away too much control over the design of the project to the builder and also is a risky strategy in terms of knowing that you’re going to obtain all the correct permissions – something architects, as registered professionals, have to pay close attention to.  The point of this kind of one-stop solution is cost-certainty:   but this leaves the client exposed to having to monitor and deal direct with the builder and for a successful outcome may rely on having a watertight contract (or a very good relationship) with the builder, which is something in the domestic market that is often overlooked.  Without it the client is open to manipulation over costs by the builder as well as manipulation of design.

However the first form of design and build, where a client still appoints an architect or designer initially who then develops a set of “employer’s (client’s) requirements” to tender to a builder at an agreed stage (normally after building regulations approval) is essentially how most domestic projects operate.  The “employer’s requirements” can be very simple or very detailed or anywhere in between and form the basis of the contract between builder and client.  If the employer’s requirements are few or are very simple, this leaves room for the builder to manoeuvre, potentially offering cost savings but at the expense of knowing 100% what you will get.  If the employers requirements are very length or complex, the builder will be more restricted and the price will normally be higher as they may not be able to source materials etc from their normal suppliers and may involve techniques and materials they are not familiar with.  It also will incur extra fees from the architect or designer to develop the design further and produce more information for the more complex employer’s requirements. 

Many architects will produce a “schedule of works” alongside the building regulations drawings for tendering to builders as this is a document that although will require intensive modification for each project, still has some standard elements to it and can be rolled out for each project much more efficiently than producing individual construction drawing packages for each extension.  The schedule of works also functions as kind of panacea for the information of the build – it breaks the build down into elements (such as ground floor slab, first floors, external walls, internal walls, roof, chimney, plumbing and heating, electrics, demolition, external works/landscaping etc.) and references finishes (paints, colours, plaster or dry lining, floor finishes), fittings, materials and products and normally comes with a reference specification to cover workmanship, techniques, bye-laws, British Standards etc.  In conjunction and correctly correlated to a set of fairly detailed building regulations drawings this can form the basis of a pretty watertight contract between client and builder, and a clear starting point from which a build can begin.

Many architects can recommend suitable local building firms, or if they can’t, may be able to interview a long-list of builders with (or on behalf of) the client to see who will be suitable for the eventual tender shortlist (normally 3-5 firms are on the tender lists, sometimes more).  Otherwise the client may choose, with or without the architect, to draw up their own tender list of local or known building contractors.  The architect can review the tenders received from building firms and advise accordingly about which have returned an eligible tender (e.g. they have priced the tender documents accurately – this avoids problems later) and which may be suitable for the project.

Construction Stage

Of course architects can and often do continue to be involved with the project once the builder has been appointed.  They can administer a contract between client and builder, attend site meetings, carry out site inspections and act as the client’s agent: liaising with and issuing instructions to the builder on the client’s behalf.  Of course with the regular nature of site meetings and the amount of time involved for the architect attending meetings and carrying out administrative duties, this service comes at a significant price and is in reality an exception rather than the norm.  It does however bring an extra level of security for clients: being able to consult with their architect and knowing they’ve got a professional onboard to look after their interests: consequently some architects offer to work on an adhoc basis during the build, as and when required, for an agreed hourly rate.

For more information on how our own innovative online architectural service works, please visit: www.extend-my-house.co.uk and choose “About Our Service” from the top navigation menu.

For further reading the RIBA has a PDF publication on its website “Working with an architect for your home” which can be downloaded and found here:

http://www.architecture.com/UseAnArchitect/GuidanceAndPublications/GuidanceAndPublications.aspx

The Evolution of A Design for A House Extension

We have posted a slideshow/video called "The Evolution of A Design for A House Extension" on youtube.

It looks at the working process of the architect: from initial sketches through testing of designs as computer models through to construction drawings and the finished build. Shown from the perspective of a particular project, a design for a house extension consisting of a garden room, pool and landscape design.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnlpD_ldCm0

What Does An Architect Do? Part 1.

This question could simply be interpreted as what is the role of an architect? But it could also encompass or lead onto the question of what an architect brings to a project? Or indeed why would or should you use an architect? So we have broken the blog into two parts – the first, published here, on the Role of Architect, in particular what  role does or can the architect play with regard to specifically domestic projects, be it a house extension, loft conversion, garden room or internal reconfiguration.

Background

As architects we find many people are confused about what we actually do.

This is understandable because in one sense architects are essentially building designers, but the context within which they operate (legal, cultural and contractual) can determine or limit their involvement or shape their output.  For example in the UK anyone (potentially without any qualifications) can design a building, essentially doing the job of an architect, they just cannot call themselves an architect.  Likewise architects liaise with councils, planning authorities, building control and other organisations, yet it is not obligatory to use an architect to make a planning application in the UK (it is in many other countries).  Consequently many buildings in the UK are not designed by architects.  Because of these peculiar cultural/economic conditions of the UK, architects are not always at the forefront of people’s thoughts, when it comes to building projects, and if people are aware that they could involve an architect they may not be sure why, how or when.

The Role of An Architect within Domestic Projects

The sooner an architect is involved in a project the better, they work at the coalface of ideas and are interested in how people use and interact with spaces and normally well equipped to test the feasibility of projects – so letting them interpret your ideas will give you a much more poetic outcome.  They should think of things you wouldn’t have – this is the point of a professional designer after all – but the closer you work with them, the more the design will be tailored to your specific requirements and normally the more successful the outcome. 

They should talk to you about your budget and how it compares to an estimated build cost - at the initial stage this is normally calculated by multiplying the area (square metreage) of your proposal by a cost per square metre to give a total build cost.  This establishes the parameters of the project, allowing any realignment required of budget and cost to happen at stage 1.  The architect will normally discuss whether planning permission and/or building regulations applications will be required,

example of professional survey drawing with levels

The architect, once officially appointed, will then need to obtain a set of drawings of the house “as existing” to work from when they make design proposals and later, for planning, if applicable.  Some architects will come and measure the property themselves, some will use a surveyor.  Extend My House uses professional surveyors because they give us accurate levels around the house, which is critical for designing drainage, doors, thresholds, DPCs etc.  You may have to pay the surveyor’s fee direct or the architect may have included for it within their own fee – something worth checking.  Extend My House include the surveyor’s fee within our all-inclusive fixed fees.

After the architect has obtained drawings “as existing” they will produce design proposals – this may take the form of sketches, a model, images from a computer model or traditional 2D drawings normally on CAD, sometimes by hand.

example design proposal - computer model (by Extend My House)

example design proposal - sketch (by Extend My House)

Once the design is approved by the client, the architect will develop the design further, normally to aid in applications to the council on the client’s behalf for planning permission and building regulations – we will have a separate blog on these soon so please check back.  The client will normally have to pay the council direct for the applications, but at Extend My House we include these in our fee to aid your budgeting and because we’ve negotiated discounts on your behalf.

If your architect has designed your  project in entirety they should discuss any potential planning issues up front so the design can be developed to minimise or address these issues.  Also many architects may choose to get feedback from the council on larger or potentially contentious projects in advance of making an application.  This avoids abortive design work and should help avoid a planning rejection.  If you ask your architect to take on your own design work and just make the applications and deal with the council for you (many may not choose to anyway) they should again discuss any potential problems they foresee with planning and you should be prepared to adjust your design accordingly.

After the architect has obtained the relevant permissions, there is opportunity for a natural pause in the process – to take stock – because the next stage is building. 

example planning drawing (by Extend My House)

With a full architectural service the architect would go on to act as your agent through the tender and construction stages, attending site meeting and producing detail drawings as required as well as normally administering a contract between you and the selected builder.  If administering a contract, they will value the work completed on site against the builder’s claims, providing a degree of safeguarding for your money

Many clients however choose to part ways with their architect after obtaining building regulations approval.  This radically reduces the cost of the architectural service and is sometimes called a partial service (although a partial service can be as partial as you want!), but this is the logical stop point.  It gives the client a set of technical, approved drawings which in most cases builders can build from. 

However there is some discrepancy in the amount of information and drawings that different architects will produce for building regulations.  As a general rule, a simpler design, using traditional materials and techniques will require fewer drawings than a complex design as builders are familiar with traditional materials and techniques and need less help translating the drawings into a built form.  For instance if the architect has come up with an idea for a beautiful window seat overlooking the garden but did not give you a drawing of how to make it, you run the risk of getting a botched window seat overlooking the garden or potentially no window seat at all!  Consequently at Extend My House we give you a package of drawings concurrent with the design service chosen – so our bespoke service costs more not because bespoke design per se is more expensive (although it does take more time because it’s one-off) but because we need to do more drawings of a bespoke design to convey the design and how to build it.

So, in essence, the architect can accompany you through the whole process, but like any professional service, the more the architect is involved, the higher the architect’s fees.  Therefore although it may be ideal to have an architect on board from the beginning of an idea of an extension to the completed product, this will cost to the tune of anywhere from 8-16% of the construction cost i.e. on a £20K project it will be closer to the 15% mark (equating to £3K) and on a £100K project it may be closer to 9% (equating to £9K).  The best, award winning practices may charge significantly more than this.

This is why you may have to use an architect only where you really need them: for many it will be at the design stage to generate ideas and inject some inspiration, for most it will be to assist with making the relevant applications to the council and for some it will be to provide assurances and assistance during the build. Extend My House provide that design input, tailored to your requirements but with a dose of inspiration.  We can make the council applications for you and we hand over to you a package of information relevant to your particular design that puts you in command of your project and can be sent to builders for pricing and can form the basis of a contract with selected builder.

Visit http://www.extend-my-house.co.uk to see how our innovative online architectural service works.

In the next part of this post we will discuss what an architect can bring to your project and why you would use an architect.  Check back for this and our future blog posts on Planning Permission and Building Regulations Applications.

 

House Extension Photos

We have created a project gallery on our website at http://www.extend-my-house.co.uk/project_gallery.html - where you can see examples of our work.  On show at the moment are three projects: a single storey house extension, a garden room with pool/landscape design and an interior reconfiguration.  We will be adding more soon.  We will also soon be publishing a series of articles on the role of an architect with regard to house extensions, what exactly an architect does and what they can do for your house extension, loft conversion, garden room or internal reconfiguration.  We will also be starting to upload images of other interesting house extensions.  So watch this space!

In the meantime here's a thumbnail of one of the house extensions in our project gallery:

New Press Release 21/10/2010

www.extend-my-house.co.uk is an architectural service with a difference…

It’s a nationwide, web-based service with low, fixed, all-inclusive fees

 

Extend-my-house has just been launched as a new concept for the home improvement market.  It is an architectural practice with a difference: in fact it’s the first of it kind being nationwide, web-based and exclusively tailored to homeowners looking to extend or improve their homes.  It has been launched by Stuart Buckenham, a chartered architect, with the aim of a more transparent architectural service, allowing homeowners to use the services of a professional architect, when they otherwise may not have been able to, or would have thought to. 

Architectural services are not usually the most transparent or easy to understand service that a client will commission and many are confused about what an architect does or can offer them, or if an architect is required at all.  Extend-my-house addresses this by providing a clear website where clients can test different options for projects (and use a build cost calculator to price them up), understand how the process works and for the first time ever instantly see how much the architect’s fee will be.  The fees are instantly available without form-filling for all project variations.  Project elements can be combined at discounted rates.  The fees are all-inclusive as well, including fees to the council and structural engineers fee (where relevant).

“We shape our buildings, thereafter they shape us”, Winston Churchill

There is huge debate amongst self-builders and homeowners about how best to translate ideas for a project into built form.  Primarily this centres around whether to use an architect, a technologist or an unqualified “architectural designer”.   It is argued by many that the difference is an architect will come up with ideas the technologist could not but the technologist is better at getting things built. The “architectural designer” could be a good designer or may have good construction skills but it’s a shot in the dark and they are unregulated.  Its fair to say there are good and bad in each, but an architect’s training, spatial awareness, professionalism and adherence to codes of conduct, regulation and knowledge of construction gives them a skill set that should make them first on most people’s list.  However many architects will not take on small commissions and the ones that do may not always make them their priority.  So people have limited choice and the cost of the service may often be prohibitive, or perceived as prohibitive.

With the advent of Grand Designs and the raft of home improvement TV shows, many of today’s clients have a fairly developed idea of what they want from their build and want an efficient, reliable service to translate it for them.  Some may therefore think its best to go straight to a builder and tell them what they want.  However if ideas are just literally translated the results may be disappointing. And handing control of your project over to a builder could be a disaster.  Extend-my-house therefore offers clients a streamlined, professional, online architectural service: providing design input, professional drawings, experience with local authority applications and construction knowledge, all honed through years of experience on a variety of domestic projects and carried out by chartered architects. 

Extend-my-house offers a rapid service with each project treated as a top priority. When an order is placed clients can submit their briefs or alternatively fill out a design questionnaire.  On receipt of this and subsequent telephone conversations/emails as necessary, an approved surveyor local to the project will visit the site to carry out a measured survey relevant to the project type selected. Extend-my-house will then prepare design drawings, which are emailed to the client for approval.  Clients can then submit amendments to the design. After this Extend-my-house will apply for local authority permissions as necessary working towards a set of drawings that can be used as a basis for a contract with a builder.  Extend-my-house can also help shortlist and appoint builders if required.

PRESS RELEASE: The Idea Behind extend-my-house

PRESS RELEASE: FULL

23/09/10

extend-my-house is an architectural service with a difference…

In fact it’s completely different!

Our aim is to enable all homeowners to use an architect…

The Confusion for Home Owners

Considering building a house extension or altering your home can be pretty confusing: do you go to a builder, do you go to an architect or do you go to someone who just does drawings.  Which is best? What will an architect actually do for your project?  Many people are understandably confused… These are big decisions, which can have a big impact on the result of a build and consequently your everyday life.  So which way to turn?

Option One – Architect

Pros

Independent advice, acts as your agent and looks after your interests. Design Expertise, Drawing Expertise, Local Authority Expertise, All-round construction knowledge and site experience.  Will Help You Choose a Builder and appoint other consultants (quantity surveyor, structural engineer) as necessary.

Cons

Fees can be expensive, complicated and exclude lots of things.  May not take on smaller projects.

Option Two - Surveyors/Engineers

Pros

Independent Advice, Some will act as your agent if required, Knowledge of Construction (Structural Engineers), Cost Control (Quantity Surveyors), Efficient Management (Quantity Surveyors/Project Managers)

Cons

Fees can still be expensive.  There are many types of surveyors and engineers and understanding which one is right for your house extension can be confusing in itself. No regulation of terms so anyone can call themselves a “building surveyor” or “engineer”.  No design training. May not be experienced in dealing with local authorities.

Option Three – CADman/Draughtsman

Pros

Probably the cheapest way to obtain a set of drawings

Cons

Probably no design training/expertise.  May not deal with local authority or may have limited experience/skill.  Unregulated so no adherence to professional codes/qualifications. 

Option Four – Builder/ All-in-One/Turnkey Service

Pros

Saves money on paying fees separately to consultants.  May speed up timeframe for project.

Cons

Will take control of project away from you and you have no agent to represent you.  The firm may well have to pay an architect/designer/engineer themselves anyway.  If they don’t are you really happy for them to make the big decisions for you?  May try to make more money out of you by cutting corners.  May take an ad-hoc approach to Building Regulations which could cost you in remedial works. No professional advice: you have to act as your own agent.

Option Five – Do It Yourself

Pros

Saves money on professional fees.  Gives you complete control of your project.

Cons

May still end up paying professional advice.  Need drawings skills.  Need good liaison skills and some knowledge to deal with council.  Not for the feint-hearted.  You bear all the risk and responsibility on your own.  Time researching everything.  Must be meticulous in your approach, management and release of project information.

The Dilemma

Many people may not be prepared to hand over control of their project to a builder but are on a tight budget.  They may want their drawings done by someone professional but think an architect might be too expensive or over-the-top for their project.  What would be ideal is to find an architect but for the fee of a cad/draughtsman. Up until now this has been a pipe dream.

A New Solution

How to address this situation?  How to let more people be able to use the service of a professional architect with design expertise?  How to make the architectural service more affordable and accessible? How to simplify the whole process and approach to fees?

These are the questions that led to the conception of extend-my-house. Also drawing upon changes in legislation (planning laws, permitted development and the privatisation of building control services) and changes in technology (broadband, pdfs, planning portal), extend-my-house was established to offer a radical new type of architectural service: a nationwide*, web-based, house extension/home alterations one stop solution with all-inclusive fees for different projects available to view online, instantly. We understand most people will only do this once or twice maybe in their life and that it is critical they are not disappointed.

We provide the professional drawings, expertise and advice needed, keeping the client in control of the project but taking away the headache. When we finish they have a set of drawings/documents to the form the basis of a contract with potential builders.  We do not attend site meetings or administer the contract as a local architect might, but these services radically increase the cost of an architectural service and many projects cannot sustain this level of involvement.  We are always on the end of the telephone to advise and if required we can arrange a local architect or surveyor to carry out on site duties.

EXCLUSIVE - Low, Fixed, All-Inclusive Fees Available to See Online 24/7

Our fees are already low but they also include all the extras excluded on an architect’s fee – such as fees to the local authority (from £400 upwards), fees to structural engineer (from £200 - £1000 typically depending on the structural complexity) and OS maps – so the fee you see is the fee you pay.  Why wait for an architect to come out and see you and then wait for a quote from them – our fees are available to see for anyone, anytime on our website.

Home Experts

We are experts in house extensions, loft conversions and internal re-configurations with over 10 years experience working almost exclusively in this market.  By concentrating only on domestic projects our efficiency of these projects is increased, offering a quick turnaround and reduced costs and therefore fees. 

Web-Based Remote Service

By being web-based and working remotely we are able to pass on further savings to the client: by avoiding the need to keep coming to visit we are able to keep fees low and spend our time drawing, by emailing correspondence and drawings the paper trail cost is kept to a minimum.  Operating remotely also keeps our office overheads to a minimum, saving the client more money.

The website helps select the service required for the particular project based on the design ambition, size and type of the project.  This reveals the relevant fee and allows clients access to a build cost estimator, an order form and to see the cost of any extras required (such as 3D visuals, or additional project elements: such as adding a loft conversion to your extension at a discounted rate).  We collect any other information we need once the order is placed. 

Our approved regional surveyor visits at the beginning of the project to take all measurements, survey information and photos as necessary.  After this all correspondence is web-based: we will create a folder on our website for each project so all drawings are available to view at anytime, as soon as they are finished.  We still post out paper copies of official documents, if required. For more information on how our unique service works, please visit www.extend-my-house.co.uk and choose “About Our Service” from the navigation bar.

* England & Wales

Nationwide*

There are architects who do operate nationwide but they won’t be taking on small domestic projects.  Likewise with builders.  By operating nationwide* we can take advantage of working with one firm of Approved Building Inspectors across the whole country*, negotiating discounts on Building Regs fees and passing these savings on to the client. 

Critically our remote service allows us to work across the whole country*, increasing our workload, which, in turn keeps the fee per project down. So wherever you are you* can use extend-my-house.co.uk.

Summary

Ultimately our aim is to offer professional design and service at affordable rates. Whether it be a few drawings, a scheme design/feasibility study, Planning Permission or a Building Regulations Application or all or any of the above, the unique way in which we work allows clients to have the design, service and professional input they hoped for at a price they are prepared to pay.

For more information and to see how our innovative, architectural service works please visit:

www.extend-my-house.co.uk

* England & Wales