Hi,

We are a local design and build team based in Clapham Junction, all of our staff are in house, Please feel free to view our website www.aptrenovation.co.uk if you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact myself on 0207 223 6417.

Kind Regards

Hannah Price
Office Manager

Hi SFK

I am also new to NVN, but we have just been through this process renovating our last house (just moved). We used the D&B route last time because, like you, we needed to know exactly how much it would cost and you have a fixed price with (most) D&B firms, plus this sort of building work is so common that we didn't think it needed a full architectural service. In our new house, which will be a longer project, the works will be much more complex and need more imagination, and so we will use a "proper" architect.

We used Simply Extend and I have to say our experience was absolutely fine - frankly, much better than a lot of friends had with other such companies. Having said that, I doubt there is a building firm around that someone hasn't had a bad time with - building works are incredibly stressful and, whichever firm you use, you need to keep a close eye on them and keep communicating. I would therefore go with whichever firm you get on best with.

If you don't have the money / inclination to do both the kitchen and loft extension together, my advice would be to start with the kitchen (unless you urgently need extra bedrooms). A larger, new kitchen will completely change the way you use the house - plus a kitchen extension is a huge upheaval and quite difficult to live through (although we did) with more dust than you can imagine. In comparison, a loft extension is pretty easy.

Hope that helps...

VRB

Hi all,

My first post as I'm just about completing on a house purchase in Tooting, a purchase that was based upon extending. I didn't want to start a new thread as I know there's a lot on this topic.

The house is a standard L-shaped Edwardian terrace and we need to do a loft conversion and a kitchen extension / side return.

I've seen a lot of conflicting views on doing things separately vs. using D&B firms. I guess when it comes down to it, our limitations are:

- We cannot project manage ourselves as we both work highly demanding full-time jobs
- We have a limited budget, probably not enough to do both of the major works we would like to be honest
- We need to get as much of this work done as we can afford upfront following getting the keys - we don't need to live there right away, but soon!
- We are after very common extensions:

• 1. A loft conversion with 2 bedrooms and 1 separate bathroom
  2. A wrap-around L-shaped side return & kitchen extension + kitchen fit that looks like this: http://www.chrisdyson.co.uk/Projects/Whistler-House

- D&B firms seem appealing as we can get a good idea of total cost upfront vs. managing different parties

Given my thoughts, does anyone have any advice at all?

Also, we'll be getting people in ASAP to quote. Here is a list I have so far, would anyone strongly suggest I avoid any of these or have any specific recommendations?

Lifestyle Design + Build: http://www.lifestylebyasq.co.uk
Plus Rooms: http://www.plusrooms.co.uk/
nuspace: http://www.yourloftconversionlondon.co.uk/
Simply Extend: http://simplyextend.co.uk/

Thanks!
SFK

My advice is just don't bother doing it. It's such a massive hassle. Builders are all annoying. It always costs more than you think and takes longer. We did it all and I'd wouldn't bother again, especially now values here are flat. Re-paint and buy a new kitchen, then just forget grand design dreams, avoid party wall awards, planning battles, lorry loads of steel, dust, "it'll be done next week love!" builders and just take some more holidays, pay off your mortgage etc etc - I think that would buy you more happiness!

Hi all,

Design and Build companies are OK in certain situations. With my company we offer both. I would say the design and build service is beneficial for clients on a budget or know exactly what they want. If you're building something special, just for you than I would 100% recommend an Architect designed project.

The builders design perspective can be a little dull / easy build route, not creating what you want which for someone like a landlord adding space is not an issue and keeps cost down.

I can see the reasoning behind why you would want an external 3rd party managing but would avoid the architect as the architect is naturally biased to their design and will continue to champion it even when the client doesn't want it or it is just not working. An unbiased 3rd party with no interest in either builder or Architect could help you get what you want if you feel this is necessary. This is something that I have been asked to do increasingly over the past 12 months.

Find the right building company, than you should not need external management and avoid the additional cost.

Best of luck with the project.

Ross

Hi

My name is Robin from Digicast AV. If you need a television network or a CAT 6 / Wifi network I'd be happy to help.

I specialise in, Home Cinema, Audio Zones, TV multiroom & home networks. I have lots of kind comments on here.

Robin

07738126366

Hi there. My husband owns lots of properties in Wandsworth which re rents out and he has been adding lofts, kitchen extensions and undertaking total house refurbishments over the past three years using an excellent team of builders. Each job has come in well under all the other quotes that he received and each extension came in on budget, finished on time and he has been thrilled with the standard of their work.They really are unbeatable on price and have never let us down. He has since asked them to work several of our friends houses, they needed major kitchen extensions, side extensions and lofts and they have all be extremely happy with the work. If you would like I could put you in touch with my husband, I know they will quote for free.

Hi nhda,

Just asked a friend, they suggested Philip Masterman (philip@mastermanarchitects.com :07932073595), their company should be able to lend a hand or point you in the right direction in regards to the architectural aspects. Hope this helps x

Hi nhda,

Feel for you with all the posts, can be daunting where to start. We have always recommended Bart: 07872 338775 at Pristine Finish for side returns, bathroom and kitchens. We're still happy with his work and he can coordinate architects and interior designers if need be. Best of luck x

Hi all,

Thanks for all the replies - all very much appreciated!

Good point! When we started our project, the company which we worked with (Lifestyle Design and Build), gave us the choice, we could have hired our own architect and hand them in the ready project but they also offered us the full service with the architect included. All in all, everything went smoothly and I don't regret the decision.

Have a lovely week!
Monica

Absolutely right - check architects registration at http://www.arb.org.uk/

or check at RIBA Royal Institute of Architects (architecture.com)
http://www.architecture.com/FindAnArchi ... AHome.aspx

some interesting posts.
there are good and bad in all walks of life.
Certainly putting all design and build eggs in one basket could be viewed in a number of differing ways.
Another item that should be checked : make sure your Architect is actually an Architect. A lot of D&B companies refer to their Architect - who is in actual fact simply a draughtsman, in some instances. You can really find out if your Architect is an Architect by checking their details at the Architects Registration Board.
Using names such as Architectural Designer is a means to overcome misuse of title. this doesn't of course mean they are no good at what they do - but clients are often blissfully unaware of just how much better a service they could have had - in terms of design quality, delivery, and cost control by using their own RIBA qualified Architect.
Finally - an Architect will inherently be more expensive than an Architectural Designer - but only marginally - and any cost uplift is more than compensated or even saved during the build delivery and final quality.
Happy Monday!

NEVER EVER USE A ALL-IN-ONE COMPANY - they cut corners in order to make a profit right from the start, and as we have exact experience (more later when I will name them). We HAD to approve a design before they would do building regs and engineers drawings, and now the engineers insist on beams everywhere we dont want them - even right through what was mean to be a fully glazed side return roof. Let alone the fact that the engineers solution is not very bright. Go to an architect, discuss with an engineer and then go and get builders quotes - you wont regret it. I cannot repeat this strongly enough.

I have to agree with a previous poster about you openning the floodgates to all sorts of "advice" primarily I suspect from self interested parties so good luck.

My husband and I have lived through three refurbisments in Lambeth/Wandsworth.

For the first we innocently used one of the local one stop shop outfits, well known on NVN, which proved to very unsatisfactory to put it mildly as the in house architect was clearly being driven by the construction team and offered no creativity and zero options. Furthermore, when the inevitable changes to specs were required as the project progressed, we were massively over charged (we sadly learnt this post completion).

Our second project was far easier and didn't require an architect but did require lots of steel and structural works. We used Clapham Builders for the works whom we found on NVN and they put us in contact with a local structural engineer and the project took time but was to a far higher standard of finish and at very reasonable cost.

Last year we again used the same engineer and Clapham Builders to reconfigure a large terrace in Lambeth. Richard at Clapham Builders put us in touch with a local architect (sadly moved to Italy with her husband recently) who was exceptional. The process worked brilliantly and it felt all parties including ourselves, worked as a team to achieve our vision. Richard and Greg at Clapham Builders are on 07852 991867 and can't recommend them enough.

In summary from ours and several friends experience, keep the architect/engineer and construction companies seperate and in an ideal case find experts in each field who, whilst autonomous, are aware and trust each other but who all clearly know who the client is!

Good luck and enjoy your new home.