Home extensions

[eek]

I am currently thinking of extending to the side and rear of my property.

Please can I have an idea of how much it costs to get an architect in for working out the design.

Thanks

That depends very much on the architect. Find extensions you like locally and ask them who they used..

[SueEllen]

That depends very much on the architect. Find extensions you like locally and ask them who they used..

Also to add to that if they aren't willing or happy to you to have a good look at the extension DO NOT use them.

[OwlHoot]

Great thread for me, because I am toying with the idea of adding a first floor to a ground floor only extension.

I know it's fairly ridiculous to expect anyone to be able to estimate anything like an accurate price without seeing the place, but if one had a ground floor only section about 60 feet long and 30 feet wide, and assuming this was structurally sound and didn't need much alteration, very roughly (to the nearest £50K) what would the likely cost be to add a first floor on top, with a tiled roof joined to the rest of the two-storey building?

[Antman]

This is a good website for general type costs, includes location in the country weighting too!

[css_jay99]

Thanks sue, eek,

I have checked with a couple of houses round my area which they have given me their builder and architect's details though I did not ask the architect fees just in case they find that invasive.

A neighbor 2 doors down from just finished his and the diagrams for his on the planing website does look impressive so might give him a try.

cheers

[northernladuk]

I am dealing with Architects at the moment and my advice would be get them all in for a chat. Don't pick one guy just because he looks good. Some will go through pre-planning application with you first, some will charge you for this, some will take a loss leader on it. One guy estimated a garage would cost £60k and the rest laughed at him. He was one of the people recommended to me as well..

Speak to them all before making a choice.

[northernladuk]

I am dealing with Architects at the moment and my advice would be get them all in for a chat. Don't pick one guy just because he looks good. Some will go through pre-planning application with you first, some will charge you for this, some will take a loss leader on it. One guy estimated a garage would cost £60k and the rest laughed at him. He was one of the people recommended to me as well..

Speak to them all before making a choice.

Saying that, **** the lot of them. I just seen the one I want!!!

[northernladuk]

This is a good website for general type costs, includes location in the country weighting too!

Got some good honest advice on that site...

If you don’t have a crossover and simply drive over the pavement to park on your property, you are acting illegally and anyone is within their rights to park across you exit route.

Of course if you are 6’5” and an aggressive son of a female dog, other rules may apply!

[Halo Jones]

Please can I have an idea of how much it costs to get an architect in for working out the design.

£500 to £5000

Depending on the architect, if you are using a “firm” or just a local bod, how much you want them to do: is it just deign or do you want them as Contract Administrator
Don’t forget that you may need a structural engineer to “prove” the design which is an extra cost.

would the likely cost be to add a first floor on top, with a tiled roof joined to the rest of the two-storey building?

Your first question will be what are your foundations like? An invasive survey will be needed as I doubt you have full drawings, a ground survey & desktop geotechnical report will be needed.

If (unlikely) the foundations are there they can just build up on the existing, or it may be a case of a piles / steel frame & then go from there.

A lot depends on the detail, are you looking for cheap & cheerful or nice local products?

As it’s an extension, planning will normally require you to match existing in appearance.

It’s a bit of "how long is a piece of string" but my “educated” guess would be:

Ground works: £10-£20k
External fabric: £20-£30k
Roof (cheap tiles & truss frame): £15-£25k
M&E (basic): £10k
Internal fit out (average): £10K

[Troll]

I chose not to involve an architect in planning (figured they will just sub out to various parties )

I paid £450 (inc) to a Chartered Structural Engineer to do the calcs and drawings for supporting beams to enable half rear wall and side gable to be removed for an extension

Costs for the beams (supply & fit has just come back @ 3.3k + waiting for other quotes)
Once the Beams are in and BC are satisfied then the actual extension and build is pretty straight forward so can PM it myself - i.e. engage bricky / roofing teams

May buy a digger to do the foundations myself though