Do we need an architect or something else?

[Citygirlrurallife]

Coming towards exchange and completion on a house that’s great but we want to do work on. We had an architect come and look at it before we offered to see if what we
thought we could do was feasible and see if he had any other genius ideas. Yes to the former, no to the latter.

The “big” work we want doing we know what we want (all internal stuff, no extensions etc) so while I think we could prob do with an interior designer’s eye I’m not longer sure we need an actual architect.

two reception room we’re going to take down half the wall (so a kind of u-shaped open plan which we’ve had before and works well for us), making the main bedroom window much bigger, putting a dormer window into another bedroom and extending the garage widthways are the big pieces of work….WWYD?

I think you would need to check your local planning law first and get someone familiar with the local planning law to do a feasibility study. That person could be an experienced local builder or a residential architect.
https://resi.co.uk/home_improvement_reports there are tools online you can use for free. Resi also one of the cheapest residential architect due to scale.

Making a window bigger, likely to need planning if the window is facing the street.

Taking down half of a wall, an experienced builder can tell you that. If you get an architect, they might suggest you to get a structural engineer.

Dormer window, again, I think you would need an architect and a structural engineer down the line.

I would not recommend getting an interior designer. They do not have the skills you look for.

@TempleHill Thankyou for the response - the interior designer is more of a seperate thing and panicking that I have no taste for interior design 😆 m
youre right actually I’d forgotten our architect said about getting the feasibility survey done and I think from a project management POV it would be great but wondering whether it’s the right route for the money?

Sounds exciting. Like yourself, we knew what we wanted to do and decided not to go down the architect route. Initially, we spoke to the local authority to see if any elements needed planning permission - they did - three clear Velux windows on our neighbour’s side. We used an architectural technician ( who also did the planning application) with a structural engineer producing calculations for building regulations submission together with the technician’s plans. All went smoothly and we used this package to get accurate quotes from builders. Project managed it ourselves. Lived on site during the works which wasn’t easy. Good luck.

It sounds like you might be better using an architectural technician. They can do the drawings and the planning applications, and are cheaper. Architects are better when there is more design to the project, rather than a straightforward extension.

Also came here to say Architectural Technician. Ours has been outstanding and has handled all of an extensive five year rebuild and extension programme.

She costs £70 an hour rather than the thousands and thousands architects kept trying to charge us to imagine knocking down half of the building and starting again with a wildly unsuitable glass cube.

find a builder you want to work with and go from there - they’ll have structural engineers etc they work with they can recommend.

we’re a month into a very big building project and wasted 3 years and tens of thousands working with an architect. They designed a beautiful house that we all loved, but the quotes from builders came in at 5 times our budget! We eventually found a (highly recommended) builder who had the vision to work with us to find a compromise between the designs and our budget. I wish we’d found him at the start…

So where does one a find an architectural technician? Quick google search just shows me degree courses….

@JennyForeigner @AllGonePeteTongg wouls you be willing to PM me your architectural technician’s details?

Always go with a local recommendation… Ask neighbours who’ve done work. Ask your builder who they use, etc

You probably could do with a good builder and a concept planner like Karen at OnePlan. But book ahead as she's always busy.

https://architecturaltechnology.com/membership/qualifying-chartered-architectural-technologist.html

You can work on your renovation plan via software like https://interior-design3d.com/, it really helps to see the whole picture. But definitely find an architect, and like others said, ask for neighbours' advice.

I used home tales who I believe use arch technicians. They were fab anyway
www.hometales.co.uk