I want to renovate my house but I don't know how to go about it!

[Sadik]

I know exactly what I want to achieve (warmer drier more energy efficient house that will be easier to run as I get older).

I also know roughly what I want to do to achieve that - dry line throughout, heat store fed by wood batch boiler / probably air source heat and also possibly solar thermal. I also definitely need replacement of a few old 70s double glazed windows, and potentially replacement throughout with 21C quality windows.

I'm not in a 'money no object' situation, but I think I should be able to afford all the above fairly comfortably.

What I don't know is whether I should go to an architect, ie whether they would deal with improvements of this sort. Or whether I go direct to a builder / stove installer - but if so how do I get them to work together & sort out where the heat store should go etc etc.

Any advice very very welcome.....

@Sadik I would suggest asking locally for someone who has experience of project managing what you're looking for. I k ow our local FB group people frequently look for such recommendations. X

So a project manager rather than an architect? Or maybe a project manager and an architect (I might want to minorly remodel the back of an old 70s extension and put the log boiler there)??

I guess I don't know how 'minor' architects go in their work IYKWIM.

A good project manager will have the right contacts for architects and tradespeople. Yes will cost a bit more but it means you have someone experienced keeping it all on track and on budget etc x

Looking around here in fact it seems like all project management / architecture basically overlaps (maybe because it's a rural area) - so I'll ask around for recommendations. Thanks! Definitely happy to pay for project management - I work full time running my own business & really don't have time or skills to do it all myself

I think maybe I'm being diverted by the eco side of what I want to do, I imagine these days with the renewable heat incentives air source heat, log burners, heat stores etc are much more mainstream.

Insulation is key to your project. Get that right and you won’t waste any of your expensive heat.
A small Architectural practice would be able to manage your requirements, apply of building regulations required and manage the trades. There may be more technical requirements than originally thought.

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For sure, insulation is going to be absolutely key. Having said that I still would like a (much) better source of heat than a decrepit 1970s Rayburn!

Another question for those who know about such things (sorry!). Is it normal with project managers / architects to get more than one quote as you would with a builder/plumber etc? I'm assuming so??