Kitchen Extension Need Step by Step Instructions!

System

DRP wrote: »

your local council may have an approved list of architects for whom they fast track the applications process.

Unfortunately that isn't a thing... You may get a recommendation from a building control officer for someone they know will produce the information they want to see well, but each application has to go through the same assessment process.
So all you get is a recommendation for someone that can draw building regs drawings well, nothing to do with the actual quality of the design, the quality of the construction information or the end product . Seeking a recommendation from a local authority worker isn't something I would rely on.

System

edwink wrote: »

This is just an idea for you. When we made the decision to have our kitchen extended we put pen to paper and made a rough sketch of what we thought we would like the extension to look like. By that I mean a French door here and a new window there type of sketch. Before the Architect comes round you can mess about with the sketch and change it as much as you like until you come up with what you feel would be the best design for you and your house. When our Architect came round we gave him the sketch and he based his drawings on our sketch. The only thing we had to change was the size of the Velux roof windows because of building regulations sizes etc.

When the building work was finished it was exactly what we had dreamed of having and the space and the way it was designed is exactly what we wanted for our needs in our new kitchen.

One thing to remember when having an extension now is that I believe all new walls must be around 15 inches thick whereas a lot of the original walls in peoples homes are around 9 inches think. (in our home anyway). So you will end up having a different thickness from where the extension starts from your original kitchen wall. To not make this too messy in with our new kitchen we followed on with our kitchen units and worktops by cutting them down at the back. So entering our kitchen you would almost not notice that the walls are of a different thickness. It is only when you open the last few cupboards at the end that you will really notice because of the depth of them plus the worktop does not have as much depth to it. Rather than jut the units and the worktop out because of the wall this kept them all in a straight tidy line. Hope that makes sense. So obviously if you do similar to us you would not be able to put a fridge or freezer in the extended part of the kitchen unless they jutted out.

Hope that is of some help to you. I know you are looking for information on getting quotes and the planning side of it etc. But thought this information would help you with the design side of it.

Don't forget also that often when a room is extended it can make the original part darker as you may be moving a back window further down the room etc. So always think of ways to bring more light in to it by maybe having Velux type windows as we have done. We have 6 in our single story extension roof and the amount of light they let in is amazing. We never ever have to put the lights on it the kitchen during the day, also this will save you money in the long run. It is well worth making the best you can of natural light if possible in your extension plans.

Good luck with it all.

Edwink

You really shouldn't have employed an architect and then designed it yourself! That's the bit of the fee where they can add real value - it would have been wiser and cheaper to seek out a draftsman to draw up your sketch to the correct standard

DRP

the_r_sole wrote: »

Unfortunately that isn't a thing... You may get a recommendation from a building control officer for someone they know will produce the information they want to see well, but each application has to go through the same assessment process.
So all you get is a recommendation for someone that can draw building regs drawings well, nothing to do with the actual quality of the design, the quality of the construction information or the end product . Seeking a recommendation from a local authority worker isn't something I would rely on.

Yep, it is.

Our council has an accreditation scheme which speeds up applications.

System

DRP wrote: »

Yep, it is.

Our council has an accreditation scheme which speeds up applications.

For all the approvals?
I have heard of some councils having agents that can apply for householders applications quickly, but it's only the registration of the application it speeds up and the statutory processing times/advertising times are the same as any other application.
Building regs, which is the difficult/time consuming and crucial bits need don't have any advantage for accredited agents - as far as I know

edwink

the_r_sole wrote: »

You really shouldn't have employed an architect and then designed it yourself! That's the bit of the fee where they can add real value - it would have been wiser and cheaper to seek out a draftsman to draw up your sketch to the correct standard

Our Architect drew up the plans to submit to the council to the correct standard and our sketch ended up being drawn just how we had wanted in a professional format. The idea behind us doing a rough drawing was to make sure we had everything in the place that we wanted it to be if possible. A draftsman may well have been cheaper I agree. But, this guy was local within a mile to us and gave such a professional service I have continued to recommend him to friends ever since. I was actually recommend to use him by a family member because he was so good and did not charge the earth for his services. We were extremely happy with his fee and the service he provided.

Remember cheap is not always the best option when you are in the process of spending thousands and mistakes can cost so much!!

System

edwink wrote: »

Our Architect drew up the plans to submit to the council to the correct standard and our sketch ended up being drawn just how we had wanted in a professional format. The idea behind us doing a rough drawing was to make sure we had everything in the place that we wanted it to be if possible. A draftsman may well have been cheaper I agree. But, this guy was local within a mile to us and gave such a professional service I have continued to recommend him to friends ever since. I was actually recommend to use him by a family member because he was so good and did not charge the earth for his services. We were extremely happy with his fee and the service he provided.

Remember cheap is not always the best option when you are in the process of spending thousands and mistakes can cost so much!!

I would always recommend an architect, as they are duty bound to have appropriate insurance etc - but where they really add value is in the design, a draftsman/ex local authority surveyor or the like should be able to take a sketch and turn it in to competent drawings.
It's just about finding the correct person for the work, if you are employing an architect it would be wise to let them do the designing after discussing the brief with you, they can then look at different options that you might not have thought of which would give a better end product.
Asking them to prepare application drawings from a sketch seems like overkill, that's the kind of things the most junior people in an architects office can do, it's about value rather than cheapness

mae

Thanks everyone. The two I have emailed are architects. Neither have got back to me yet but I will keep you posted as I am sure it will be interesting re the service offered and the price. Big decision.

mae

I have managed to book a free consultation with someone local who has good online reviews and advertises as a 'qualified architectural technician and then as a qualified building and asbestos surveyor' he has was originally a time served joiner apparently.

Obviously I don't know his fees yet as that depends on the size etc of the job and he will give me full costings after the free initial appointment.

Another company wanted to charge me £80 + VAT for coming out to look and telling me what the cost would be to go ahead.

System

mae wrote: »

I have managed to book a free consultation with someone local who has good online reviews and advertises as a 'qualified architectural technician and then as a qualified building and asbestos surveyor' he has was originally a time served joiner apparently.

Obviously I don't know his fees yet as that depends on the size etc of the job and he will give me full costings after the free initial appointment.

Another company wanted to charge me £80 + VAT for coming out to look and telling me what the cost would be to go ahead.

Make sure you ask him about whether he has appropriate PII cover in place and what their role would be when work goes on site.
It's fairly common at the moment that architects are charging for an initial consult - the market is very buoyant and it's a good way to "pre-vet" new clients and how serious they are

mae

the_r_sole wrote: »

Make sure you ask him about whether he has appropriate PII cover in place and what their role would be when work goes on site.
It's fairly common at the moment that architects are charging for an initial consult - the market is very buoyant and it's a good way to "pre-vet" new clients and how serious they are

His website says that he has Professional Indemnity insurance.

What do you mean exactly re his role when work goes on site? What should it be?

Thanks