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 »
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 »
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 »
For home building and renovation projects it’s always worthwhile taking the time to find a great builder. There are a few effective websites to find local tradesmen like “My Builder” and “Rated People” to get you some quotations, but there are a few pointers to consider before shaking hands with anyone to undertake your home extension or renovation project…. Read more »
A perfect match on Design for Me… Architects Simon and Jon were appointed by Alice Regester and Dominic Cook to find the best design solution for their Surrey bungalow renovation. Alice and Dominic from Esher, Surrey were in need of the right architect to help them extend and reconfigure their 3-bedroom bungalow. Back in October, they… Read more »
Renovating your home comes with countless considerations, from the tiniest deliberations over gutter covers to serious financial decisions that are years in the making. Some types of renovation add value to your home and others primarily improve your day-to-day life. A sensible goal, especially if you intend to stay in your home for the foreseeable… Read more »
If you’re about to start making home improvements, incorporating energy saving solutions could help you save money and reduce your home’s environmental impact. Here’s a list of the top five energy-saving and home improvements tips. 1. Insulate your house Insulating your walls usually that makes the most difference in reducing energy consumption, and at… Read more »
This question can usually throw up some confusion as there are different surveys for different purposes, and often undertaken by different types of surveyors too. So let’s clear this up first before answering: how much does a house survey cost? Types of survey If you’re buying a house During the house buying process, it’s… Read more »
Get some kitchen inspiration from our designers… Planning a new kitchen? You could just get a few supplier brochures and say “I want that one!”. Fine, if you want un-inspiring, run-of-the mill jobbie. But, like most things worthwhile, planning your perfect kitchen takes time, consideration and a little bit of inspiration (which is where we can help!) Function… Read more »
Costs per square metre We asked our community of architects and design professionals for their experience of domestic projects and how they estimate new jobs. For South East England (where costs are highest), we found the following to be a very rough average. Costs can vary greatly across the country, but if you are outside the South… Read more »
