Architect has made a costly mistake

muls90

Hi
Apologies if I am posting in the wrong place.
We are part-way through a build of a large side extension and found out yesterday that the architect's plans are wrong. They made errors in the measurements which mean that the roofline will not work; our builders will have to change the roof of our existing house to make it fit.
The architect has been here and confirmed that they made a mistake, "these things happen"!
What do we do? It's going to cost thousands to put right.
Any ideas for who we can contact to help us?
Many thanks in advance for any help.

dunroving

muls90 wrote: »

Hi
Apologies if I am posting in the wrong place.
We are part-way through a build of a large side extension and found out yesterday that the architect's plans are wrong. They made errors in the measurements which mean that the roofline will not work; our builders will have to change the roof of our existing house to make it fit.
The architect has been here and confirmed that they made a mistake, "these things happen"!
What do we do? It's going to cost thousands to put right.
Any ideas for who we can contact to help us?
Many thanks in advance for any help.

Isn't this covered by the architect's liability insurance?

System

What is the mistake? and why is it going to cost thousands to put right?

muls90

Thanks for the responses.
The architect took incorrect measurements of our house.
The roofline of the extension will not work; they will have to change the roof of our existing kitchen to accommodate the extension. Basically, taking off the roof and replacing it with a new one!

I don't know if the architect has liability insurance. It will be one of my first questions. Do they have to have it?

System

can the new roof not be redesigned to work with the existing? seems the easier way around here?
If they are a registered architect they must carry liability insurance

muls90

Changing the new roof would mean significantly reducing the ceiling height in all 3 rooms (in the extension) which we want to avoid.
The architect is (very!) local and came to us via several recommendations. I'm checking now to see if they are registered with any professional body.

System

muls90 wrote: »

Changing the new roof would mean significantly reducing the ceiling height in all 3 rooms (in the extension) which we want to avoid.
The architect is (very!) local and came to us via several recommendations. I'm checking now to see if they are registered with any professional body.

speak to them directly and ask what they are going to do about it before bothering with anything else, they might have a solution before you have to get the legal threats out!

Ozzuk

I'd also worry that you'll need planning for the change of existing roof...better check!

stator

As others have said, the architect's insurance should cover any losses due to the architects mistake, but you must remember that doesn't necessarily mean they will pay for what you want.


Replacing the roof of your main house seems very extravagent and I doubt the insurance will cover this. It is more likely the insurance would push for a more modest solution. This might not give you the extension you wanted, but you may have to accept some compromise.


For example if the extension could be completed with a flat roof instead of a pitched roof, then the insurance might pay you the difference in value of the house with a flat roofed extension instead of a pitched roof, rather than replacing your whole house's roof



If you post drawings of the extension and your house other's might be able to propose alternative resolutions.

EachPenny

stator wrote: »

For example if the extension could be completed with a flat roof instead of a pitched roof, then the insurance might pay you the difference in value of the house with a flat roofed extension instead of a pitched roof, rather than replacing your whole house's roof

If you post drawings of the extension and your house other's might be able to propose alternative resolutions.

...or might be time for a valley gutter solution

Some drawings or pictures would be very useful if the OP doesn't mind sharing.

Newuser1987

So there is a solution for the roof which means you lose some head height in the rooms but because you dont want this you want to sue the architect?

If the architect had the correct measurements from the start he would have probably suggested a lower head height in the new space or amend the design of the existing roof. Both of which are possible solutions now. So I am not sure you have actually had any additional costs. They are just unplanned costs?

Also I would be surprised if it didn't say on every one of the architects drawings that all dimensions, levels and setting out is to be checked on site prior to building work.

Admittedly it is a frustrating mistake but builders quite often just speed ahead without checking on site measurements.