Architect fees for extension
Discussion
I would like to do a 2 storey extension, i don't know if its feasible, i don't know if i can afford it.
It is made more complicated by the fact i would be doing a lot of the work myself so its not as easy as just getting a couple of quotes.
First step is to employ an architect but i must be slightly deluded or perhaps even stupid as i have just been given a price of 4.8k inc vat
This is to get us up to planning application stage. Doesn't include planning fee or any regs fees, structural engineer etc.
Looking at the incredibly complicated quote it seems there will be more charges too but these cant be given until later for some reason.
Before i knock it on the head because i'm clearly barking up the wrong tree is this the type of money to pay or plans for a 50m2 footprint.
It is made more complicated by the fact i would be doing a lot of the work myself so its not as easy as just getting a couple of quotes.
First step is to employ an architect but i must be slightly deluded or perhaps even stupid as i have just been given a price of 4.8k inc vat
This is to get us up to planning application stage. Doesn't include planning fee or any regs fees, structural engineer etc.
Looking at the incredibly complicated quote it seems there will be more charges too but these cant be given until later for some reason.
Before i knock it on the head because i'm clearly barking up the wrong tree is this the type of money to pay or plans for a 50m2 footprint.
We paid around £10k for architect, structural survey/drawings, and planning submission etc. That was pre-Covid prices, and for a 200sqmeter+ build, so £4k now for just architects fees seems inline with inflation?
I would say our architect was worth every penny, without their input we wouldn’t have got any close to the space/design we have now, which we love. If you exactly what you want than all you need is drawings. But if you are looking for ideas/exploring how best to use space etc, than a good architect is very much worth engaging with.
For actual build cost, £2000-25000/sq meter is probably a half decent guess for you all-in costs. You would have to go mad with spec to end up with a higher cost, and if you end up lower, than that’s a good surprise.
I would say our architect was worth every penny, without their input we wouldn’t have got any close to the space/design we have now, which we love. If you exactly what you want than all you need is drawings. But if you are looking for ideas/exploring how best to use space etc, than a good architect is very much worth engaging with.
For actual build cost, £2000-25000/sq meter is probably a half decent guess for you all-in costs. You would have to go mad with spec to end up with a higher cost, and if you end up lower, than that’s a good surprise.
If its just a boggo extension, you don’t need an architect for this. Lots of ‘unqualified’ people specialise in designing simple extensions and getting it through planning permission.
If you weren’t going to build it yourself, there are also design and build services offered by extension specialists.
If you want something special, it’s worth hiring an architect. I’m assuming you live in a somewhat standard house, not something grade 2 listed, with thatched roof and oak frame etc.
If you weren’t going to build it yourself, there are also design and build services offered by extension specialists.
If you want something special, it’s worth hiring an architect. I’m assuming you live in a somewhat standard house, not something grade 2 listed, with thatched roof and oak frame etc.
Edited by wyson on Wednesday 6th November 20:54
gangzoom said:
We paid around £10k for architect, structural survey/drawings, and planning submission etc. That was pre-Covid prices, and for a 200sqmeter+ build, so £4k now for just architects fees seems inline with inflation?
I would say our architect was worth every penny, without their input we wouldn’t have got any close to the space/design we have now, which we love. If you exactly what you want than all you need is drawings. But if you are looking for ideas/exploring how best to use space etc, than a good architect is very much worth engaging with.
For actual build cost, £2000-25000/sq meter is probably a half decent guess for you all-in costs. You would have to go mad with spec to end up with a higher cost, and if you end up lower, than that’s a good surprise.
Couldn’t he design you some sort of mancave thing to store your bikes and wotnot. That room pic you posted in another thread was just wow. Not surprised your Mrs doesn’t allow guests in there.I would say our architect was worth every penny, without their input we wouldn’t have got any close to the space/design we have now, which we love. If you exactly what you want than all you need is drawings. But if you are looking for ideas/exploring how best to use space etc, than a good architect is very much worth engaging with.
For actual build cost, £2000-25000/sq meter is probably a half decent guess for you all-in costs. You would have to go mad with spec to end up with a higher cost, and if you end up lower, than that’s a good surprise.
If you know what you want , you’re in the trade anyway so you should have a good idea , just get drawings done with calcs .
Mine was about 2 k for the above including getting it through planning and buildings regs for a 30 metre 2 storey extension with an open corner sliding door .
Like you I’m doing most of the work myself so keep an eye on my build thread “ Wirral renovation and extension “ as I’m keeping an eye on my costing and I’ll post them up as and when . My foundation is up to brickwork height and I’ll sort drainage in the next couple of weeks then pour a slab so when those are done I’ll total it up and put it on the thread , itl give you an idea at least .
Mine was about 2 k for the above including getting it through planning and buildings regs for a 30 metre 2 storey extension with an open corner sliding door .
Like you I’m doing most of the work myself so keep an eye on my build thread “ Wirral renovation and extension “ as I’m keeping an eye on my costing and I’ll post them up as and when . My foundation is up to brickwork height and I’ll sort drainage in the next couple of weeks then pour a slab so when those are done I’ll total it up and put it on the thread , itl give you an idea at least .
Lots are trying to get away with charging crazy fees
Try finding an architectural technician instead
It's probably worthwhile taking a look at a few applications online. Some are incredibly basic and still gain consent
Having done an O level in engineering drawing many years ago, I drew the last set of plans myself
It's probably the best paying job I've had for years !
Try finding an architectural technician instead
It's probably worthwhile taking a look at a few applications online. Some are incredibly basic and still gain consent
Having done an O level in engineering drawing many years ago, I drew the last set of plans myself
It's probably the best paying job I've had for years !
wyson said:
Couldn’t he design you some sort of mancave thing to store your bikes and wotnot. That room pic you posted in another thread was just wow. Not surprised your Mrs doesn’t allow guests in there.
Sadly the brief for the architect was to 'maximise' light and views of the graden, there was no mention of either bike storage or mancave 
.We ended up 13 A0 pages of construction drawings for the building and another 4 A0 pages of steel install plan. We had the usual 3D renders etc but it was cross section views that caught my eye, the minute my brain realised the mezzanine corridor was going to over look the kitchen and entrance hall at the sametime I know we had to go ahead with the build. Ofcourse at that point I didn't realise the amount of steels needed to support the rest of house with essentially no support beam/load bearing wall running through the middle of the house......
Without the architect, absolutely zero chance me, my wife, builder or anyone would have come up with the design. For us, it was money well spent...........I have been given the go ahead do what I like with the 'mancave', just need to get on with some DIY
.
L
Edited by gangzoom on Wednesday 6th November 23:49
Thanks all, it is imo relatively simple what i am after, i could do with a few pointers which confirm that what id like to do is a sensible option.
The roof i haven't got a clue how that will work (existing house has a hipped roof). I have a couple of ideas but again need to shown how it will work.
If a 2 storey extension has a roof which looks silly then i wouldn't do it. Last thing i want is to butcher the place.
I have got a few builders i can ask for recommendations so i will do that, i was just initially a bit shocked i suppose.
The roof i haven't got a clue how that will work (existing house has a hipped roof). I have a couple of ideas but again need to shown how it will work.
If a 2 storey extension has a roof which looks silly then i wouldn't do it. Last thing i want is to butcher the place.
I have got a few builders i can ask for recommendations so i will do that, i was just initially a bit shocked i suppose.
The price is too much. I paid £4.5k + vat for planning and building regs for a 6 bed, 6 bathroom new build.
This is with an award winning, chartered firm. Another firm with similar credentials wanted £12k + vat so quotes can swing wildly.
At the same time, beware of cheaper "designers" who aren't actually RIBA registered architects. I made that mistake originally, going for the cheap option at £2k and cutting a long story short, I had to fire them and go with a proper firm.
This is with an award winning, chartered firm. Another firm with similar credentials wanted £12k + vat so quotes can swing wildly.
At the same time, beware of cheaper "designers" who aren't actually RIBA registered architects. I made that mistake originally, going for the cheap option at £2k and cutting a long story short, I had to fire them and go with a proper firm.
whatxd said:
The price is too much. I paid £4.5k + vat for planning and building regs for a 6 bed, 6 bathroom new build.
This is with an award winning, chartered firm. Another firm with similar credentials wanted £12k + vat so quotes can swing wildly.
At the same time, beware of cheaper "designers" who aren't actually RIBA registered architects. I made that mistake originally, going for the cheap option at £2k and cutting a long story short, I had to fire them and go with a proper firm.
You don't need to be an architect to design a house, let alone an extension This is with an award winning, chartered firm. Another firm with similar credentials wanted £12k + vat so quotes can swing wildly.
At the same time, beware of cheaper "designers" who aren't actually RIBA registered architects. I made that mistake originally, going for the cheap option at £2k and cutting a long story short, I had to fire them and go with a proper firm.
I've worked for several national developers and the majority who designed their homes were not architects
An architectural technician is more than capable but as with architects, their abilities and prices vary
The thing about a good architect is that they understand how to use space, in our last place we thought we knew what we wanted in our extension, a utility and reception room, the architect cam back to us with an alternative to move the kitchen into the double aspect extension and hide the utility in the dingy corner that was the kitchen, money well spent.
We are looking at an extension in our current place in West Wales, I had no contacts so started looking at architects and found one who had some interesting designs in his portfolio, he completed the design stage which looked good, but some of the drawings were a bit ropey, I then started to speak with local builders who said they would not price jobs on his drawings due to the lack of information.
The upshot was I took the design drawings to a local well respected architect technician who produced an excellent set of well detailed building reg drawings.
The moral of the story, have a chat with local builders to recommend an architect rather than just looking at pretty photos in their portfolio!
We are looking at an extension in our current place in West Wales, I had no contacts so started looking at architects and found one who had some interesting designs in his portfolio, he completed the design stage which looked good, but some of the drawings were a bit ropey, I then started to speak with local builders who said they would not price jobs on his drawings due to the lack of information.
The upshot was I took the design drawings to a local well respected architect technician who produced an excellent set of well detailed building reg drawings.
The moral of the story, have a chat with local builders to recommend an architect rather than just looking at pretty photos in their portfolio!
I am using a local Arch Technician for a single storey rear extension and internal works to create open plan kitchen / living room.
Site measure of all relevant floors.
External survey for boundaries & levels.
Produce drawings to show all relevant existing and
proposed Floor Plans, Elevations, 3D Views and
Block Plans.
Show all relevant building regulations details.
Supply OS RedLine plan where applicable.
Act as agents and issue for local authority approvals
where applicable.
£725 (excl bldg regs fees, struct eng etc)
Site measure of all relevant floors.
External survey for boundaries & levels.
Produce drawings to show all relevant existing and
proposed Floor Plans, Elevations, 3D Views and
Block Plans.
Show all relevant building regulations details.
Supply OS RedLine plan where applicable.
Act as agents and issue for local authority approvals
where applicable.
£725 (excl bldg regs fees, struct eng etc)
gareth h said:
The thing about a good architect is that they understand how to use space
The same is true of a good kitchen designer, a good builder or a good architectural technician I've just got common sense and a good eye for detail. I designed my extension, I made sure the steel roof supports lined up with the sliding doors, that the ceiling height was maximised but was under the bay window, that the bay window lined up with the center line of the ceiling etc
I also helped an architect re-draw his drawings as he couldn't get a school extension to work, I figured it out on site with a carpenter
He then asked me to sketch up what I'd built so that he could submit the 'final drawings' to the school
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