giacomo_z Posted June 5, 2022 Share Posted June 5, 2022 How much of the building regs would you practically recommend a newbie self builder to be familiar with? As an engineer (although electrical) I am not afraid of reading a standard and I understand that more knowledge is never a bad thing but on the other hand I don't want to waste time reading parts that I don't really need to know. Just for reference, I am very early on in the project and still looking for a plot. I would like to draft plans myself and get help from an architect only for technical drawings. I am thinking to go with ICF and do most of it myself calling in trades when required. How did you do it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProDave Posted June 5, 2022 Share Posted June 5, 2022 Let the architect and SE seal with structural elements of the building. You need to know all the accessibility stuff, like design of staircases (width, tread heights, rise and going etc) obviously socket and switch heights, door widths, accessibility to bathrooms etc minimum windows sizes for means of escape, fire protection of escape routes etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nod Posted June 5, 2022 Share Posted June 5, 2022 Your Architect or SE will draw out and submit all your building regs For about £1000-2000 leaving you to concentrate on the practical side Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnMo Posted June 5, 2022 Share Posted June 5, 2022 I tried to read all of them, but in an as required basis. So the ventilation when I was trying to get many head around those issues, then moved on to the next thing etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamyTea Posted June 5, 2022 Share Posted June 5, 2022 Worth knowing, reasonably well, about insulation and ventilation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieKLP Posted June 5, 2022 Share Posted June 5, 2022 If you post your plans here we can point out what’s wrong. the most used parts (in my experience) are fire escape, protection from falling and disabled access. I also think self builders can’t design and you need to let someone experienced do it or you’ll get something garbage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamyTea Posted June 5, 2022 Share Posted June 5, 2022 5 minutes ago, CharlieKLP said: I also think self builders can’t design and you need to let someone experienced do it or you’ll get something garbage That is one way to win people over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe90 Posted June 5, 2022 Share Posted June 5, 2022 14 minutes ago, CharlieKLP said: I also think self builders can’t design and you need to let someone experienced do it or you’ll get something garbage. I take exception to that, I designed my build completely and I am a self builder. Yes I am sure some are not able to do this but I recommend people write themselves a wish list (I did this myself) as a starting point. As others have done post your ideas here and there is enough knowledge collectively to guide your design. If calcs are required then BC will ask fir them (I had no calcs done at all). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieKLP Posted June 5, 2022 Share Posted June 5, 2022 24 minutes ago, SteamyTea said: That is one way to win people over. I think you all need to hear it ❤️ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronan 1 Posted June 5, 2022 Share Posted June 5, 2022 31 minutes ago, CharlieKLP said: I also think self builders can’t design and you need to let someone experienced do it or you’ll get something garbage. What horse shit.... I designed something no architect was able to give me which is what I want and a way I want to build it. I brought it to an architect( award winning) who is a relative of a good friend to put into planning and BC drawings and to ensure I wasn't missing anything and he reckoned he wouldn't change a thing Where most Architects fail is they are more interested in what they like and disregard their client opinions as inferior... hence alot of self builders treat them with less than the respect good ones deserve... P.s I'm a big fan of good architects and if plot was different or I wasn't in the game and had such a clear vision I would definitely have used one. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamyTea Posted June 5, 2022 Share Posted June 5, 2022 23 minutes ago, joe90 said: As others have done post your ideas Something architects seem very reluctant to do. None of us like our ideas shredded to pieces. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieKLP Posted June 5, 2022 Share Posted June 5, 2022 Just now, SteamyTea said: Something architects seem very reluctant to do. None of us like our ideas shredded to pieces. I have my designs posted weekly actually. I think architects are trained to accept criticism quite well, but I’d say self builders ‘know what they want’ and are quite determined to do things that are unfortunate a lot of the time. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamyTea Posted June 5, 2022 Share Posted June 5, 2022 Just now, CharlieKLP said: I have my designs posted weekly actually. On here, where? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieKLP Posted June 5, 2022 Share Posted June 5, 2022 2 minutes ago, SteamyTea said: On here, where? Just Instagram and Facebook. I can’t link I might get into issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giacomo_z Posted June 5, 2022 Author Share Posted June 5, 2022 Thanks all for the pointers. No plans yet. As I said it's very early on and I don't have a plot at the minute. Conscious of the fact it'll take a while, I would like to get ahead with some reading. I like dealing with pros when they know what they are doing and are humble. I like pros that have "the heart of a teacher" rather than of a secretive salesman but unfortunately these folks seems to be rare in all industries, including architects. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ETC Posted June 5, 2022 Share Posted June 5, 2022 30 minutes ago, Ronan 1 said: What horse shit.... I designed something no architect was able to give me which is what I want and a way I want to build it. I brought it to an architect( award winning) who is a relative of a good friend to put into planning and BC drawings and to ensure I wasn't missing anything and he reckoned he wouldn't change a thing Where most Architects fail is they are more interested in what they like and disregard their client opinions as inferior... hence alot of self builders treat them with less than the respect good ones deserve... P.s I'm a big fan of good architects and if plot was different or I wasn't in the game and had such a clear vision I would definitely have used one. Post your drawings. I’d love to see what you designed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe90 Posted June 5, 2022 Share Posted June 5, 2022 (edited) At the end of the day if the self builder is happy with his design who can tell them they are wrong?, others may have a view but they don’t have to live there. I am very happy with what I designed but I am sure it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. Telling self builders if they design it themselves they will end up with garbage is pompous crap. Edited June 5, 2022 by joe90 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieKLP Posted June 5, 2022 Share Posted June 5, 2022 (edited) 27 minutes ago, joe90 said: At the end of the day if the self builder is happy with his design who can tell them they are wrong?, others may have a view but they don’t have to live there. I am very happy with what I designed but I am sure it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. Telling self builders if they design it themselves they will end up with garbage is pompous crap. I think assuming you know better than someone trained in design and experienced in building regs is a little (let’s say “over-confident” rather than pompous), so agree to disagree. I’m not saying anything is wrong, I’m just saying I don’t think there should be some idea that hiring a designer is somehow a false economy. op is asking if you can reduce the building regs into ‘the important chapters’ I think that’s a bit optimistic, but am happy to help. Its like me asking the useful chapters to read about being an electrical engineer. I wouldn’t be doing that, it’s a profession that takes years to understand. Edited June 5, 2022 by CharlieKLP 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ETC Posted June 5, 2022 Share Posted June 5, 2022 44 minutes ago, joe90 said: At the end of the day if the self builder is happy with his design who can tell them they are wrong?, others may have a view but they don’t have to live there. I am very happy with what I designed but I am sure it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. Telling self builders if they design it themselves they will end up with garbage is pompous crap. Post your drawings. Let us see what you designed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ETC Posted June 5, 2022 Share Posted June 5, 2022 7 hours ago, giacomo_z said: How much of the building regs would you practically recommend a newbie self builder to be familiar with? As an engineer (although electrical) I am not afraid of reading a standard and I understand that more knowledge is never a bad thing but on the other hand I don't want to waste time reading parts that I don't really need to know. Just for reference, I am very early on in the project and still looking for a plot. I would like to draft plans myself and get help from an architect only for technical drawings. I am thinking to go with ICF and do most of it myself calling in trades when required. How did you do it? Give Structure and Fire Safety a good read before you put pencil to paper. The rest can be looked at as you go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe90 Posted June 5, 2022 Share Posted June 5, 2022 https://publicaccess.torridge.gov.uk/online-applications/files/57194F86D5EBBFF11A8926D89E73BE8F/pdf/1_0509_2015_FUL-ELEVATION_AND_FLOOR_PLANS-744762.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ETC Posted June 5, 2022 Share Posted June 5, 2022 13 minutes ago, joe90 said: https://publicaccess.torridge.gov.uk/online-applications/files/57194F86D5EBBFF11A8926D89E73BE8F/pdf/1_0509_2015_FUL-ELEVATION_AND_FLOOR_PLANS-744762.pdf Not available. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe90 Posted June 5, 2022 Share Posted June 5, 2022 Just now, ETC said: Not available. It is to me???? Anyone else Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamyTea Posted June 5, 2022 Share Posted June 5, 2022 1 minute ago, joe90 said: It is to me???? Anyone else Not for me either. But that is Devon for you, probably closed till Tuesday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieKLP Posted June 5, 2022 Share Posted June 5, 2022 I can’t see it either sorry Joe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now