It can be hard to know where to start in terms of home improvements. You might have some vague ideas, a loose concept of what you would like to happen. But you might not know how to transform those into reality. It can seem like a daunting task, and you can soon feel overwhelmed. Therefore, an architect is a good choice to support you as they will have the specialist skills, training and experience that will help bring your home improvements to life.

Below are some of the things they can help with:

Safety

This London architect can ensure that your ideas are safe and functional. Whatever vision you have they need to make sure it meets all required building regulations and best practises. Risk assessments will be done, and hazards identified both for the builder and the occupants.

Energy Efficiency

The choices architects make will impact the energy efficiency of the building. They will suggest appropriate insulation and suitable windows. Those decisions will hopefully decrease your energy consumption and save you money in the process. If done well, the property will then have a good EPC rating, which will make it easier to sell your property in the future.

Sustainability

Your architect can help ensure your home improvements are sustainable. Nowadays reducing your carbon footprint is very important to many. So, you might be encouraged to use different materials or construction methods. Also, environmental factors will be considered. For example, will you have to cut down trees to have your extension?

Space, Lighting & Security

Your architect will be able to make suggestions to achieve the most natural light and best use of space. They can also think about security so you can feel safer in your home.

The Process

Picking An Architect

First you need to choose an architect you want to use. Start by checking if they are registered on the Royal Institute of British Architects or the ARB. Then you know they are legitimate and have the appropriate qualifications. Also check they are insured, just in case anything goes wrong down the line.

It’s a good idea to ask them for examples of their previous work before hiring them. Do they have photographs available? Or even better can you visit completed works?

Also, check out reviews online or try asking friends and family if they have any experience with that particular company. It’s a big decision choosing an architect whether it’s for a home extension or a loft extension so you will want the right person onboard.

Why not dig a little deeper and also check their track record of approvals. Then you will know if your home improvements project is more likely to get the go ahead or not.

The Brief

Once you have chosen the right architect, they will then visit your home. They will ask questions about what you are hoping to achieve so they can do a good job bringing your home improvements to life. You will need to mention your budget, how you plan to use the space and the style of design you favour. You will be provided with a quotation so you can then decide to go ahead with their services.

Architectural plans

Using the information gathered during their briefing meeting they will draw up architectural plannings and drawings. Some architects will give you a choice of a few different designs to pick from. Once you have given your approval of the drawings, planning permission applications will be submitted and detailed technical construction documents produced.

Building Control

During construction, building control will visit your home and check the architectural drawings. They will give their sign off as long as they are happy with the quality of everything. This will incur a further fee. Your architect will work closely with the builder to address any queries they have over the drawings.

How Long Does It Take?

The technically detailed construction documents can take a considerable time to produce. Timeframes will vary in different companies and also be dependent on the scale of the project. The initial designs for you to pick from are usually back quite quickly, usually within four weeks. Planning permission is usually approved by eight weeks in England, with more complicated projects decisions back by the deadline of thirteen weeks. In Wales they have up to sixteen weeks to decide.