Advice planning for extension and dormer

5 years ago

Hi
I have a chalet bungalow with a small single room loft conversion that is really not useable. We want to extend the existing loft conversion by adding a rear dormer and hip to gable conversion. We would also need to add a small side extension so we can relocate the existing stairs and gain another bedroom.
I have no experience of this so I would like some advice as to where to start. I have found some planning application drawings for a house in our street which had the same work carried out years ago.
Do i need an architect, a structural engineer, or both. Do i just get a specialist loft conversion company? Any advice welcomed
Thanks
Tony

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Comments (5)

PRO
OnePlan
5 years ago
A good starting point would be contacting the people who had it done in your street. Learn by their experience. They may have had an amazing architect who oversaw everything. Or they may have used a design and build company. Or they might say with hindsight they’d have done X,Y or Z instead.
Tony S
Original Author
5 years ago
thanks Oneplan.
Unfortunately it is not the same owners that had the work carried out.
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Hopefully, you have investigated your existing building conditions. Have you consulted with a structural engineer as to whether the third floor framing can hold the additional live load and existing rafters can handle the changes as well as increased insulation depth? Have you talked to the building department to determine whether the available floor area based on ceiling height meets zoning requirements? Is access doable with a stairwell from the 2nd floor that meets fire and building codes? These are just a few questions that need to be asked. You should consider consulting with an architect face to face to expedite feedback that would be pertinent to your situation rather than asking us to give advice at arm's length.
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The rules may have changed but when we built our extension the wall adjoining our neighbour had to be completely within our own boundary. It looks as if your neighbour has continued along the party wall and therefore half the depth of the wall is on your land. It might be worth getting a chartered building surveyor to check it out as otherwise it may cause difficulties when either you or your neighbour come to sell. If I'm wrong about this maybe a professional on here could correct me. Other than that I think you should make the best of the little private courtyard it has afforded you by using plants in pots and climbers to soften the wall.
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If I'm being honest, I'm really not sure on this layout. You have services on both sides of the extension, which even with my limited knowledge of building is expense that you could avoid. Do you need a laundry and a utility, or could you combine them.? Also I hate the idea of a toilet off the kitchen. The garage also looks small. Could you take out the door on the garage and make that the bathroom off your corridor, and make the corridor your utility. Then you have all the space free where the new bathroom and utility are. If you want more space for the utility and bathroom I would suggest bringing that wall in (make kitchen and dining narrower) and that would have the advantage of making your study wider. One other point is that leaving the study there with a window to the side will make the kitchen very dark.
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P108 P
5 years ago
Hi
First thing is you need to find a Architect who can draw the plans for you.. shop around for the best prices. Architect will come visit you and then give you a price... it's usually a fixed price for a "drawing" and this will also include everything written up aswell location of windows materials to be used and rules and regulations. The plans then get submitted with a fee to the local Authority for approval. After approval you go ahead and select a builder of your choice. You can also call over Builders before you do the plans in fact it's best if you call builders over first before the plans are done so they can give you an idea of what can be done etc. Again if you want you can shop around for prices ... whether you will provide materials and pay them labour or you just pay them and they get everything and do the job .. which will be much less stressful. Just keep an eye on the materials being used. Your plans/drawing will state what material to be used where.. eg; fire rated plaster boards.. normal plaster boards.. fire rated door frames to be made where.. water proofing in bathrooms.. what insulation to use where etc etc etc...
Just ensure you do some research.. even though you won't be building it yourself it's going to be your house and you will be paying your hard earned money to these people to make your house for you so just keep an eye out that the job is well done and to a good standard.

Hope this helps
PRO
User
5 years ago
If you are thinking of changing the roof line, ie the hip to a gable, it may worth be an idea to go and have a chat to your local planning department. Changing the roof line can be a bit of a no go area. Therefore, it could be better to ask them if they are likely to grant permission for it before you go down the route of paying for your professional help.

If they're are likely to grant permission, you could approach a firm that does everything under one umbrella and ask for a quote, and, then compare this to asking the structural engineer, architect and general builder, as you would need all three regardless.

I'd always get two or three quotes to be on the safe side for comparison.
PRO
BetterSpace: The Floor Plan Experts
5 years ago
Hi Tony, your instinct was right - having a drawing from another house in your street is a great starting point. If your neighbour's design was approved, than it is likely that yours would as well, although the way the neighbouring houses might be affected by your extensions needs to be reviewed as well. If you remove or change structural walls, you'll need to hire a structural engineer and i would suggest you also hire an architect to help you with the internal layout as this should not be taken lightly. If you need further advise, do fee free to reach out by email of through our site. Good luck, Ed (service@betterspace.co / betterspace.co)

Advice planning for extension and dormer

Comments (5)

OnePlan

Tony S
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Advice planning for extension and dormer

Comments (5)

OnePlan

Tony SOriginal Author

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Tony S
Original Author