prepping for architect meeting

[CalvinHobbes]

Back to the architect tomorrow, hopefully he can assist about the metal roof. Preparing some questions.  So how does this sound? Could we get it done in these stages and if necessary price them separately

Stages: 1 demolishing (if there is any asbestos removal work it would be done prior)

2 substructure

3 blockwork, floors and trusses

4 roof metal or tiles

5 windows

6 first fix

7 second fix

Was kinda hoping the first few stages could be done cdm wise without our necks on the line with the people all doing it cover their own health and safety. Unsure of the terminology for this.

I am currently chasing up the structural engineer to get the foundation layout (it's not on the plans) and following advice by the QS we should get him onsite when the digger is there to ensure all is well (nasty surprises can be minimised) and of course to mark it out.

I also need to get an engineer to tell us about the ventilation as in where to put the holes/pipes as the blockwork goes up.

Sorry, just thinking out loud. I know all this is obvious to all of you but it's a steep learning curve for a pleb like me. Anyway, anything springs to mind - please say.

 

Edited December 13, 2022 by CalvinHobbes

[PeterW]

1 minute ago, CalvinHobbes said:

also need to get an engineer to tell us about the ventilation as in where to put the holes/pipes as the blockwork goes up.

core drill them after !!! 

[CalvinHobbes]

Thanks, right that in my plan.😁

[CalvinHobbes]

Yikes, just saw an email from the structural engineer who said they don't mark it out that the contractor would do that. Presumably then the very highly recommended substructure guy will do it? 

[Canski]

On 03/12/2022 at 20:27, PXR5 said:

Oh, is that Warwick council? Im dealing with Stratford O'A' council hope i have a better time....

 

51 minutes ago, CalvinHobbes said:

Back to the architect tomorrow, hopefully he can assist about the metal roof. Preparing some questions.  So how does this sound? Could we get it done in these stages and if necessary price them separately

Stages: 1 demolishing (if there is any asbestos removal work it would be done prior)

2 substructure

3 blockwork, floors and trusses

4 roof metal or tiles

5 windows

6 first fix

7 second fix

Was kinda hoping the first few stages could be done cdm wise without our necks on the line with the people all doing it cover their own health and safety. Unsure of the terminology for this.

I am currently chasing up the structural engineer to get the foundation layout (it's not on the plans) and following advice by the QS we should get him onsite when the digger is there to ensure all is well (nasty surprises can be minimised) and of course to mark it out.

I also need to get an engineer to tell us about the ventilation as in where to put the holes/pipes as the blockwork goes up.

Sorry, just thinking out loud. I know all this is obvious to all of you but it's a steep learning curve for a pleb like me. Anyway, anything springs to mind - please say.

 

 

Edited December 13, 2022 by Canski
Oops can’t edit (delete this and start again)

[Kelvin]

Our groundswork guy brings someone in to do the setting out. 

[CalvinHobbes]

Thanks,duh I must be using the wrong terminology...so its a groundwork guy not a substructure guy (or woman of course).

[Thorfun]

8 hours ago, CalvinHobbes said:

Thanks,duh I must be using the wrong terminology...so its a groundwork guy not a substructure guy (or woman of course).

yeah. groundworkers do the stuff in the ground like foundations, drainage, STP etc. maybe you could pick up a copy of Mark Brinkley's Housebuilders Bible (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Housebuilders-Bible-14-14th/dp/1916016812) . it's a very good book and has loads of great information for self-builders in there to help you not use the wrong terminology! 😉

[ToughButterCup]

9 hours ago, CalvinHobbes said:

.... Presumably then the very highly recommended substructure guy will do it? 

Check the layout guy's work.

 

Ours made two mistakes - each mistake was exactly one meter out. It took me ages to pluck up the courage to ask him back on site. I must have rechecked my measurements half a dozen times 

[Kelvin]

17 minutes ago, ToughButterCup said:

Check the layout guy's work.

 

Ours made two mistakes - each mistake was exactly one meter out. It took me ages to pluck up the courage to ask him back on site. I must have rechecked my measurements half a dozen times 

Yep. If I’ve learnt anything this last 8 months check absolutely everything that the professionals send to you or do on-site. I’ve spotted numerous errors and omissions. The architect has been the worst culprit for this. 

[SBMS]

My experience of a couple of architects: they won’t design something that is cost effective to build and there will

often be points on the build where the contractor scratches their head because the drawings don’t make sense. Case in point: architect designed our open eaves and didn’t think about clearance for windows on top floor. They hit the eaves (timbers now being cut down). 
 

Structural engineers will design things that are hugely over engineered to cover themselves, and aren’t specialists in things like trussed roofs so will design things using traditional steels and loose rafters rather than an engineered product. Case in point: our SE designed loose lay rafters with a chamber floor and about 12 steels for our attic room. They said attic trusses wouldn’t work. Builder got a truss roof manufacturer to design attic trusses - it passed engineers calcs and saved 11 steels and £7k in our pockets. 
 

If I knew now what I know I would try and ensure the architect and SE were designing a house that was economical as possible to build. We were so excited to design the floor plan and we didn’t know to pause and make sure the thing was as economical to build as possible. 
 

My view would be try and minimise on site labour for things like roofs, minimise steels,

and maybe liaise with your builder at the design stage to point out any complex

or expensive bits in the build that could be designed out. 

[SBMS]

1 hour ago, Kelvin said:

Yep. If I’ve learnt anything this last 8 months check absolutely everything that the professionals send to you or do on-site. I’ve spotted numerous errors and omissions. The architect has been the worst culprit for this. 

Completely agree. They also haven’t got a clue how much it costs to build so don’t ask them. They were nearly 100% off our actual build cost with their estimate. 

[SBMS]

10 hours ago, CalvinHobbes said:

Thanks,duh I must be using the wrong terminology...so its a groundwork guy not a substructure guy (or woman of course).

You’ll want a site surveyor who will come and survey the site (usually using a GPS gizmo to be accurate to within few cm) and then they’ll set out using stakes for the corners for your groundworker. Our groundworker then sprayed his dig channels on the ground between setting out engineers posts to get the corners. 
 

Often with planning there will have been a site surveyor at the beginning who would have surveyed and generated a site layout plan for the planning application?

[CalvinHobbes]

2 hours ago, Thorfun said:

yeah. groundworkers do the stuff in the ground like foundations, drainage, STP etc. maybe you could pick up a copy of Mark Brinkley's Housebuilders Bible (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Housebuilders-Bible-14-14th/dp/1916016812) . it's a very good book and has loads of great information for self-builders in there to help you not use the wrong terminology! 😉

Yay, thank you! Just ordered it. That will help stop all the quizzical looks and weak grins I have been getting. 🤣

[CalvinHobbes]

56 minutes ago, SBMS said:

My experience of a couple of architects: they won’t design something that is cost effective to build and there will

often be points on the build where the contractor scratches their head because the drawings don’t make sense. Case in point: architect designed our open eaves and didn’t think about clearance for windows on top floor. They hit the eaves (timbers now being cut down). 
 

Structural engineers will design things that are hugely over engineered to cover themselves, and aren’t specialists in things like trussed roofs so will design things using traditional steels and loose rafters rather than an engineered product. Case in point: our SE designed loose lay rafters with a chamber floor and about 12 steels for our attic room. They said attic trusses wouldn’t work. Builder got a truss roof manufacturer to design attic trusses - it passed engineers calcs and saved 11 steels and £7k in our pockets. 
 

If I knew now what I know I would try and ensure the architect and SE were designing a house that was economical as possible to build. We were so excited to design the floor plan and we didn’t know to pause and make sure the thing was as economical to build as possible. 
 

My view would be try and minimise on site labour for things like roofs, minimise steels,

and maybe liaise with your builder at the design stage to point out any complex

or expensive bits in the build that could be designed out. 

Good thinking. Right, I will send the plans to cousins husband (another engineer, he normally does bridges etc) and ask him to bless it.

[ToughButterCup]

23 hours ago, Kelvin said:

.... I’ve spotted numerous errors and omissions. The architect has been the worst culprit for this. 

 

If I've learned 1 thing on our build - it's question (or at least look very critically at) every damn thing. And for a non-builder, that's a massive task.

 

Its having the confidence to challenge things  that's hardest.

[CalvinHobbes]

Had the meeting which was very reassuring. He answered all the questions and encouraged me to ask more anytime and will keep an eye on the builder. Fair play. A good soul.