Jane W

I have read this and similar threads with interest as we are looking for a professional to help us with our project. Having spoken to a variety of professionals recently I can only say that it feels like a minefield. For me there is a personal bias which is based almost solely and unfairly on my experience of working alongside an architecture graduate (1st class honours!) who could not get basic measurements of a building correct, had little understanding of massing and no concept of budget whatsoever. He could however produce a lovely impression of a building and talk through architectural styles. When we then looked for an architect for our extension and remodel a few years later I ran for the hills when, after impressing upon him that the build MUST be on or below the maximum budget, he said his job was to 'challenge limitations like that' and to show us what might be possible if we stretched our budget...A very experienced professional who did not understand our very important constraints. So I am at this point in my 1st self build project. I have 'scribbled' a few designs on scraps of paper which fulfill pretty much everything I am realistically hoping for on this small site and finite budget. I have an interest in drawing designs and limited knowledge of the basics. I have spoken with Architects, technologists, technicians, designers and a BCO turned designer. Some have provided quotes and some would like to visit my site before quoting. Some quotes are between £1000 and £2000 while others are well over £10000. Decisions are difficult and I haven't made a decision on this yet but many are not exactly like for like quotes so even just comparing price is difficult. I have ruled out very expensive quotes because the compromises in terms of building our home within the remaining budget are too big, they would eat into the contingency before ground is broken. It is a shame that choosing and hiring the right professional is so fraught with uncertainty and confusion. Sometimes making the decision without any thought or knowledge might be a much simpler way forward!

We are planning a newbuild atm but have the same quandary. Can insulated plasterboard or insulating render bring the u value up to building regs if you go 100mm medium density blocks and dritherm?

We want a wet plaster rather than plasterboard so wondering if insulating plaster would be a possibility?

Thanks everyone, we just put 'Land to the North of the Parish Car Park' and that was fine.

Thanks jaymd. I had a quick look at floorplanner but decided as I'd already got potential floorplans in roomsketcher that I could just lay over the topographic plot outline and tweak, to bite the bullet and pay for a month of roomsketcher.

Ah ok. Could I ask some further questions....Were they medium density (which is what I'm hoping to go for) or dense? What was the cavity width and fill you used, and u-value you achieved? Did you get any resistance or higher quotes from the brickies for solid concrete?

Plot purchased: tick! Topographical survey: tick! Beginning process of deciding architects/architectural technicians/project manager etc: In progress. I was just having a little discussion with a potential project manager about walls. Our plot is tight for the build we ideally want both in terms of space, and available money( the usual thing!). We're building brick and block with full fill dritherm or similar. Thinking about options. I do not want aerated lightweight blocks. Anyone got suggestions for cost and space effective solutions to meeting insulation standards, looking at choice of blocks and insulation combinations? I'd be over the moon if there was a medium density block/dritherm type insulation combination that would make a standard cavity wall width! but guessing there's going to be compromise. I'm also aware that wider cavities also have other cost implications...

Out of interest what are you using instead now, and how do they compare in terms of u values?

I've been using roomsketcher to play around with floorplans for my plot. I've got my land survey plans through and would like to import these into an app to help optimise the floorplans. In roomsketcher I would need a subscription and wondered if anyone knew of a decent floorplan app that does this in the free version please, I've googled and checked out a few but no luck so far....

We've bought our little plot of land (under 2 titles) finally! I've been asked for an address by the solicitor for land registry as the address we've been using is 'to the rear of 125' (another property which previously owned the land but has now got new owners). The plot will be accessed from the road which runs behind the original house and land, and I believe you apply for your new address once you have full planning permission which we don't have(we only have outline planning atm). Here is the email: An address for (Me) is required for entry in the register. The transfer indicates the transferee’s address for service is ‘the property’, however, as both titles being transferred are ‘land’ you must provide us with a postal address. You may also have up to two additional addresses for service, which may be postal, email or a box number at a United Kingdom document exchange Has anybody had anything similar? I'm unsure of what they are asking for and the solicitor just said we need an alternative address when I asked her. Thanks in advance again.

Thanks for drawing attention to that. We have been looking at many options with regard to the layout of the site tbh, thinking about simplifying the design, leaving a bit more space around the boundary, considering where/whether to put a garage or carport within the design and the space for parking/turning too. We've had a while to think on things as we've been looking into the fact that there is a possessory title on a slither of the land to the front of the plot which has been delaying the sale going through.

Thank you everyone who has commented. It makes me think that while there will be extra cost and extra things to consider, it's not necessarily the end of the world and as long as its factored in with some contingency on top, its probably doable. Your responses, as always, have been really helpful.

I'm also interested in learning more about all 3 of those so I'll be following with interest if our land purchase goes through. We don't have full planning but thinking about how we would like our house to be designed/work. An exciting time for you, good luck!

*worse*

Yes, if the plans are too compromised then we'll probably get full planning for whatever we can get and then sell, woree case scenario.