marchitects home alterations

Are you thinking of extending or altering your house to improve the layout and facilities for a disabled relative? Both planning and building warrant applications may be determined for free by your Council if you meet their eligibility criteria. In Scotland building warrant "f ee regulations state that no fee shall be payable where the purpose of the work to which the application relates is to alter or extend a dwelling to improve its suitability for use by a disabled occupant." This can help reduce the cost burden of getting a project designed. We also offer discounts. Mark Anderson www.marchitectsltd.com

Had a number 2 all over yesterday at Paul Smith barbers in support of the MOVEMBER charity supporting awareness for men's health, specifically prostrate and testicular cancer. In need of a hat but its all in a good cause. http://uk.movember.com/about/ www.marchitectsltd.com

I recently attended a seminar on Fabric First approach to the design of houses. In brief, the house-builder improves the energy and air leakage performance of the built elements by front end investment in the quality of the built fabric to exceed current building standards rather than relying on technology such as renewable generation which is often plugged in at the end. It provides considerable benefits in performance. This would seem like common sense, but the built fabric rarely meets the specified performance. The quality of site works is the main culprit. (Ill fitting/missing insulation, following trades puncturing vapour control layers etc etc.) Mark Anderson www.marchitectsltd.com

I was recently called out to give some advice to a couple looking at buying their next door neighbours house in order to extend their own. The viability of the project hinged on the purchase price of the property against what it would cost to extend the footprint of the existing house to match the resulting floor area. However if you don't have a garden large enough to accommodate this extension then this is largely irrelevant. Then it comes down to whether the value of the enlarged house covers the expenditure on purchasing the current and next door properties. If the equation works out then there is no doubt that its is appealing. You don't have to move house to gain the space, the alterations next door need not be significant, and the building work can be contained. www.marchitectsltd.com

Modern housing developers lay out their overall street and house pattern to maximise the number of units on the land. As land plots are irregular by their very nature you find that house plots to the extremities, at the end of streets and cul de sacs provide opportunities to extend to the side towards the development boundary. If you are contemplating a side extension factors to consider at the outset are: -Can you get access to the neighbouring land to erect scaffolding? -Does you house plan permit circulation to the side. Where is your front door and stair in relation to the extension? -Do you want to retain a link between your front and rear gardens? -Consider designing foundations for an upper floor if you plan to erect single storey. Attic roof trusses can provide similar opportunities. -Determine where the drainage runs from the back of the house. -Are there any gas and water services under the ground. Mark Anderson www.marchitectsltd.com

Often I am asked about the feasibility of altering an existing extension to provide a more rational floor plan and facilities. In some cases I have to advise that the demolition and rebuilding of an extension is the most cost effective route to achieve the client's goals. Key factors that may have a bearing are: Age of the existing extension and the method of construction. This may make it unsuitable or structurally expensive to alter. The existing fabric will not meet today's need to conserve energy in the home and therefore would require upgrading.  The position of the extension in relation to the house may have been designed poorly resulting in a floor plan which does not provide the opportunity to  improve the linkage with the existing house and/ or improve the layout of the facilities. Glazing. It may be because the client wishes to change the nature of the extension to a family room for instance with improved visibility to a garden that larger windows are necessary.T

We've joined Architect in the House 2012.  We give a free consultation to a homeowner in exchange for a donation to Shelter. Architect in the House is the annual charitable scheme that sees RIAS and RIBA architects giving homeowners an hour's free consultation in exchange for a donation to Shelter. Over the past 15 years, RIAS and RIBA architects have raised more than £1.2million for Shelter.  Please get behind the scheme again and support Shelter's vital work with families in housing need. www.marchitectsltd.com

Garages built in the past can be a bit on the small side for modern cars with the result that they are used as store rooms. If the garage is attached to the house and you need the extra space it can be relatively straightforward to extend into and convert the garage to a playroom, office, bedroom or a downstairs toilet. I've also converted garages into self contained studio accommodation for elderly relatives or grown up children. The external walls and/or roof will require to be upgraded to meet current thermal resistance standards and a new floor installed. The garage door would be altered to accommodate a window. Hey presto a fairly redundant space is inexpensively transformed. www.marchitectsltd.com

In older properties it can often make sense to create one larger room for modern family living. The most efficient way of doing this is to knock the wall down between two rooms, called forming a slapping. A structural engineer should always be consulted to ensure the correct lintels specification is used to support the wall and floors above. You will also need to ensure that any steel beams are protected from fire. The builder will needle the wall above the opening and support these on temporary props before removing the wall where the opening is being formed. The lintel will then be positioned on padstones set into the wall on each side and shims put in above to make up the space between the top of the lintel and the remaining wall. As with all structural alterations there will be evidence of settlement in the finishes around the affected area.

Here are some brief guidance notes on the new permittted development rules for rear extensions in Scotland. These do not apply within conservations areas or to  listed buildings. Any extensions to the rear should be no closer than one metre to a boundary. Extensions to a terraced house should be no more than three metres in depth or four metres in any other case.  The eaves height of the extension cannot be higher than three metres. No part of the extension should be more than four metres in height. The extension cannot cover more than 50% of the curtlage of the rear area of the property. This area does not include any existing hardstanding or the original house. If any all of these parameters can be met then planning consent may not be required. We can ascertain this for you from the relevant local authority. www.marchitectsltd.com

New rights for householders have come into force this month setting out new rules for planning permission for alterations and extensions to houses and flats: The principal elevation will be used to judge whether planning permission is needed There are more generous permitted development rights for extensions There is a one metre bubble around the house which means you will not need consent for satellite dishes and solar panels. There will be more control within conservation areas. Check out the guidance at: www.edinburgh.gov.uk/householderdevelopment

Let look at the position of the toilet within the attic. Your designer should position it in the least valuable space so that it does not block potential views from the bedroom or impinge upon available ceiling height where not absolutely necessary. Visit us at www.marchitectsltd.com

If you plan to have an en suite or bathroom within the new attic space, obviously you need to identify the position of existing drainage within or outside the existing building. The position of an existing toilet on the floor below is a good start. It is more efficient to have the new toilet above an existing one avoiding unnecessary drainage runs. However if this compromises your preferred design then you may need to accept this and the disruption to the rooms below or look into using macerator pumps. These are noisy but can be located within the combes.

Some attics have original attic roof trusses i.e they form rooms or spaces within the roof. However should you wish to convert and occupy the space it may most likely be necessary to strengthen the floor joists to meet current standards. A professional structural engineer should be approached to review your existing circumstances. The Architect (me) will normally manage and direct the structural engineer for you in this regard. In most cases it simply means running new timber joists alongside the existing, and nailing them together in the prescribed arrangement.

Consider the size of the dormer in relation to the size of the roof slope. A large dormer can lead to structural complications in the design of trimming members to the existing roof, and in certain cases the introduction of steelwork. A more conservative approach can prove to be the most economic. www.marchitectsltd.com

Consider what kind of window you wish to install to the Dormer. As a minimum they should be fully reversible for safe cleaning from the inside. No fixed panes. The cill height will be dictated by safety too and if applicable whether the window is an escape type or not. www.marchitectsltd.com

Designing a flat roof to a dormer may be unavoidable because of the proximity of the existing ridge. Although three layer felt is the most economic option it will need to be maintained over its 10 year lifespan. Consider alternatibes like single ply or sheet metal. www.marchitectsltd.com