Architect / Engineer?

Smiley012

Hi all,

Doing an extension and renovation, just want a very basic finish. Will do finishes ourselves as we can afford them, so mainly looking for structure, wiring, new heating system and external wall insulation. Extension of downstairs, and increasing size of a bedroom upstairs.

I want to start getting builders in to do quotes, but based on advice here, I should be getting drawings done first for what I want.

Do I need an architect to come in or an engineer?

Or both?

Thank you!

fits

architect. They will advise you how to get best use out of the space and light.

Rackstar

I'd go engineer, if you know what you want the engineer can easily do the drawings. They can certify and supervise as well.

con1982

I'm an engineer.

I reckon you should speak with an Architect. Generally architects are much better advising on how to achieve energy efficiency, insulation detailing, etc.

Water John

And the Architect will tell you that's the engineers job, ffs.

If you know what you want, get an engineer to do the plans.

sydthebeat

Or just get an architectural technician who can do both .....

DOCARCH

Rackstar wrote: »

I'd go engineer, if you know what you want the engineer can easily do the drawings.

Water John wrote: »

If you know what you want, get an engineer to do the plans.

That's the problem...clients often know what they want, but, don't really have any idea how to best achieve what they want.

Architects are best to advise on design/layout, etc., and may come up with solutions that clients never imagined/thought of!

Yes, engineers can draw plans, etc., but, they have no training in design.

sydthebeat

DOCARCH wrote: »

That's the problem...clients often know what they want, but, don't really have any idea how to best achieve what they want.

Architects are best to advise on design/layout, etc., and may come up with solutions that clients never imagined/thought of!

Yes, engineers can draw plans, etc., but, they have no training in design.

totally agree

its not that people "know what they want"... they want what they know.

they cannot want what they dont know.

its the designers responsibility to challenge what they know and offer them better soloutions

Angry bird

Based on what the OP said, architectural technician like syd said, get your quotes and pick.

lorem ipsum

Hi Smiley,

Is the extension going to be subject to planning permission? If you think it will need planning I'd say an architect is your best bet as they can advise you better than an engineer.

We're doing an extension and refurb at the moment. We needed planning permission even tho our extension is not very big, it went 3 meters over the 40 sq meters allowed without planning. We had a lot of trouble with one neighbour who basically did not want us to build anything at all and took us all the way to An word pleanala (really unreasonable people). In the end we got permission with no conditions and we found the architect invaluable in this respect as he really knew the ins and outs of planning.

Now we're getting construction drawings from the architect and he asked to employ an engineer to advise on the build in terms of the drainage and the structural elements of the extension and the changes to the existing house.

If you wish to build in a phased manner, doing the structural stuff first and the finish later on, many of the Architects we spoke to before we went with this one offer a scale of fees that correspond with a phase of the process. The first phase is design and planning submission, the second is usually issuing construction drawings and tendering to a contractor and then the next phases are to do with the build, project management and finally sign offs.

My impression from many of the architects was that you can pay for the design stage and the issue of the construction drawings without having to use the Architects services for the later stages.

This might suit you, get the design done and the drawings issued then handle the contractor tender and build yourself.

Hope it helps.

LI

Calahonda52

DOCARCH wrote: »

Yes, engineers can draw plans, etc., but, they have no training in design.

Exactly, which is why we are relegated to sorting out the structural issues for the architectural design:D:D A length of 914x305x289Kg/m UB usually works wonders:D

Op: on a serious note, if you have beams being specified,[ steel, wooden, concrete whatever], you will need an engineer to sign off on this aspect.

Metric Tensor

Calahonda52 wrote: »

A length of 914x305x289Kg/m UB usually works wonders

Sounds under-designed to me CH! I think you need to use a bigger factor of safety!!!!

Smiley012

lorem ipsum wrote: »

Hi Smiley,

Is the extension going to be subject to planning permission? If you think it will need planning I'd say an architect is your best bet as they can advise you better than an engineer.

We're doing an extension and refurb at the moment. We needed planning permission even tho our extension is not very big, it went 3 meters over the 40 sq meters allowed without planning. We had a lot of trouble with one neighbour who basically did not want us to build anything at all and took us all the way to An word pleanala (really unreasonable people). In the end we got permission with no conditions and we found the architect invaluable in this respect as he really knew the ins and outs of planning.

Now we're getting construction drawings from the architect and he asked to employ an engineer to advise on the build in terms of the drainage and the structural elements of the extension and the changes to the existing house.

If you wish to build in a phased manner, doing the structural stuff first and the finish later on, many of the Architects we spoke to before we went with this one offer a scale of fees that correspond with a phase of the process. The first phase is design and planning submission, the second is usually issuing construction drawings and tendering to a contractor and then the next phases are to do with the build, project management and finally sign offs.

My impression from many of the architects was that you can pay for the design stage and the issue of the construction drawings without having to use the Architects services for the later stages.

This might suit you, get the design done and the drawings issued then handle the contractor tender and build yourself.

Hope it helps.

LI

Thank you for this, this has been particularly helpful. We aren't going to need planning permission (according to my research). We're adding about 20 sq meters downstairs and 7 upstairs. I believe that's all within the planning permission rules.

I think we'll do what you suggest, get the architect to draw plans, pay for that, and then get an engineer in. We will be moving walls and whatnot. I'm keen to understand what is and isn't possible.

Smiley012

Calahonda52 wrote: »

Op: on a serious note, if you have beams being specified,[ steel, wooden, concrete whatever], you will need an engineer to sign off on this aspect.

Thank you! This is a huge help, I believe we will.