Considering a big extension on the house

**MrsGoof** · 12 June 2007, 16:57

start with an architect that is:
1) recommended
2) familiar with your local council

when plans are drawn up, get some recommended builders to quote.
you may consider getting your architect to PM it.

all the above is what I did and all went smoothly, a friend did none of the above and had to fight the council for over a year due to a cock-up, and ended up paying 3 lots of builder twice then original quote

**oraclesmith** · 12 June 2007, 17:33

Agree with all of the above. The architect will also be able to spot any building control issues (eg. your garage not having deep enough foundations) and also give you some guidance re. price based on floor area.

Best shop around for an architect though. Some of them are used to bigger builds so you need one who does residential work in your area. Make sure they are qualified as an architect and not just a failed planning officer.

**Euro-commuter** · 12 June 2007, 18:18

Originally posted by oraclesmith

Agree with all of the above. The architect will also be able to spot any building control issues (eg. your garage not having deep enough foundations) and also give you some guidance re. price based on floor area.

Best shop around for an architect though. Some of them are used to bigger builds so you need one who does residential work in your area. Make sure they are qualified as an architect and not just a failed planning officer.

Speaking of architects and planning officers, see if you can find an architect whose plans invariably pass official scrutiny. Not that I would suggest that the worlds of construction and politics every see any collusion, dinners, brown paper bags, etc.

**xoggoth** · 12 June 2007, 19:43

This should be a one stop process. Approach proper builders and they handle drawing up the plans and applying for any planning applications for you.

**King Cnvt** · 12 June 2007, 20:01

That's what I was hoping. A builder that does the whole process with a single point of contact.

Cheers. Time to start ringing round.

**dang65** · 12 June 2007, 21:13

I'd agree with the original posters who recommend an architect to also act as PM. It's very useful indeed to have someone you can moan at who will then go and speak the proper language to the builder and get it fixed. Any big building project, I would definitely go that route. Small jobs, fair enough, probably not necessary.

**wendigo100** · 12 June 2007, 21:37

Pikeys are usually cheaper. Any sites near you?

**Troll** · 12 June 2007, 21:41

if you do enough googling you should come across guidence for extension build prices on a per sq metre basis - with regional variations - probally give you a ball park figure about £500@sm in England & 2/6d@sm in Scotland

**wendigo100** · 12 June 2007, 21:43

Originally posted by Troll

if you do enough googling you should come across guidence for extension build prices on a per sq metre basis - with regional variations - probally give you a ball park figure about £500@sm in England & 2/6d@sm in Scotland

That's close to £40 per sft when I was looking a few years ago.

Quotes for Scotland might be cheap as chips, but the final price always ends up 10 times that. How much was their parliament building?

Considering a big extension on the house