LDNRennovation

Look at your local councils design standards for how many parking spaces you need, find out the sizes and draw them on the site plan. I think you might need to prove there’s enough spaces for so many bedrooms.

You can have a protected escape route instead of escape windows, contact your local building regulations officer to check. Op could post their layout so we know and also what the rooms are so they can have the right sized windows. I think the first design was nicer. I like using the same scale of windows only in different configurations. The only one that looks off is the one over the 4 doors. Where they stuck the planter seems like a cheat to hide a big blank wall. the garage parapet needs to be higher for the structure. That will help the weak intersection between the garage and house. might be an idea to get your solar gains checked out from the glazing.

No that’s amazing thank you so much. I’ve helped a lot of self builders, they haven’t always been perfect but I’ve got the experience and the passion. I love doing the 3Ds and it does help. People don’t know what they are getting sometimes because seeing in 3d is not instinct for everyone. You always get strange things on your first design you haven’t anticipated if you don’t go 3d. I’ve no problem with price upfront but it’s a worry because some people are time wasters.

I hate this, and I am a skeptic all the way. I have studied physics. but I have seen dowsing work, by my relative, who’s a farmer who uses it to find drains. He found a drain in France for my family when I was building a villa. I’ve seen a guy working for Anglian water secretly use them to find a culvert, then he got embarassed and pretended he didn’t have them. Is it micro suggestions? The way the ground slopes? No clue at all. I don’t know how or why, but I’ve seen it.

I don’t really like the flow of your kitchen, it’s being treated as another utility area and not the star of your house. You spend a lot of money and time there, it should feel more open and less boxy. How about you take some space of your furnace, and open that area up? I also think your dining are is in the way and will always annoy you there - it doesn’t look spacious to me. Also, it’s nicer to have something at the end of a corridor rather than a blank wall.

That’s excellent. Good luck! if they vote against it then I’m guessing it’s political.

Usually you have the key ones, and escape are these:

I guess a good website is going to be key. Not a lot of repeat customers since it’s such a big one time (usually) investment!

Ok well, moving on.

Most self builders I’ve met don’t want passive-houses, and I think a limitation that’s not required. I’ll offer it certainly and I’ve designed several. I don’t really agree that designing houses isn’t special, it’s a skill I’ve trained hard for and I’m proud of it.

Many thanks Bancroft, some really good ideas there and stuff to really think about. I’ve made approaches to a few timber frame companies who don’t have their own design department but work with mainly self builders (that’s my background). I’ve found two who would be willing to point people my way. I do have a current job which isn’t architecture so I’ll be doing this with a safety net to start with. I do feel like self builders are wary of architecture firms as they can be expensive and not listen to their needs. My idea is to provide a better service as I like to think I understand they are a bit of a unique group sometimes. I would also be making ‘self help’ packs so that they can get info on self build. I looked into a principal designer and CDM course and you’re right, I’m not that into it. Mainly design and planning and helping them project manage maybe.

Hmm, I don’t know what my sell would be. I usually just come up with a nice design people usually like, and I do a 3d for them. Main sell isn’t cost base no. My sell is a personal design service.

Well no it won’t be free. I have about 10 years of helping self builders around the country. I was thinking around 3k for the concept and design stage. 1k for extra planning items.

No worries, I’m a fully qualified architect. ARB and RIBA.

To be honest I did everything by Skype during the pandemic, it was fine. I was looking for some supportive ideas.

Just checking you understand the situation … it just means no key, you can lock it but you have to be able to push button open it from the inside?

Ha, no thanks I would like to be a self build architect specifically - extensions would be included.

Yes of course you do, Timber Frame right? I’d suggest you need someone to design your house to your brief and get you planning.

I’d rather keep it anonymous for the customers! Since they don’t post here anymore I can PM you I think though.

Thanks Mike. Did you go for a specialist self build architect? Would people be interested in that. I should say designer really, my training is designing self build houses and I’d like to give people that 1-1 personal service you don’t really get with an architectural firm.

I mean help with the design and planning. This would be my market lol, (some people on here I have done designs for, I’ve not spoken to them on here of course).

Firstly this isn’t an advert and I’m not doing anything just yet. I’d like to become a self employed architect, one that deals exclusively with people building their self build homes. It’s something I’ve previously done with larger companies and architects, but it’s a big leap to work on my own. I’ve got a good portfolio including a grand designs episode or two, been in magazines front cover of AJ so I have some experience. I just don’t know where to start, and if there is money in this. I would like to take on 2-3 clients at a time and help them through their journey. How do I find people who would want this?

4? That’s low. they usually just know the local counsellor. I’d make the point to the planner that this is a waste of time and ask them to cancel it.

You can do it a few ways! Very exciting. Do come back and update here. You’re looking about 1.5k-2k per m2 to build a house from foundations up. I’d look for a plot of land and think about how much you want to spend to start. Costs 10% less if you self manage. Then you can get a planning appraisal, from a planning consultant or architect. They might suggest a pre-app. Sometimes you can buy land on the assumption you will get planning. Also, you can buy a bungalow or something where it’s more likely to get planning. You can find land a number of ways, through the planning portal, rightmove, or approach farmers or people with big gardens (polite note through the door with your details). You can then give your ideas over to a designer, I’d recommend a lone architect or designer, avoid a technician at this stage. Include images from Pinterest and the planning appraisal. Visit self build shows, research heating and insulation. Get through planning. Then you can approach a timber frame company or a builder. You will also need building regs using the build you have chosen.

Probably ok on the back, less chance on the side. has the one across the road done it? You can show others have done side extensions to argue it.