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OnePlan
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
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11 years agoCarolyn C. Interior Decorator, Brampton, ON.
11 years agoRelated Discussions
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Comments (8)Sounds like quite an unusual situation! It can be tricky to manage this type of project because of a number of factors, which I can elaborate on if you wish. If you intend to carry out elements of work yourself this amounts to a self build project with specialist input, which is a very different story to a traditional construction project, which may be why your architect is not comfortable with it. At the end of the day most people want to do their job as well as they can and it's likely that his considered view is that his recommendation will give you the best result - one that he can feel is a job well done that gives you the best outcome he can manage. If you are planning to carry out elements of work yourself make sure that the time you will take to carry them out will fit in with the rest of the works that you are having done for you. Also consider if a skilled tradesperson carrying out those same works might do them much faster and if the speed would have an impact on the cost in a way in which you may not have factored in - for example if you have to rent somewhere else for a longer duration then it may not be cost effective to do it yourself if the money saved is then offset by having to pay more in other costs like rent... It is always best practice to get more than one quote, however, there are some instances when this can prove tricky due to the specialist nature of the work and the location. Also you need to ensure that you are comparing like for like. Builders come in many different shapes and sizes so you need to be confident that they are going to be able to carry out that particular work to the speed, quality and budget that you are happy with. I can't comment fully on plumbing and underfloor heating and if this is silly or not as I don't know enough about the job. I would say that underfloor heating is more efficient if it's set within a concrete screed and can use the thermal mass as a lag to heating and cooling. If it's a historic building with suspended timber floors then it may be that radiators are more appropriate. It sounds like your architect has attempted a value engineering exercise for you and perhaps you would find it helpful to discuss this with them in more detail. It sounds like there may have been some confused communication going on. I hope you manage to sort this out in your meeting....See MoreFine tuning of kitchen plan - advice please
Comments (4)Hi Karen/OnePlan, Thanks for the responses - I thought nobody loved me :-( Also, thanks for reassuring me. I want the kitchen to be as near to perfect as possible as this is my one and only chance. Craig...See MoreAdvice for hiring someone to design and build a house
Comments (12)Hi Gavin, Good questions. These are really vital points to consider but the answers are complex and very dependent on what suits you. 1. Finding property - yes that can be tricky but it depends on what you are looking for, where and at what price. As others have said, consider property as not necessarily simply a plot of land but potentially a building (and not necessarily a house) that could be demolished or remodelled to give you what you want. However, before you go through with a purchase, check with the local planning department that what you are hoping to achieve on any prospective site is likely to be supported / meets local planning policy. Auctions can be good places to look. A quick search on Rightmove or other online platforms using filters for location, price range, etc... is a good starting point. Also many architects, as I do, can offer you a reasonably priced pre-purchase assessment of a property to check that there is scope there to achieve the type of home with the size and spaces that you would like. 2. The second is also a complex question that relates to you and your personal situation. It can come down to budget, as well as your skills / knowledge of construction and the amount of time you have available to either project manage / carry out work yourself. If you have little to no construction knowledge nor time then it would not generally be advisable for you to project manage / build the project yourself. There are pros and cons to all options. The traditional approach is to commission an architect to carry out the design work and they then tender the building work to contractors, who would then project manage the build while the architect inspects the work and deals with any arising site queries. This typically gives you the most control over quality and cost of build. Another option is a turnkey approach by a design and build company, this typically gets you a completed project at a fixed pre-agreed price and timescale, but with very little control over quality. There are many other options and I could spend all day writing them out! Taking a look at the JCT contract options can help illustrate many of the most commonly used approaches....See MoreDetached House Design ideas?
Comments (32)Hi Nev, As Robert Mawby says this garage does not look like it is suitable for conversion from the photographs. It is difficult to tell without seeing the building in real life but it looks unlikely that you will be able to convert this garage. As Orange Key Design Studios suggest, you will be best to speak with a few small local architectural firms. Don't be surprised if they charge you for a site visit - any decent architectural firm charges for their time and will not necessarily do a site visit for free. A relatively small fee spent on an architect at this stage will answer most or perhaps all of your questions and will be money well spent. For example we offer a 1hour Home Design Concept meeting, which includes a site visit, for a relatively small fee. However, you appear to be outside the area that we offer this. You will have many options and an architect will be able to discuss these with you, make additional suggestions, and explain pros and cons plus answer your questions about project process - planning, building control, etc. It has been proven through research by CABE, now part of the Design Council, that property that has been designed by an architect sells more quickly and at a higher value than property that has had no architects input. As only about 2% of buildings have had an architects input, using an architect will give your property an advantage within the market. This should help you make the most of your investment. For your future investments you could consider getting an architect to visit any property that you are considering buying before you complete the purchase so that you will have an idea of the improvements that could be done and how much they will cost before you buy. We have provided many clients with a pre-purchase 1hr Home Design Consultation and they find these very helpful when deciding their budgets, deciding what to offer, and seeing if the property is really right for them....See MoreSense of Space
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