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