Design Stages?

SuperO'B

Hello all,

Myself and the other half have been planning a build using upwork.com and using a freelance architect not based in Ireland. We have finally agreed on size and layout and the architect is supplying us with the elevations and CAD drawings for the layout.

I'm a bit stuck as to what to do next with the project? I am trying to decide between

1)going to QS for an estimated build cost (NOt sure if they require detailed drawings)
2) looking for an architect or engineer to do the detailed drawings
3) Looking for an expert on construction materials to make the house as cost efficient as possibe/New construction techniques etc.

Am I way off here with the plans and is there something I'm neglecting? Would there be any advice on what stage should come next in the design stage bearing in mind that we are kind of "direct labouring" the design stage using freelancers and experts for each specific stage of design.

BoardsMember

We're in a similar position, albeit having arrived at it a different route.

We're planning to take drawings to a QS, they have confirmed they can give indicative costs based on similar projects/materials etc, it can be called a Cost Budget. They would not need detailed drawings for this.

SuperO'B

BoardsMember wrote: »

We're in a similar position, albeit having arrived at it a different route.

We're planning to take drawings to a QS, they have confirmed they can give indicative costs based on similar projects/materials etc, it can be called a Cost Budget. They would not need detailed drawings for this.

That's useful for seeing within some kind of percentage error if the pricing is way off or not. Maybe the QS is the next port of call so to know if it's viable to continue. Choosing materials however will impact the cost so hard to know.

What way are you planning on going about the detailed drawings based on the layout? Also, are you opting for an engineer to oversee the build if an architect is not involved?

BoardsMember

My understanding is that a decent QS will do up an estimate, and also provide different iterations based on materials used, so you may still be able to get to a fairly informed set of prices within a Cost Budged that take into account different bits and pieces.

Our situation is that we drawings from a few years ago, but its the bells and whistles design that we are pretty sure we won't be able to finance.

We also have other "ideas", not yet sketched or anything, that could be done with a more affordable budget. But that would involve building out the back rather than onto the side, so it's a very different option. We're probably going to ask another architect to do up some drawings for this, while telling him we have a design we like for the side, but we want him to come up with something else. Then the plan would be to get Cost Budget for both.

Beyond that, I'm not sure how we will progress. We will probably retain the QS as a project manager, get them to manage the tender, do up the bill of costs etc. My gut tells me to stick with an architect at some level to ensure we get the most for our money, but the miser in me tells me to find an engineer, let him do the drawings etc. It probably depends on the experience we have with the architect, the drawings we got done a while back were as a nixer, and only ever meant to be for the future.

SuperO'B

I have a woman doing the layout and elevations for me from UpWork.com that I can recommend who was really cheap. Not detailed drawings but she's very good to work with if you've an idea. Another Swedish girl made an offer for the job as well and she seemed really good. Some experience of working in the UK. I had the other architect by the time she made her offer so just stayed with her.

Any idea what kind of fees a QS would charge to project manage a build?

BoardsMember

I think most QS's would have fixed fees for the various stages that they might be involved in:
Cost Budget
Cost Plan - based on detailed drawings
Tender
Construction - price would vary depending on length of time it would take, would involve putting the contract in place, site visits, ongoing valuations, cost managements for out of scope stuff etc

BryanF

SuperO'B wrote: »

Hello all,

Myself and the other half have been planning a build using upwork.com and using a freelance architect not based in Ireland. We have finally agreed on size and layout and the architect is supplying us with the elevations and CAD drawings for the layout.

I'm a bit stuck as to what to do next with the project? I am trying to decide between

1)going to QS for an estimated build cost (NOt sure if they require detailed drawings)
2) looking for an architect or engineer to do the detailed drawings
3) Looking for an expert on construction materials to make the house as cost efficient as possibe/New construction techniques etc.

Am I way off here with the plans and is there something I'm neglecting? Would there be any advice on what stage should come next in the design stage bearing in mind that we are kind of "direct labouring" the design stage using freelancers and experts for each specific stage of design.

2. Before planning, before costing - make sure your foreign architects plans meet Irish building regulations

Arddon

Can anyone give an indication as to what a QS might charge for a cost budget