Good Architect/ Grand Designs

Donegal Danny · July 06, 2009, 01:24:49 PM

Lads thinking about starting my house, have a nice site so want to build something special not your run of the mill stuff you see all over Donegal. Know a couple of local Architects but they are very expensive, although i think they will be easier to talk to in this climate. Looking for a fully qualified Architect with a bit of experience although will try someone new if they come up with good plans. The wife has her own ideas so don't know how much of a blank canvass they will have. Has anyone used an Architect to plan their dream house. How was it and what was the cost involved in getting an Architect. You never know i might be on Grand Designs next year. Looking to get started before the builders get too busy or all leave for London/U.S.

Gaoth Dobhair Abu · July 06, 2009, 01:30:13 PM

wheres your site?

Tony Baloney · July 06, 2009, 01:31:21 PM

Quote from: Donegal Danny on July 06, 2009, 01:24:49 PM
Lads thinking about starting my house, have a nice site so want to build something special not your run of the mill stuff you see all over Donegal. Know a couple of local Architects but they are very expensive, although i think they will be easier to talk to in this climate. Looking for a fully qualified Architect with a bit of experience although will try someone new if they come up with good plans. The wife has her own ideas so don't know how much of a blank canvass they will have. Has anyone used an Architect to plan their dream house. How was it and what was the cost involved in getting an Architect. You never know i might be on Grand Designs next year. Looking to get started before the builders get too busy or all leave for London/U.S.

Keep the woman out of it.

Norf Tyrone · July 06, 2009, 01:53:42 PM

Quote from: Donegal Danny on July 06, 2009, 01:24:49 PM
Lads thinking about starting my house, have a nice site so want to build something special not your run of the mill stuff you see all over Donegal. Know a couple of local Architects but they are very expensive, although i think they will be easier to talk to in this climate. Looking for a fully qualified Architect with a bit of experience although will try someone new if they come up with good plans. The wife has her own ideas so don't know how much of a blank canvass they will have. Has anyone used an Architect to plan their dream house. How was it and what was the cost involved in getting an Architect. You never know i might be on Grand Designs next year. Looking to get started before the builders get too busy or all leave for London/U.S.

Would you not be best getting a Northerner to do it, it would be cheaper.

ludermor · July 06, 2009, 01:55:39 PM

It all depends on what you want to spend and what you want out of them.
Some of them will charge you 10-15% of the build cost (anything from 150k upwards!!! so you are looking at 15k minimum) which i feel is ridiculious but there are some people who think it is worth it.
One thing i would definetly recommend if getting a QS on board very early and get himto do cost plans/bills of quantities. Spending 1-2k on a QS could save you 10s of thousands in the long run by doing up tender packs for each big work item and keeping a reign on the architects mad designs

illdecide · July 06, 2009, 02:22:32 PM

Def shop around...for your average run of the mill house you'd expect to pay an architect about £3k so I'd say what your looking for should come in around £5k. A QS is important but for a small project like this i reckon you could do it yourself (if you have a bit of wit). the most important bit of a build is getting the proper crew to construct it. a good project manager should sort it but i think the most important aspect is to commit the contractors to build to a price no matter how long it takes them as you'll be surprised how quick these guys could throw up a house

If it were me I'd be throwing out the feelers for an Architect who works in a big practise to do it as a homer and he/she could do the QS role too for a small fee. They will do it for 50-60% less than what a big practise will charge you.

P.S. one tip...make sure you get pre-cast concrete slabs throughout the house for a number of reasons...fire retardant for 1.5 hrs, insulation, sound proofing and quicker construction

offtheground · July 06, 2009, 02:28:42 PM

PM'ed you there Danny...

Donegal Danny · July 06, 2009, 02:42:50 PM

Jesus lads thanks for all the quick replies, the site is near Kilmacrenan but the wanes will not be playing for Termon.

. Its an elevated site overlooking Kilmacrenan , and the surrounding countryside with the mountains in the background. I know people who got plans from a well known local Architect who has won awards etc and they paid almost 30k. Wouldn't pay half that but think now i could get a real good deal with so many Architects out of work. Does anyone know where i could post my details etc so Architect can contact me if they want to discuss / price the job etc.

Donegal Danny · July 06, 2009, 02:47:30 PM

Yes i think the Architects in the North are generally cheaper so that is not a problem .

ludermor · July 06, 2009, 02:55:09 PM

Quote from: illdecide on July 06, 2009, 02:22:32 PM
Def shop around...for your average run of the mill house you'd expect to pay an architect about £3k so I'd say what your looking for should come in around £5k. A QS is important but for a small project like this i reckon you could do it yourself (if you have a bit of wit). the most important bit of a build is getting the proper crew to construct it. a good project manager should sort it but i think the most important aspect is to commit the contractors to build to a price no matter how long it takes them as you'll be surprised how quick these guys could throw up a house

If it were me I'd be throwing out the feelers for an Architect who works in a big practise to do it as a homer and he/she could do the QS role too for a small fee. They will do it for 50-60% less than what a big practise will charge you.

P.S. one tip...make sure you get pre-cast concrete slabs throughout the house for a number of reasons...fire retardant for 1.5 hrs, insulation, sound proofing and quicker construction

Arch dont have a clue about costs, they work off m2 rates but dont know the finer details of costs. For the sake of a couple of grand you will save yourself a fortune. If you have no QS you will have no way of comparing costs of building contractor or subbies. An arch cannot do this work even if they say can (any more than a QS will design the building)!!
If you are building direct labour there are loads of websites/blogs on the net that a great source of info.
This one i followed for a while and it is really good.
http://www.selfbuildardmore.blogspot.com/
I would recommend precast floor but it is not quicker and is more expensive!!

One thing to mind with getting an architect is to get one that knows the planners or what the planners wnat. You might get a cheaper Arch from the north but if they dont know hte council requirments it will break your hearts and could cost you a few years in applying and reapplying.

illdecide · July 06, 2009, 03:29:11 PM

Fair enough point Ludermor i just assumed for a small project like a single dwelling it wouldn't be too hard to do, and i get your drift on Architects i fight and argue with them hoors everyday over their designs...On the floor slabs i think they're the dogs bollocks, they do cost a we bit more than joists but i can get them at cost price which helps and if they're pre-stressed they can take loadings from the roof. U can build 6.5K/N block of them instead of Lightweights or stud walls...anyway enough rambling as you know all this anyway

thebigfella · July 06, 2009, 03:39:19 PM

Quote from: illdecide on July 06, 2009, 02:22:32 PM
Def shop around...for your average run of the mill house you'd expect to pay an architect about £3k so I'd say what your looking for should come in around £5k. A QS is important but for a small project like this i reckon you could do it yourself (if you have a bit of wit). the most important bit of a build is getting the proper crew to construct it. a good project manager should sort it but i think the most important aspect is to commit the contractors to build to a price no matter how long it takes them as you'll be surprised how quick these guys could throw up a house

If it were me I'd be throwing out the feelers for an Architect who works in a big practise to do it as a homer and he/she could do the QS role too for a small fee. They will do it for 50-60% less than what a big practise will charge you.

P.S. one tip...make sure you get pre-cast concrete slabs throughout the house for a number of reasons...fire retardant for 1.5 hrs, insulation, sound proofing and quicker construction

If you taking about a project which would feature on Grand Designs and want a half decent architect who knows what they are on about, probably no chance you would get any sort of quote for 5k. One of the previous posts got it probably bang on, with the 10-15% of the build cost and starting round 15k.

One thing you could try is getting someone freshly qualified and trying to make a name for themselves.

Gaoth Dobhair Abu · July 06, 2009, 03:41:13 PM

Danny, would having an elevated site not cause you problems with planning?

ludermor · July 06, 2009, 04:10:04 PM

Quote from: illdecide on July 06, 2009, 03:29:11 PM
Fair enough point Ludermor i just assumed for a small project like a single dwelling it wouldn't be too hard to do, and i get your drift on Architects i fight and argue with them hoors everyday over their designs...On the floor slabs i think they're the dogs bollocks, they do cost a we bit more than joists but i can get them at cost price which helps and if they're pre-stressed they can take loadings from the roof. U can build 6.5K/N block of them instead of Lightweights or stud walls...anyway enough rambling as you know all this anyway

No bother Illdecide, i spend half my day arguing with them myself!
And your right if you can afford the concrete floors it is the way to go.

sammymaguire · July 06, 2009, 04:36:37 PM

any thoughts on going into a self-build rather than using a building contractor when you do not come from a construction background.

i reckon on a £300k build, the buggers are adding on 20%, approx £60K which goes into their back pocket

major pro's and con's on this one but open to any advice