Serious house modification - recommendations

Serious house modification - recommendations

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joust

Original Poster:

14,622 posts

266 months

Monday 24th November 2003
quotequote all
Having put up with water leaking through the flat roof for the "n"th time, time has come to knock down the "dodgy" extension on our house and extend things properly.

I'm looking for recommendations of an Architect, Project Manager and builders to do around £20-40k of work depending on what comes out of the design process.

Any takers / recommendations. House is in Croydon area.

Justin

Martin Stuart

9,939 posts

252 months

Monday 24th November 2003
quotequote all
To be honest, it isn't a big enough job to warrant an Architect or a project manager. Look in the back of your local paper for people advertising to draw plans up - they will be much cheaper than a qualified Architect. For little jobs like that, I would look to charge 10% of the contract cost (so say £3,500) for it to be worth my while. You will probably find a young technician who can knock you up a perfectly acceptable set of plans for £500.

joust

Original Poster:

14,622 posts

266 months

Monday 24th November 2003
quotequote all
Interesting view. However as a person too busy to manage things I'm fully prepared to pay for correct project management.

As for getting a "techy" to draw up plans - not an option. I want some professional advice about our options of extending the eves and there is no way I would trust that to some young green upstart. I have to say I find your view strange, I was actually expecting to pay around 25% on top for the architect and PM.

Thanks anyway.

Justin

mal

196 posts

253 months

Monday 24th November 2003
quotequote all
Joust, I have emailed you details of a good consultant for this sort of work. He is based in Keston, near Bromley and also is a petrolhead - so you should get on well

joust

Original Poster:

14,622 posts

266 months

Monday 24th November 2003
quotequote all
Thanks - mucho appreciated!

J

davidd

6,527 posts

291 months

Tuesday 25th November 2003
quotequote all
Joust

Not really in your area but a good example..
I have just paid an architect £600 to draw up plans for a second storey extention, reworking of our cellar, new windows, extra en suite in one of the bedrooms and gated rear access to our (Grade II listed) house. The guy we used is also a qualified engineer (handy when drawing up plans for the cellar).

Not only did he draw the plans, he also gave us a lot of advice on suitable materials, ways round planning issues (of which there were many).

We had quotes in excess of £3k for the same work!

This guy was recommended by a few people and is very busy.
I'm not suggesting that you try and get him as Cambridge - Croydon is a but of a trek but shop around.

Another thing to do is if you spot a property which is having some 'interesting' work done go and talk to the owners, this has saved me money on big gates so far

Of course now I have to find a builder......

I'm not sure about the project management thing, I've run a lot of projects in the past and I'm not sure I could sit by and watch someone else do it, not that I have a lot of time.

Good luck

D.

joust

Original Poster:

14,622 posts

266 months

Tuesday 25th November 2003
quotequote all
Thanks David - really useful!

J

miniyou

21 posts

252 months

Tuesday 25th November 2003
quotequote all
joust said:
Having put up with water leaking through the flat roof for the "n"th time, time has come to knock down the "dodgy" extension on our house and extend things properly.

I'm looking for recommendations of an Architect, Project Manager and builders to do around £20-40k of work depending on what comes out of the design process.

Any takers / recommendations. House is in Croydon area.

Justin


See my mate at his web site www.vingtquatre.net
He is a fellow memebr but is rarely on here, he started life as an architect and now runs his own design company named after the great race. Croydon is only 40 odd minutes from him in Berkshire.

dans

1,137 posts

291 months

Wednesday 26th November 2003
quotequote all
Joust

you could try the guys who did my offices - they are architects and builders and their workshops are in Crystal Palace so not too far from you. their site is at www.modernarc.com . Andrew Wong is their architect - tell him I said you should call if you are calling. Their work is superb.

Hope it helps

Cheers
Dan

joust

Original Poster:

14,622 posts

266 months

Wednesday 26th November 2003
quotequote all
Thanks guys!

J

Incorrigible

13,668 posts

268 months

Wednesday 26th November 2003
quotequote all
Hi Joust,

I'm currently managing the build on my house, and have spoken to loads of designers/architects/engineers

If you don't get it sorted give me a shout, I'll ask if he covers that area

FWIW my plans came to ~£1500 (not finished yet, that's the projected cost) for 2 extensions (both 2 storey, one including a huge garage (suprise suprise))

Also If you've got a spare hour or two, try and get some ideas down yourself, I used Punch Home design software gives you a good idea of what can be done and what will look over the top and stupid