I've got an ancient, decaying sheet asbestos garage which I want to replace. The thing is, I don't really want an off-the shelf standard garage. The new garage could be non-rectangular to make better use of the shape of the garden, plus I want a workshop area at the end and I want a single pitch roof. It seems OTT to pay an architect for something like this but maybe that's the way to go - has anyone got experience with bespoke garages and will it cost the proverbial pair of limbs if I do have to get an architect in?
You don't really need to pay for any professionals - if you know how to do it yourself. But that's the problem I guess. If you try from a zero knowledge standpoint, you will fall into all sorts of pitfalls that would be avoided if you did get a pro in.
From our rather more simple conversion, if I did any one thing differently, it would have been to speak to the council BCO earlier. He was full of excellent advice, which led to simpler and cheaper, but equally good standard work than what was specified by the architect.
As regards the architect - the main things that he is going to do, which you may struggle with, are the planning application and Building Regs stuff. Whilst the builders I saw were great at building, they were not really 'sit down at a computer and prepare plans' people.
Also - if you went ahead with only the sketchiest of ideas of what to do, you have no recourse when the builder doesn't meet that.
To be honest, for what you describe, I doubt that an architect would really cost that much. Do know any retired ones?
If you know what you want, could you draw your own plans? I did!
If you need someone to draw the plans, look for an architectural technician rather than an architect - they're a lot cheaper! You'll probably find a few advertising in your local free paper. One of those will draw the plans you need for planning permission, and for building regs approval - if needed.
If it's free-standing (i.e. not joined to the house), less than 30 M^2 floor area, and made of non-combustible materials, it's probably exempt from building regs - but you'll likely still need planning permission.
It's well worth having a word with the Planning and Building Control departments at your local council. If they're like mine, they will be very helpful, and advise you how to proceed with getting the necessary permissions.
'non-rectangular' is going to cause problems, cost a fortune and quite probably look hideous.
You don't say what area you want to utilise, but can't you have a standard garage and then build the workshop onto the back of it? - or build an oversized garage and partiotion a space off as a workshop?
We've got a trapezoidal bit of the house, and had it fairly comprehensively rebuilt a few years back. It looks ok, but the joiners doing the roof didn't realise that you need a slope on one of the eaves otherwise you end up with a curved roof (assuming ridge parallel to one of the walls). Fortunately I was able to point the architect at them, who were a little more persuasive than I was.
My architect says that he always "saves his fee", i.e. without him it would have cost me more in stuffups and problems with the council. I used an architect for a carport! It was certainly unusual (and simple and cheap).
Think what you want is an architectural technician, he/she will be familiar with building regs etc but cheaper than fully qualified architect, find them in paper and gumtree etc under titles like Plans Drawn .
Gumtree is getting expensive since ebay bought it, bump an ad 1.50 etc
Every couple of days just delete your ad and repost to bump up for free. I keep the ad on a word document and just copy/paste into gumtree. Only takes a couple of minutes.
Already do , in certain categogeries, it will repost but buried pages down listings, seems to be more than just identical text, so a use for al those free sims....
It's not the floor plan that bothers me it's the roof joists etc. I could live with a rectangular shape, it just wouldn't maximise the use of the available space. What sort of configuration and materials would I need for a single-pitch roof etc.? I'm not in the business so I don't know what's available.
>>> If you keep the roof height down you don't even need planning
Exactly what shape of footprint do you have in mind. It's impossible to advise without knowing what shape it has to be. All you've said so far is 'non-rectangular' - which leaves a lot of options!
>>>>> If you keep the roof height down you don't even need planning
The area would allow for something about 9m long but with a front wall/door of 2.5-3m and a rear of 4-5m (possibly with a removable section to allow a small digger through if needed). If the trapezoid shape is a real problem then just a a 3mx9m rectangle would do. I do want to maximize the open space in the roof space for storage purposes though - after all what are garages for (surely not for putting cars in)?
I did a house extension on what is called a Building Notice. You still pay Building Control but you don't need formal plans or specification. They visit at each key stage and advise on the next stage. Worth asking about.
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