Architect + Builder vs Design & Build
Will Partridge
3 years ago
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Daisy England
3 years agoDMA ARCHITECTS
3 years agoRelated Discussions
Do I need a designer or an architect for my kitchen?
Comments (9)If the kitchen company don't have a design service they must have had drawings from other professionals before- surely they would make a suggestion? The person in question could be various types of building professionals, interior designer, architectural technologist, architect, surveyor- anyone who is skilled in the design and production of technical drawings. If you want them to interpret your aspirations and needs- that honestly is down to the individual- technical skill and understanding of clients is not the same thing, so you should talk to a selection of people before choosing someone. For your peace of mind they must have insurance to cover their work- Professional Indemnity- thus they are covered and the rectification is covered should they make a mistake- the kitchen doesn't fit for example because they got a measurement wrong. If you need structural calculations you will need a structural engineer. If you have a trusted builder and they trust a particular architect- word of mouth recommendation is worth a lot. Best of luck....See MoreDesign & build firm or traditional builder?
Comments (3)D&B is certainly a much easier route but like you said you pay for it. You might save a bit going traditional, the issue there is more the hassle of project managing than having one point of contact. You can go down the traditional route if you are prepared to and able to manage the project. Having said that some architects do include coordinating their designs with the builder within their services. Might be worth getting quotes for architects and traditional builders to compare with the D&B to help make an informed decision. Another option a lot of people don't consider is having a cost/project manager. For a reasonable fee they can help you with your budget and manage the project, saving you a lot of hassle. Good luck with your project....See MoreBuilding/Design process....confused!
Comments (11)Hi Clara, you will definitely need planning permission to do any building work be it minor alterations or major renovations. Depending on the position and conditions of the site and the structural changes you plan on making you might need a structural engineers approval on the plans. However this is wholly depending on the extent of the structural changes so I will need a little more information. As for the planning stages, your builder will need a plan from which to quote and build so you could have him on stand by so that he knows to allow for your work in his diary while the plans are being drawn up. If you use a qualified interior designer they can also draw plans to a certain size and most architects also do interior design as a add on to their service so it is completely up to you and your preferences, you could make use of one or both. Your project stages would be as follows: 1- Meeting with designer / architect to discuss your needs, the builder can be present here. 2- They will present you with a concept design based on this meeting 3- Once the concept has been approved they will prepare a set of plans for planning permission and construction. 4- Plans submission for approval and issue to the builder for costing as well as the engineer if needed. 5- Upon approval of the plans site work can commence and the designer / architect will do periodic site visits to ensure all work gets carried out to plan. (This service is normally optional so you could choose to manage the building work yourself) 6- Prior to final hand over the designer will come in and prepare a snag list to eliminate any minor mistakes (If you manage the building work yourself this won't be done by the architect or designer) 7- Completion and move in. As confusing as the whole process is, I hope I've shed some light on your questions. If you need any further advice - check out the BetterSpace site (betterspace.co) - we'd love to assist you further with your project....See MoreArchitects/Builders - how can I achieve this exterior change?
Comments (12)You might also think about the bits you don’t like and what it is missing. On first glance it seems to have very large front windows but the view appears to be car parking. It seems to have a modest entrance and your inspiration picture is grand so perhaps the entrance should be bigger. If sounds like you don’t necessarily want a Georgian house- perhaps something less cottage like and more imposing is what you want. The floor plan shows a kitchen that is modest by today’s standards and could perhaps be bigger. And you appear to need more bedrooms- you should perhaps think about if these all need to be next to each other. But I do think you need to get the brief straight in your head otherwise you might to paying a professional for design you don’t like. A concept planner might be a good person to speak to- try OnePlan who will help explore your options and then visualise some of the solutions....See MoreAPT Renovation Limited
3 years agoWill Partridge
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3 years agoWill Partridge
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