LDNRennovation

Your actual responsibility differs depending on if you’re self managing or you have a contractor or PM. But I’ve seen enough builders missing fingers and with back and hearing problems to insist that they make the attempt. I also have an extra responsibility since I am an architect in my spare time and don’t want to get struck off, but still. So yes pretty insistent that they use the PPE when I’m around. If they don’t listen to me, which is likely as they are pretty basic lads, then the contractor boss gets a picture, an earful and I threaten him with the HSE. I’ve reported people in the past and I’ll do it again. eta, as a homeowner on your own time I’m not sure the same standards apply to you. Hard hat on a roof might be a good idea though in case you land on your bonce.

You’re bathroom SVP will come down in the middle of your rear wall, just something to consider. Also bathroom width needs to be 3m. Id be tempted to make the entrance double height. Personally I don’t like you’re layout, bit dull and awkward, but its your house I guess lol

I don’t think you need to lurk around pubs hoping to pick up the oily working classes lol. Nearly 20 years in architecture has given me a good network of reliable contractors and skilled workers. We do the checks and contact on behalf of the client, absorb the problems if they arise. That’s why architects are pretty useful for self builders. Plus we’ve all made the mistakes on other jobs that you’re going to make on the first one you do.

That’s a relief but BNG isn’t the worst issue, it’s Nutrient Neutrality. That’s holding people up to ransom, and they haven’t even sorted their demands out yet. I agree that self builders should add things for wildlife, but not pay these ridiculous fees.

‘Architecting’ made my eye twitch lol. As an architect who helps self builders, I wouldn’t do a self build without a designer, and Passivehouse is hard won’t lie to you. Some architects can’t even manage it. So good luck!!! Very brave.

post the refusal reasons please? Flat roof rear extension reduced size, roof lights not dormers in the loft conversion. House is still too big for the plot though, you don’t have enough garden or parking. Ditch the garage for now.

I think I said screed instead of self levelling compound. not sure really I just like herringbone.

I don’t think so, I have spoken to a few suppliers and they say do a screed and then stick in down. I don’t however know what is under the slab and how moisture is going to affect it if we do that. It feels like a bad idea but basically I don’t know.

Thanks Rick! I’ve seen that and it’s part of why I want herringbone lol. Poor Nick does everything doesn’t he. We can probably manage that I just don’t know about screeding such a big area.

Hi guys, got a 90’s bungalow with concrete floors (slab) at the moment. It’s fairly level and previously was carpet. I’d like a herringbone pattern, I don’t like a bouncy floor or fake looking wood vinyl. Currently thinking of engineered timber. We’d like to lay it ourselves. And also can’t figure out whether to lay it with the chevrons pointing towards the fireplace or lengthwise in the dining kitchen. The room it’s going in is L shaped.

This is what I would want, money is no object obviously.

Yes moving the bathroom to the corner will make it even worse of a layout. IMO you need to reconfigure it where the rooms aren’t awkwardly shaped and it flows. The floor area is pretty good though. questions to ask yourself, is the living area better at the back or front, which part is quieter and more attractive? Can you knock out that corridor wall and make your space open.

Which timber frame company are you thinking of going with? I think Fleming do them? Swings and roundabouts but I would say go with the timber frame company over an architect since what they do is just ask the company for their details and charge you for it. Check they do their SAP, and if they have a good relationship with the building reg assessor.

I usually charge 3.5k for everything up to and including planning, then a technician does the building regs for about the same. It works out pretty well for everyone.

The rear aspect to the garden can be from the lounge and kitchen dining for the garden, and you also can see if people are arriving at your house to the front from the kitchen area, it’s just nicer to be able to do that in a house imo. If you think about it, you spend more time sitting in a lounge looking to the garden, not dining and cooking. you want your lounge on the back, not the front. where you have the WC/Shower is a bit wasted to be honest, not a fan of that. I’d rather just commit to a proper bathroom than mess about with a nothing room with a toilet and 2 doors. Everyone can use the bathroom rather than no one ever. Bathrooms are expensive, make the most of them. so yes, you come in the front door, put your coat in the cupboard, then use the WC. Kitchen on the left, lounge straight on. It just makes sense to me that’s how people use a house.

I don’t like the idea of a jack and Jill downstairs cloakroom sorry 😂

Have you considered splitting the house so kitchen dining runs front to back instead of along the back?

Also if you go to the planning portal and search for your house there might be a drawn section there, unless the extension was done under permitted development.

Looks to me like you’re looking at the bottom of the original roof, and there’s a roof pitch change for the extra corridor part. Could this be the answer?

I always think architects asking planning consultants just makes people think you don’t know anything about planning. On the other hand it’s quite pro-active. I have worked places where they will give you a free site appraisal, no strings attached. It’s not always some kind of trap or red flag. Just don’t pay anything unless you’ve asked for it explicitly. If it’s just an introduction and quick chat, no problem.

I love those RedRhino! There are some in Amsterdam that are great too, but I just like how the ones you posted are similar but so unique. I hate the cookie cutter houses. You also could head to Graven Hill in Bicester for a british version of this for inspiration. I’ve designed a few for there and I think it all turned out quite interesting. Bit of a mess but lots of ideas.

The foul drain might be an issue, it’s only for circumstances which mean you absolutely can’t use a soakaway and you absolutely need permission to do this. I’d avoid it as being flooded with foul water isn’t a joke! Might need a trapped gulley if so?

A gulley drain, aco, leading into a drain outlet? You might even be able to do a french drain in the flowerbed or something, if you can’t move the soakaway to the lawn. It’s hard to know without the plan and the planning implications. I wouldn’t stress about it, it’s not a major issue and it’s rarely even checked from what I can tell.

Can anyone translate what that means? I keep reading it and it just deeply annoys me for some reason! I think it’s the incorrect grammar and tone. It’s like someone pretentious trying to sound clever after a few glasses of wine??? Potton was never a pretentious company. I don’t understand what potton is anymore, do they have designers or timber frame anymore? What even is the company now… what a shame, I really liked Potton.

Oh wow, nice congrats and how exciting. Look forward to seeing that.