Extension - next steps

[Lou573]

Hi, I’d be grateful if anyone could advise on the next step after being granted planning permission. Some builders appear to ask for technical drawings, some quote without - what’s the generally accepted practice here? Thanks!

www.self-build.co.uk/get-realistic-quotes-builders/

This might help.

ours was a fairly big piece of work, on an old house, with a fair amount of steel and glazing and installing of drains. Also some remodelling inside. So we went quotes with very detailed plans - with structural work and full specs of materials. Drawn up by the architectural technician who did the planning permission drawings - again very detailed as we are in a conservation area.

The quote we accepted was £110k. We also had to pay the AT to run the tender and produce the drawings and pay the structural engineer.

Who dealt with your Planning application… you or an architect/designer?

Be wary ofcsnyone who quotes without drawings! You need structural engineer class too for building regs and for your builder.
Have them breakdown the cost to the last tile. If you find it overwhelming a project manager will do it.

I'm very new to this myself, so far from any expert. We are doing a small, 2 storey extension to close off a corner, open up kitchen/diner and add an ensuite to the upstairs bedroom.

Initially had drawings done by architectural firm, these got approved by planning, then had a structural engineer go around. He then sent his measurements back to the same architectural company. We have only this week got back the 'proper' structural and elevation plans.

We have found no builders will quote without these either. Who did your initial plans for getting planning? I'd use them.

@DevilDamo an architectural designer. He will do the technical drawings for us apparently (although getting hold of him for timescales is another story). I was wondering as one builder we want to quote has asked whether we have our drawings yet and another has said he can quote and put in a guideline price for the building regs drawings and structural calculations. We haven’t done building work on this scale before so I wasn’t clear on next steps.

Thanks all, seems like getting the technical drawings is the best next step. I just wish everyone wouldn’t take weeks to respond to anything!

If your AD is willing to take on that next stage, then yes… that is what you need in order for builders to start providing costings. It does make things a little more difficult and complicated should you need to instruct somebody else to take on that next stage.

And make sure to factor in about 10-20% unexpected necessary overspend! X

We found it helpful if painful to list everything. Flooring, lighting, outside work, new kitchen, radiators, extra nice to haves and do a spreadsheet of likely costs.bit of guesswork, asking people who’d had work, looking at kitchens on line, got a plan done and priced for outside.

It was a helpful reality bump and meant we had a realistic view of budget.

We went through it with our architect technician and he gave us some pointers.