My architect doesn't seem to be providing much imagination or commentary - is this normal?

NatNat77

Wow how much were the groundworks quotes? Driving a micro digger actually sounds fun , I'd be worried I would hit a pipe or cable though - how did he avoid them?

We had quotes for 9k, and for £13k plus VAT, but that was before we knew how deep we had to go. So I dread to think how much extra they'd have charged! I'd be clueless but he knows what he's doing (luckily!). We also hired a track barrow which at first we thought was a waste of money but turned out to be really good as I could drive it while the lads were running the wheelbarrows 😃

FreeBear

NatNat77 said: We also hired a track barrow which at first we thought was a waste of money but turned out to be really good as I could drive it while the lads were running the wheelbarrows 😃

Had one of those when I did my patio - A great way of shifting a half tonne of material quickly and effortlessly. Also had a one tonne dump truck which was great for moving the spoil up the garden, but the turning circle and width was a major problem. Still, good fun to drive.

NatNat77

FreeBear said:

NatNat77 said: We also hired a track barrow which at first we thought was a waste of money but turned out to be really good as I could drive it while the lads were running the wheelbarrows 😃

Had one of those when I did my patio - A great way of shifting a half tonne of material quickly and effortlessly. Also had a one tonne dump truck which was great for moving the spoil up the garden, but the turning circle and width was a major problem. Still, good fun to drive.

It really was! Unfortunately we didn't have room to get a dumper or anything bigger than a micro digger down the side of our house, but the track barrow just about fit. Did knock it into the house and the fence a fair few times though 😂

robatwork

OP is there a good reason why you don't just knock down and start from scratch?

Doozergirl

robatwork said:

OP is there a good reason why you don't just knock down and start from scratch?

The budget, for a start.  

If the OPs needs are as they said with an extra bedroom, a kitchen diner and a utility room, they could potentially do that in budget with a more modest extension and not knocking down so much. 

Alnat1

If there's a mortgage, the company wouldn't be too pleased if OP demolishes, they'd have no asset.

Section62

Alnat1 said:

If there's a mortgage, the company wouldn't be too pleased if OP demolishes, they'd have no asset.

They'd still have a building plot with full planning consent for a 4(?) bed dwelling.

There are potential scenarios where a cleared plot with planning consent could be worth more than a partially demolished house being worked on in accordance with those architect plans.

the_midnight_Wolfboy

OP is there a good reason why you don't just knock down and start from scratch?

As  Doozergirl said - mainly budget - I thought it would be possible to create a floorplan that minimises demolition and build 'around' the rear shape of the house. Just unfortunate that the T shape makes it difficult - but open to any suggestions?

If there's a mortgage, the company wouldn't be too pleased if OP demolishes, they'd have no asset.

Yes I just agreed a 7 year fix 6 months ago, I would need to port that product to another house, then get a self build mortgage - it sounds even more complex

Slinky

NatNat77 said:

Wow how much were the groundworks quotes? Driving a micro digger actually sounds fun , I'd be worried I would hit a pipe or cable though - how did he avoid them?

We had quotes for 9k, and for £13k plus VAT, but that was before we knew how deep we had to go. So I dread to think how much extra they'd have charged! I'd be clueless but he knows what he's doing (luckily!). We also hired a track barrow which at first we thought was a waste of money but turned out to be really good as I could drive it while the lads were running the wheelbarrows 😃

Might seem fun, but less so when you uncover the soakaway you didn't realise you had (we thought our rainwater went to pipe that runs across the back of the garden whose cover is rusted down), and much worse, find a filled in well right where a corner steel needs to go.  Glad we had builders in to sort those.  Added £3500 and about 3 weeks in delays to sort it, plus the steels had to be shortened which took 2 attempts to get the right height.

theoretica

the_midnight_Wolfboy said:

OP is there a good reason why you don't just knock down and start from scratch?

As  Doozergirl said - mainly budget - I thought it would be possible to create a floorplan that minimises demolition and build 'around' the rear shape of the house. Just unfortunate that the T shape makes it difficult - but open to any suggestions?

Leave current house walls as is except playroom.  Replace playroom with 2 storey rectangular extension going back as far as needed with kitchen or kitchen diner and leading through to old dining room.  Old kitchen becomes utility room.  Probably wouldn't fit two ensuites in upstairs as well as 4 bedrooms and a bathroom.