Once you have decided to undertake a home renovation project, of any size or type, it can be confusing to know what you need to start doing and when. There are many different stages of planning and designing, regardless of whether you are having a home extension, loft conversion or basement excavation. At each stage of the planning process, you will need different experts and professionals to provide you with drawings, tests and quotes, and it can all become very confusing very quickly.
If you need an architect to provide architectural plans for your project, you want to contact them at the right time so that you do not have to pay extortionate amounts for countless revisions to your plans. Architectural planning can be incredibly costly and time-consuming, so when you hire an architect, you need to know exactly what it is you need doing and the timescale for those plans to be made and confirmed. So, when do you need to consult an architect for your project?
For most home renovation projects that alter the main structure of your home, like an extension or loft conversion, you will need architectural plans. These are essentially the detailed drawings that map out exactly what is going to be changed and added to your home, with the correct measurements for a structural engineer to check and approve before passing them to a building team. Due to the precise nature of these plans, it is normal to need them revised several times as you work out the details of your project.
With the affordable and fast architectural planning service provided by Simply Architects, you are able to get two revisions within the cost of your architectural package, saving you more money in the long term. You should begin to contact an architect after you have had a survey of your property by a qualified surveyor, who can outline the costs and basic design of your home renovation project. Whilst you are arranging this site visit, you will need to ensure that you are in the process of obtaining a Party Wall Agreement with your neighbours, as if problematic, can mean you have to alter your plans.
Once you have a survey completed, and any tests carried out for projects such as a basement excavation, you will then need to reach out to an architect. They will visit your home and take the appropriate measurements needed to create your plans and will discuss what you want from the space with you and your family. The most important part of this process is discussing what your budget is with your architect, so they know to design your space within the limits of what you can afford.
If you are unsure where to start with your home renovation project, it is always best to speak to an expert, and the team at Simply Architects are only a phone call away to give you the support you need to start the design process. You can call them on 0800 917 0335 to arrange your architectural site survey today.
