When you’re planning an extension or a new build, there are two main ways to go about it. You can hire an architect to design it and then find a builder to build it, or you can use one company that does both. Here’s how the two compare.
Hiring an architect and a builder separately
This is the traditional route. You pay an architect to draw up the plans and get planning, then you take those drawings to builders for quotes.
- You can pick any architect you like
- Good for very complex or high-end designs
- Gives you a set of drawings you can take to several builders
The downside is that the person designing it isn’t the person building it. Drawings can look great on paper but cost more to build than you expected, and if something doesn’t work on site, the architect and the builder can end up pointing at each other.
Design and build
With design and build, one company handles everything: the drawings, planning, building regs and the build itself.
- One point of contact from start to finish
- The design is drawn with the build cost in mind
- No gap between the drawings and the build
- Problems get sorted by the same team, without any finger pointing
Which is right for you?
If you’ve already got an architect you love, or your project is very unusual, the separate route can work well, and we’re always happy to build from someone else’s drawings.
For most extensions, garage conversions and new homes, though, design and build is simpler, quicker and easier to keep on budget.
How we do it
Our team includes an architect and planning consultant, so we can design your project, take it through planning and building regs and then build it with our own team. Read more about our architecture and planning service and our house extensions.
If you’re planning a project in Chelmsford or anywhere in Essex, get in touch for a free site visit or call Mark on 07747 022565 or Garrat on 07783 549849.