Do I need an architect?

Cacran

I am thinking of having a shower room upstairs. I live in a dormer bungalow where the current bathroom is downstairs and all bedrooms are upstairs. Bit of a pain in the night!!!. There is not enough room to take anything from the bedrooms so would need to extend the dorma bedroom at the back. the way the roof is and the stair case structure, it is going to be a bit difficult. Needs a lot of thinking out. I checked with the planning dept who say we do not need to have plans passed, just building regulations adhered to ( I was a bit surprised a that!) would I need to get an architect to look at it and draw up plans for a builder, do you think? I am not sure if I actually want to go ahead with the project, it would depend on whether it was going to put as much value on the house as it costs to do the job. We had one builder look at it but he gave us no idea of cost as said we would need the plands drawing up first.

windym_2

Personally I would always work with plans. Your local Building Control with want plans in any case. You don't necessarily have to have an architect draw them up, but IMHO it is far safer. I have only ever drawn my own plans for a garage extension (not attached to anything).

deca_321

you should do big jobs like that by the book. You do not want anything backfiring against you in say 3 or so years down the road. Right now l am extending a room size so walls are comming down. I had to get in an architec, structrual engineer and l have sent a 100 pounds check for a building warrant to the council. £100.00 covers all jobs upto £5000.00. My walls are loading bearing so l need the beams put up. Architecs fee was £200.00. Engineers fee was £350.00.

The cheapiest part is the workmen which l am really luckly. So basically to extend a room its only cost us about £700.00. And its only 2 days work!

I would not do it any other way cause if anything goes wrong its not worth it. Of course u dont need the council involved, all they do is say ok that can go ahead and they get £100.00 for nothing!

And it will increase the value on your home! we also now have 2 shower rooms in a 3 bedroom flat!

safe

It sounds like a simple job so you’re probably best just getting the name of a draftsperson from the local paper. They'll most likely give you a no obligation quote at this stage and you can suss out if they're capable of the job rather than paying for an ‘Architect’.

I’m assuming you’re just adding a dormer to the back of the house with a bit of remodelling inside so that would be allowed under permitted development rights, as mentioned. You will need building regulations approval and the council fees will be about £400 - £500 and I’d have thought to get plans drawn up would be a similar cost.

ormus

12 posts. and all spam.
what an a r se hole.

iamcornholio

Although you would be better off with having plans drawn for this, an Architect will be unnecessarily expensive. You need a 'designer' to draw plans, and this person can be an Architectural Technician, Building Surveyor or possibly a Structural Engineer or other suitable professional - any of which will cost much less than an Architect