Find an Architect you can trust in Wylam.

Like building an extension, you’re not legally required to hire an architect to build a house. However, given the amount of money you’ll be investing in your project, it’s vital to get it right. Clear, accurate plans are essential for any builder or other tradesperson to get the right materials in the right place. Building projects that go wrong because of inaccurate plans can at best look odd, and at worst be structurally unsound.

We’d recommend hiring either an architect or a skilled design and build company to create the plans for your new house. If you hire an architect to do your designs, you can choose whether to involve them further in your project, or use another professional or your own skills to take care of any applications and project management.

When you’re trying to decide on an architect to hire, start by making sure that all the professionals you consider specialise in residential architectural services. The architect you choose needs to be an expert in and have plenty of experience working on similar projects to yours.

It’s also important to factor in what other customers think. Look for online reviews of the professionals you find, ask to see portfolios of their work and even ask for references. This will help to give you an idea of whether they’re skilled and reliable.

Make sure you also meet and have a discussion with any architects you’re considering hiring for your home building project. It’s vital for you to get on with them and to share the same vision, otherwise you’ll struggle to get the end result you want.

Commercial architects specialise in designing buildings for business or public use, rather than residential, like offices, shops and schools.

Commercial architects will typically have expert knowledge of the unique needs that different types of commercial building have. This includes safety and design requirements for bigger buildings that typically contain high numbers of people.

You don’t legally have to hire an architect for your commercial building project. In many cases, property owners liaise directly with a builder to create their extension or new building. This can help to reduce your project cost if you have a limited budget.

However, there are several benefits to hiring an architect that might mean it’s the best option for you.

Firstly, the architect you hire should have up to date knowledge of all the legislation and best practices that your commercial building should comply with, and will have professional indemnity insurance to cover you if they get anything wrong. This will help you make sure that your building is legal and safe, and avoid any expensive rectifying work.

An architect can also help you get the most out of your space. Their specialised experience means they may come up with layouts or solutions that you might not have thought of. If this helps you create a more successful commercial space, you might end up saving or earning more money.

Commercial architects can also take care of your project management. If you have limited time or experience to devote to your building project, an architect can manage it for you. This could be a great way to streamline your project and make sure it’s completed on time.

If you’d like to hire a residential architect, but have limited funds, there are several things you can try to reduce their quote.

Firstly, you don’t necessarily need to hire them for project management – you could just ask them to do the design. This will mean you’ll have to do some extra donkey work, but you could choose between finding a cheaper professional to do your project management or simply doing it yourself.

There might also be other architectural services that you can cut down on. Some professionals offer extras like landscape, interior and detailed joinery design. If you can do without any of these, this will help to reduce the overall cost.

You could also think about scaling down your project. Lots of residential architects work out their fees as a percentage of the total construction cost of your project. Lower the cost of this, and your fees might go down too.

Residential architects can help make sure that your building or extension is designed beautifully. They may also be able to develop plans which create extra space, or add more functionality. In addition, having plans may speed up the building process and reduces the chance of errors.

The best type of guttering material will vary depending on the requirements of the property. For example, on listed buildings cast iron or aluminium guttering may be required to maintain the character of the property. Generally, UPVC is the accepted standard for almost all modern properties.

Choose an architect whose design vision fits with yours – but make sure they’ve got something new to bring to the table. Also check them out to see what projects they have previously undertaken. Ask them. Communication is vital. Pick a commercial architect who can communicate well with everybody involved in the project.