Architects for extension
Brian L Johnson
Does anyone have any (dis)recommendations for architects in and around
Cambridge? If possible, ones who are suitable for projects such as
extensions, garage conversions, etc. to be done in the reasonably near
future.
TIA
--
brianlj
Paul Bird
Tim Bonavia - happens to be a family friend but also a good architect.
http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/tim-bonavia/21/3a1/94b
PB
Paul Bird
01223 426612
Kieran Mansley
For things like that I'd question whether you need an architect, or if
what you're really after is someone who can do some technical drawings
for you and would be much cheaper. If you know what you want already,
and so could manage with the latter, then I was mostly happy with Michael
Bullivant Associates who did some drawing work for an extension for us a
few years ago, and also handled the planning permission and building
regulations side of things.
Kieran
Brian L Johnson
Yes, you're right; it might be that we really only need some drawings done
and that could save money.
You said 'mostly happy'?
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brianlj
Brian L Johnson
... and I see that his place is just around the corner from us.
Propinquity is good.
Thanks. :)
--
brianlj
RobertL
If you are going to manage it yourself (engaging a builder to build
what the drawings say) you need to be sure you are comfortable
checking that the builders have actually built what the plans say. In
my limited experience they tend to build what they expected the plans
to say rather than what has actually been specified.
Robert
Frederick Williams
One might hope that he who is hired to draw up the plans can also be
hired to check the work; maybe a bit at a time.
--
When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by
this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him.
Jonathan Swift: Thoughts on Various Subjects, Moral and Diverting
Brian L Johnson
> If you are going to manage it yourself (engaging a builder to build
> what the drawings say) you need to be sure you are comfortable
> checking that the builders have actually built what the plans say. In
> my limited experience they tend to build what they expected the plans
> to say rather than what has actually been specified.
Very true. :)
--
brianlj
Roland Perry
2011, Frederick Williams <freddyw...@btinternet.com> remarked:
>> what the drawings say) you need to be sure you are comfortable
>> checking that the builders have actually built what the plans say. In
>> my limited experience they tend to build what they expected the plans
>> to say rather than what has actually been specified.
>
>One might hope that he who is hired to draw up the plans can also be
>hired to check the work; maybe a bit at a time.
--
Roland Perry
Simon bragg
> In message <4E662019.90A57...@btinternet.com>, at 14:28:57 on Tue, 6 Sep
> 2011, Frederick Williams <freddywilli...@btinternet.com> remarked:
>
> >One might hope that he who is hired to draw up the plans can also be
> >hired to check the work; maybe a bit at a time.
>
> Of course, but they'll want a hefty additional fee.
> --
> Roland Perry
builders, and suppliers.
Reasons for using an architect:
1. Architects tend to know about quirky building materials and can
suggest neat solutions.
2. They know how the planners think, how to deal with the planners,
and what will squeak through.
3. You get a tight drawing and specification, which should be correct,
to building standards, etc.
4. Builders will quote against the same tight specification, which
helps drive the price down.
5. Architects are better at negotiating with builders if problems
emerge or things change. Architects can threaten to drop the builder
from their tender list. If it is just you, the builder will charge
what they like, and doesn't care what you think of the building firm.
6. There is a check that the builder has built what the plans actually
specified.
Perhaps the real question is at what project value is it worthwhile
employing an architect. I suspect over £30k, but others might suggest
higher values.
Simon
Jon Green
> Reasons for using an architect:
> 2. They know how the planners think, how to deal with the planners,
> and what will squeak through.
> 3. You get a tight drawing and specification, which should be correct,
> to building standards, etc.
Well, I've seem some absolutely shocking planning applications suposedly
from architects. Hand-scrawled supporting letters, plans that looked
like they had been photocopied from the beermat they were scribbled
upon, inaccurate and/or misleading details, vagueness to the point of
irrelevance: you name it, it's been submitted.
Please don't assume that because you're employing a professional
architect you'll automatically get top-quality service: ask around, get
recommendations, ask for the references of local plans submitted - and
check them out through the South Cambs planning portal:
http://plan.scambs.gov.uk/swiftlg/apas/run/wchvarylogin.display
TBF, the vast majority of architects do do an excellent job of planning
materials. It's only a very small minority that gives an undeserved bad
name to the rest.
Jon
(Speaking _only_ for himself!)
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Tim Ward
news:cbednWtsoNPuuvbT...@brightview.co.uk...
> TBF, the vast majority of architects do do an excellent job of planning
> materials. It's only a very small minority that gives an undeserved bad
> name to the rest.
consultant. Some architects may choose to acquire planning consultant
skills, others may choose not to and prefer to spend all their bandwidth on
being architects.
An architect who doesn't have planning consultant skills should still at
least be in a position to advise clients when they ought to hire in a
planning consultant as well, just as an architect will advise clients when
they ought to hire in a structural engineer as well.
It's only a problem if you've got an architect who doesn't have planning
consultant skills and doesn't know that he doesn't have planning consultant
skills.
--
Tim Ward - posting as an individual unless otherwise clear
Brett Ward Limited - www.brettward.co.uk
Cambridge Accommodation Notice Board - www.brettward.co.uk/canb
tony sayer
ps.com>, Simon bragg <simonrich...@gmail.com> scribeth thus
Someone I know just had an extension built with an architect supervising
the builder. Took ages for them to do a simple job, no end of complaints
many e-mails written by her to the architect and builder cost her the
earth and in the end a lot of grief all round...
--
Tony Sayer
Frederick Williams
>
> Someone I know just had an extension built with an architect supervising
> the builder. Took ages for them to do a simple job, no end of complaints
> many e-mails written by her to the architect and builder cost her the
> earth and in the end a lot of grief all round...
Roland Perry
2011, tony sayer <to...@bancom.co.uk> remarked:
>Someone I know just had an extension built with an architect supervising
>the builder. Took ages for them to do a simple job, no end of complaints
>many e-mails written by her to the architect and builder cost her the
>earth and in the end a lot of grief all round...
I was recommended an architect to draw up the plans for a loft
extension. These days you need an "escape window". The first set of
plans had the window hole cutting through an external chimney, and when
he tried again it was over our conservatory (which might be legal, I'm
not sure, but not very helpful). He also managed to recommend putting a
shower unit so close to the eaves it would have had an average of three
feet of headroom. We fired him.
--
Roland Perry
Duncan Wood
<simonrich...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Sep 8, 11:11 pm, Roland Perry <rol...@perry.co.uk> wrote:
>> In message <4E662019.90A57...@btinternet.com>, at 14:28:57 on Tue, 6 Sep
>> 2011, Frederick Williams <freddywilli...@btinternet.com> remarked:
>>
>>
>> >One might hope that he who is hired to draw up the plans can also be
>> >hired to check the work; maybe a bit at a time.
>>
>> Of course, but they'll want a hefty additional fee.
>> --
>> Roland Perry
>
> I'll second Tim Bonavia www.aabd.co.uk - he knows the local planners,
> builders, and suppliers.
>
> Reasons for using an architect:
> 1. Architects tend to know about quirky building materials and can
> suggest neat solutions.
> 2. They know how the planners think, how to deal with the planners,
> and what will squeak through.
> 3. You get a tight drawing and specification, which should be correct,
> to building standards, etc.
Espen Koht
"Duncan Wood" <nnt...@dmx512.co.uk> wrote:
> > 1. Architects tend to know about quirky building materials and can
> > suggest neat solutions.
>
> & really expensive ones.
You could argue the really expensive architects know almost nothing
about building materials, and that's what makes them successful (once
the structural engineers have figured out to implement their ideas).
Duncan Wood
very good architects.
Espen Koht
"Duncan Wood" <nnt...@dmx512.co.uk> wrote:
> On Sat, 10 Sep 2011 16:31:48 +0100, Espen Koht <eh...@cam.ac.uk> wrote:
>
> > In article <op.v1lff102loxewg@duncan-tosh>,
> > "Duncan Wood" <nnt...@dmx512.co.uk> wrote:
> >
> >> > 1. Architects tend to know about quirky building materials and can
> >> > suggest neat solutions.
> >>
> >> & really expensive ones.
> >
> > You could argue the really expensive architects know almost nothing
> > about building materials, and that's what makes them successful (once
> > the structural engineers have figured out to implement their ideas).
>
> I think the only people I've heard make that sort of argument wheren't
> very good architects.
It seem unlikely they would get away with that.
tony sayer
<freddyw...@btinternet.com> scribeth thus
>tony sayer wrote:
>
>>
>> Someone I know just had an extension built with an architect supervising
>> the builder. Took ages for them to do a simple job, no end of complaints
>> many e-mails written by her to the architect and builder cost her the
>> earth and in the end a lot of grief all round...
>
>Can names be named?
>
Well the builders have just gone bust anyway!...
--
Tony Sayer
tony sayer
<rol...@perry.co.uk> scribeth thus
ISTR that if you used Velux windows which most roof extensions and
adaptions do, they had a side hinged one which was designed for just
that purpose..
--
Tony Sayer
Roland Perry
>>extension. These days you need an "escape window". The first set of
>>plans had the window hole cutting through an external chimney, and when
>>he tried again it was over our conservatory (which might be legal, I'm
>>not sure, but not very helpful). He also managed to recommend putting a
>>shower unit so close to the eaves it would have had an average of three
>>feet of headroom. We fired him.
>
>ISTR that if you used Velux windows which most roof extensions and
>adaptions do, they had a side hinged one which was designed for just
>that purpose..
Yes, there's special Velux window (hinges upward from the top, usually)
but it has to be fitted in a hole in the wall or the roof. The architect
made a dogs breakfast of positioning that hole.
--
Roland Perry
tony sayer
<rol...@perry.co.uk> scribeth thus
Yes not surprising.. I have heard of them doing this sort of thing
before, one notable case is where he left out the staircase on a Two
story house;!.
Probably had a secret lift installed somewhere....
--
Tony Sayer
Jon Green
> "Jon Green"<jo...@deadspam.com> wrote in message
> news:cbednWtsoNPuuvbT...@brightview.co.uk...
>>
>> TBF, the vast majority of architects do do an excellent job of planning
>> materials. It's only a very small minority that gives an undeserved bad
>> name to the rest.
>
> An architect is an architect. A planning consultant is a planning
> consultant. Some architects may choose to acquire planning consultant
> skills, others may choose not to and prefer to spend all their bandwidth on
> being architects.
Of course, it's the content of the planning materials that's used in the
planning approvals process, not their quality.
Nonetheless, if the material's been put together really poorly, at best
it increases the chance that the planning authority will ask for
resubmission. And if they've been submitted by what should be a
professional - well, if that happened in our Parish, and I knew the land
owner, I'd have words with them on the quiet, suggesting they take a
look at what was submitted on their behalf.
Jon