Refurb/Extension - No Architect And Using A Builder

Aurelian

Hi all,

Glad of any general advice here.

I've been looking at renovating a house and building a small extension so I got an architect to do some sketches for me. He came back with some interesting stuff, that had merit, but a lot of it I didn't really like. I got a local builder to walk through the old house with me and have a look at the sketches so I could get a ball park of where the costs were heading.

The builder was careful not to influence me really but it quickly became apparent that the renovation to the old house was enormous to make it fit the architect's plan, every internal wall being replaced, stairs moving, demolishing a central chimney column, various other things that the builder said really meant the old house would just be a shell.

Eventually after chatting and looking I sort of realised what I actually wanted involved building a relatively simple box onto the back of the house (no planning required) and refurbishing all the interior rooms and only having to change 1 or 2 internal walls.

The builder said I could go back to the architect (both builder and architect have worked together) or it was so simple he could do it without an architect. I know the builder and for various reasons this seems like a good idea. He is coming back to me with sketches and a price.

So now the job basically involves a modest extension, stripping the floors and walls, insulating and re-doing them.. and that's really the bulk of it. If I'm happy with the design is it safe enough to work directly with the builder like this? Should I be getting a quantity surveyor to review his quote? Should I be involving any other professionals? Any advice apprecitated.

Thanks!

Metric Tensor

https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057856235

tradesman

You really need a proper set of construction drawings to work from. Engineers designers architects calculate foundations & all structural & design elements of the build and put them on paper. Builders build to the drawings. However, good builders will pick up on anything that maybe wrong on the drawing, just as good engineers etc will pick up on anything that has been built wrong! Both sides working together = happy days!

Aurelian

Thanks that makes sense. I prefer the idea of a bit of oversight.

I suppose the options are to go back to the architect and ask him to turn the builders plan into a proper plan or get an engineer to do the same?