A Party Wall surveyor typically costs around £1,000 +VAT for a simple extension project. On some projects, two or even three surveyors are needed – particularly on more complex home projects such as basement extensions. In this case, the costs could be up to £6,000. Extension above by Bianca, architect in London. See more of… Read more »
Interviewing an architect is a crucial step in hiring the right professional for your home project. To ensure you find the perfect fit, it’s important to know what questions to ask an architect during the interview process. This article gives 10 of the most common questions that will help you evaluate an architect’s qualifications, experience,… Read more »
What’s the difference between modular, prefab and kit homes? If you are a novice self-builder, It’s easy to become overwhelmed with all of the industry jargon out there. ‘prefab homes’, ‘modular homes’, ‘kit houses’, ‘manufactured homes’ (etc…) are sometimes used interchangeably. However, there are subtle but important differences, and it will be critical to understand them in order… Read more »
Many of us have garages attached to our homes, but often we neglect them, treating them as unimportant utility spaces where un-wanted items pile up over time. Considering the premium value of space in our homes, it’s worth exploring the potential of renovating our garages to serve a practical purpose. Here are some ideas on… Read more »
Finding plots in London and other major UK cities With empty plots of land being difficult and often very expensive to come by, it’s no wonder that many self-builders and renovators instead convert an existing building into their dream home, applying for a change of use to residential. This is particularly of interest in the UK’s… Read more »
Do I need planning permission for a garden room? Garden rooms or buildings do not require planning permission, if they fall within permitted development guidelines. To classify as an ‘outbuilding’ under permitted development rules, it must not contain sleeping accommodation and must be single storey with a maximum eaves height of 2.5m. There are a few… Read more »
Open stairways to living areas – fire safety (Part B) considerations If you want your ground floor to be totally open plan, there are key consideration in terms of Building Regulations are the associated fire safety issues. Part B of the Approved Documents gives guidance on how to meet the Building Regulations in England and… Read more »
Can I add two storeys to a house without planning permission? Thanks to a planning amendment in 2020, it is now possible to extend upwards, even adding a double storey extension to your home, using the prior approval route. However, this permitted development right is not applicable to all properties. Design above by Simon,… Read more »
Architects’ fees calculator As a basic rule of thumb for private residential projects, a residential architect typically charges between 10-12% of the construction cost for full architectural services. Use our architect cost calculator below to estimate how much your architect may cost. We have also developed an extension cost calculator, which you can use here…. Read more »
Aside from cost, one of the first thoughts many people have when building a home extension is about how it will disrupt their everyday lives. This is a short guide to help you answer the questions: ‘How long does it take to build an extension?’ and ‘Do you need to move out when building an extension?’ Extensions pictured below from architects on… Read more »
