Back garden Extension- Do I need an Architect?

PMC83

So I'm knocking my old conservatory and looking at building on a proper extension (single story, 40 square feet). Currently the conservatory is either super cold or super warm and we really want something that feels like a proper room and something that is part of the house.

Now, I know plenty of people have done these things without employing an Architect for designs. My question is, would I be crazy not to?

I see the benefit of it and would be great to have an initial design to get an idea of what the build would look like but that will easily take up a 5th of out budget.

Do people generally talk to a builder first and thrash out an idea or get drawings made?

sydthebeat

unless your looking for a very, very specialised bespoke fully specified design..... then its not going to cost you 20% of the build price.


cut your cloth to measure....
do you want a bespoke design? do you value knowledge and experience on how best to design this extension?
do you just want design and no construction or tender information?
do you want some kind of on site over seeing when building? would a different professional be better for this?
do you trust your builder to act in your best interests? what fall backs do you have otherwise?

Calahonda52

OP: a lot of folk who have "winged" this sort of project, which is v common now, screw up on the real loss of natural light into the original rooms of the house where the conservatory went across the back of the house, when the roof was tiled

MightyMunster

Have found that builders, trades will try to "guide" you to do things their way i.e.what they're used to doing rather than what you want. Handy to have an architect on your side and drawings etc.
Saying that, found the architect I used was poor value for money.

BryanF

MightyMunster wrote: »

, found the architect I used was poor value for money.

how are you benchmarking this

PMC83

MightyMunster wrote: »

Have found that builders, trades will try to "guide" you to do things their way i.e.what they're used to doing rather than what you want. Handy to have an architect on your side and drawings etc.
Saying that, found the architect I used was poor value for money.

Thanks MM, yeah getting light in is the most important thing to us. Now, the builder we talked to did seem to understand this and there was much talk of skylights and so on.

I was just a little blown away by the first Architect quote I got, just over 9K.
This included initial designs, feedback, getting the agreed design up to builder specs and site visits /project management.

Realistically I was looking for something I could go to my builder with in terms of a rough plan of what I would like but the above seemed like a layer of admin I would be paying for

Doop

I wouldn't call it admin more so security / oversight / cost control.

However you can still ask the architect for a fee to design only and have no involvement after that. It will significantly reduce the fee.

Penn

PMC83 wrote: »

Thanks MM, yeah getting light in is the most important thing to us. Now, the builder we talked to did seem to understand this and there was much talk of skylights and so on.

I was just a little blown away by the first Architect quote I got, just over 9K.
This included initial designs, feedback, getting the agreed design up to builder specs and site visits /project management.

Realistically I was looking for something I could go to my builder with in terms of a rough plan of what I would like but the above seemed like a layer of admin I would be paying for

Well the question is who is going to be signing off the work for compliance with building regulations and planning permission (ie. certifying that the works don't require planning permission), because the builder can't do either of those. And for an architect or other registered professional to do so, the works will have to be specified and constructed in accordance with the building regulations, and the registered professional will have to carry out periodic inspections. You may also need an engineer to design and specify any significant structural elements (depending on the proposed design). And unless you know a builder, you may require the registered professional to put it out to tender and get quotes for the works (which they'll have to give at least a general specification for).

That said, I think with shopping around you could get all of the above for a good bit less than 9k. A good builder will know how to construct it in accordance with the building regulations without much specification (though best to have it checked by a registered professional regardless even if they're not specifying the works or doing construction drawings). If you're happy enough with a simple, functional design a building surveyor, architectural technician or engineer who deals with residential projects might work out cheaper than an architect.