Getting an architect

If you know what you want and are not open to other ideas, you may be ok just getting a builder. Even then you need an Engineer to certify works etc and never go with the builders suggested Engineer. You want your Engineer to be looking out for you, not let the builder cut corners.

Most people think they know what they want and how it should look but are usually stunned with what an architect can come up with so get a design professional and let the builder do the building.

Please note that Chartered Building Surveyors are not Chartered Quantity Surveyors. These are very different professions. Both are Protected Titles in accordance with the Building Control Act 2007.

Chartered Building Surveyors do not carry out “Quantity calculations / budget analysis” in accordance with the advice provided to you. These functions are carried out by Chartered Quantity Surveyors.

Protection of the title 'Building Surveyor' was introduced in the Building Control Act 2007. The use of the title is restricted to suitably qualified persons who have been included on a statutory register. If you work in Ireland as a Building Surveyor it is legally required that you be registered.

In accordance with the Building Control Act 2007 the State appointed 3 Professional Bodies in Ireland to provide a Statutory Register of Design Certifiers, and a Statutory Register of Assigned Certifiers.

The Design Certifiers are certified by the State to Design Buildings, and also certify the Design of Buildings.

The Assigned Certifiers are Certified by the State to certify the construction of Buildings from commencement to completion and to also provide Certification of the complete works to be in compliance with the Building Regulations for the Building Control Manager System ( BCMS).

All Design Certifiers and Assigned Certifiers are provided with a unique registration number which enables them to access the BCMS in relation to the Certification of Buildings.

The 3 Professional Bodies licences by the State to provide these Registers are as Follows:-

1. The Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland. (SCSI)
2. Engineers Ireland
3. The Royal Institute of Architets of Ireland. (RIAI)

To be Registered on the State Register as a Design Certifier, the Applicants had to provide 10 years of acceptable Design of Buildings.

To be Registered on the State Register as an Assigned Certifier the applicants had to provide 10 years of Certification of Buildings.

Many Building Surveyors are both State Registered Design Certifiers and State Registered Assigned Certifiers, and are very qualified to design and certify Buildings.

All Surveyors must comply with the Code of Conduct of the SCSI, and must provide sufficient Professional Indemnity Insurance.

You can find a State Registered Design Certifiers and State Registered Assigned Certifiers on the following link.

(Only choose ‘Building Surveyor’ and choose your location and it will give you a list in your location.)

https://scsi.ie/the-register/check-the-register/

Getting an architect is a good idea but actually managing to get one to do a fairly small job like this in any sort of reasonable timeframe might be difficult in the current environment.

Design is certainly not what surveyors specialise in, however there is lots of training in design and architecture as C.Eastwood points out (and the lecturers I had for those classes were architects). Likewise, architects can certainly review and assess building defects, undertake surveys (to a degree), however it's not what they specialise in.

Training, experience and expertise of different parts of the construction industry are undertaken to various degrees by the different professions. The degree to which you want or need your professional to have that level of training, experience and expertise determines which professional you should go with.

I'm a surveyor who has designed new builds, extensions and renovations. But I've always made it clear to clients that I am not an architect, and if they want that next level of expert and specialised design, they should engage an architect. But I'm not someone with no training or experience in design either who is just trying his hand at it or claiming to be something he's not.

So you could go with a surveyor to design your works if you wanted, just make sure they're experienced in design, ask to see previous projects, discuss what you're looking for etc.

This is the Point, which was very obvious from my replies.

Statutory Registered Design Certifiers in accordance with the Building Control Act 2007 are qualified and are entitled to design Buildings, and are entitled to register their Drawings /Designs in the BCMS, regardless whether they are (a) Building Surveyors / Chartered Building Surveyors (b) Chartered Civil Engineers or (c) Architects.

I needed to point out this Correct Information to the OP, because other information was given to the OP.

I will not be replying any further to this thread.

This is the 4 year course Eastwood referred to.

Quote:

Is a graduate from this course with suitable experience qualified to design and oversee the the op's project?

Yes, I know the answer was in the piece I quoted, it was more a rhetorical question.

I thought perhaps it was a false claim.

Thanks for that very detailed explanation.

Our experience:

Extension 1 1997 - not long in the country - simple single storey extension one end of bungalow. We used an architect and what turned out to be a nightmare builder. Architect's initial design was well over spec and got pared down considerably. Her chief role during the build was to terrorise him into action, stop him cutting corners, and finally remove him from the job. Grateful she was there to support us through all that.

Extensions 2&3 2007 - single storey plus two-storey extension on hillside. Since we knew pretty much what we wanted design-wise we used an architectural technician (ie not an architect) to draw up the plans, employed a very good builder, and hired a structural engineer who was absolutely worth his weight in gold and did the certification. A quantity surveyer - not employed directly by us - was also involved somewhere along the line. The process worked well and we were very happy with the result.

Just posting to demonstrate there are different and equally valid ways of approaching an extension build depending on your needs.

Her chief role during the build was to terrorise him into action, stop him cutting corners, and finally remove him from the job.

Just if the OP is still reading, worth noting that most architects don't manage the build as standard, it's an additional service at (substantial) additional cost.

Best idea is if any of your neighbours have done similar work, go and ask them what they did.

When a Client retains a Chartered Building Surveyor to alter and renovate their home and construct an extension etc, the Surveyor will complete a full set of detailed Construction Drawings, and Planning Drawings etc where necessary.

They will also produce a very detailed Specification of Works, which will include everything necessary to complete the Works in accordance with the Clients instructions and in accordance with the Clients Budget.

These Construction Drawings and Specification of Works, inter alia, will form the Contact / Agreement between the Building Contractor and the Clients.

Most importantly the Detailed Construction Drawings and Detailed Specification of Works will ensure that the Tender / Estimate provide by the Building Contractor, before the Works commence, will be very similar to the Final Account provided by the Builder on Completion of all the Works.

This is a copy of the cover Code of Practice for Inspecting and Certifying Buildings and Works 2016.

This Code is free to download.

It is in accordance with the Building Control Regulations 1997 to 2015. -

Below is an extract from page 12 of the Code, as follows:-

4.2 Who can sign as the Design Certifier and/or as the Assigned Certifier

4.2.1 Assigned Certifier and Design Certifier

The following may be appointed and sign as the Assigned Certifier, provided they are competent in relation to the particular works involved:

(a) Architects that are on the register maintained by the RIAI under Part 3 of the Building Control Act 2007; or

(b) Building Surveyors that are on the register maintained by the SCSI under Part 5 of the Building Control Act 2007; or

(c) Chartered Engineers on the register maintained by Engineers Ireland under section 7 of the Institution of Civil Engineers of Ireland (Charter Amendment) Act 1969.

Similarly, the Design Certifier must be one of the above registered professionals and must be competent to carry out their design and to co-ordinate the design activities of others for the works concerned.

In your opinion only.

I do not have any misunderstanding whatsoever.

There are many people reading this and my aim is to educate them against misleading statements made here.

Especially the people who watched the Budget Overruns on simple home Renovations on the Telly - some of which were in access of €100,000.

I have never known a Client who could come up with extra funds for huge budget overruns

As I have already confirmed above - Chartered Building Surveyors will obtain a Tender from a Builder before the works commence, which will be similar in valve to the Builders Final Account

This never happens with Assigned Certifiers who are Chartered Building Surveyors and educated in Quantity Surveying.

Quantity Surveying is simple for Chartered Surveyors.

People reading this will understand that a Design Certifier / Chartered Building Surveyor does not also require a PhD in Nuclear Physics to design the Refurbishment and Alterations and Extension to a Clients home in agreement with the homeowners, to suit their Budget.

I’m sure the Clients who had to pay extras of over €100,000 were well entertained

Folks, I think ye're well past the point of giving the op useful advice tbh

It is being promulgated here that only an Architect can design alterations and an extension to an existing home.

Building Surveyors and Chartered Civil Engineers are also qualified and very capable and competent of this also.

sydthebeat

20-06-2022 11:32pm

And once more, do not engage a "building surveyor" to design your extension / renovation.

Design is not what they are trained in

sydthebeat

20-06-2022 11:32pm

And once more, do not engage a "building surveyor" to design your extension / renovation.

Design is not what they are trained in