| FAQ's
We are sure that you will have a lot of questions. We are always happy to chat.
We have provided answers
We have provided answers
What are your fees?
How we structure our fees:
We have a fair fee policy. Our fee structure ensures that our team are fairly paid, and that you as the client get a fair deal for the work produced.
We charge on a Standard Hourly Rate, but with a difference, we agree a fee cap with you. This fee cap gives you the assurance of knowing the maximum cost for the work agreed.
It is difficult to estimate the cost of projects, some require more work than others, more detail, more management. We don’t want to have to charge for work that ‘might be needed’ that could end up with you being over charged. But we want to be fair. Therefore, we will work efficiently, and if we come in below the fee cap, you will pay less. If we go over it, you pay the agreed maximum amount.
We have a fair fee policy. Our fee structure ensures that our team are fairly paid, and that you as the client get a fair deal for the work produced.
We charge on a Standard Hourly Rate, but with a difference, we agree a fee cap with you. This fee cap gives you the assurance of knowing the maximum cost for the work agreed.
It is difficult to estimate the cost of projects, some require more work than others, more detail, more management. We don’t want to have to charge for work that ‘might be needed’ that could end up with you being over charged. But we want to be fair. Therefore, we will work efficiently, and if we come in below the fee cap, you will pay less. If we go over it, you pay the agreed maximum amount.
How long will my project take?
This will depend a lot on the type and size of your project, but we would say that it is never too early to get in touch.
We would say that a period of 12 – 18 months from first contacting us to your project being on site is most common[e1] . A lot of this is out of our control, and dependent on the planning process, and availability of contractors. We have put a lot of thought into refining our process to help to reduce timescales, but it is also important not to rush. Your project will be a big personal and financial commitment, and it is important to get it right. We want to explore options at an early stage with you and be thorough to ensure that you get the best results at the end of the day. [e2]
[e1]Can we mention on the scale of a project that might be…we don’t want to put off smaller retrofit projects etc. E.g. Rangeley Road might have been put off by 12months before going onsite? If they spoke to another architect too they might say sooner for a small job like that, then we could lose clients… but I get that you want to be honest and prepare people too.
[e2]Add this onto the paragraph above so it flows on from it’s important not to rush (for some reason I cant change it)
We would say that a period of 12 – 18 months from first contacting us to your project being on site is most common[e1] . A lot of this is out of our control, and dependent on the planning process, and availability of contractors. We have put a lot of thought into refining our process to help to reduce timescales, but it is also important not to rush. Your project will be a big personal and financial commitment, and it is important to get it right. We want to explore options at an early stage with you and be thorough to ensure that you get the best results at the end of the day. [e2]
[e1]Can we mention on the scale of a project that might be…we don’t want to put off smaller retrofit projects etc. E.g. Rangeley Road might have been put off by 12months before going onsite? If they spoke to another architect too they might say sooner for a small job like that, then we could lose clients… but I get that you want to be honest and prepare people too.
[e2]Add this onto the paragraph above so it flows on from it’s important not to rush (for some reason I cant change it)
Can you work further afield?
In short, Yes! We have experience of working on projects around the country and we are more than happy to discuss your project.
This will likely slightly change the services we can offer you, and this will primarily affect the level of our involvement during construction.
One thing that we will promise, is that we will never leave you high and dry, where we can help out, we will, and we are always at the end of a phone.
This will likely slightly change the services we can offer you, and this will primarily affect the level of our involvement during construction.
One thing that we will promise, is that we will never leave you high and dry, where we can help out, we will, and we are always at the end of a phone.
I want to Self-Build, Can you help?
Absolutely, we are more than happy to adjust our service to suit your project. We have completed several self-build projects, often working with our clients to manage the build process, the coordination of sub-contractors and sequencing of works.
How much will my project cost?
We know that your project will be a big financial commitment, and we recognise the responsibility that we have in designing for this budget and providing you with an affordable project that meets your needs.
We really enjoy working under a tight budget, because in providing innovative solutions, we add value to your project.
When you first get in contact, we can discuss you project aspirations together with your budget and assess the feasibility of this. We will assess your project based upon current square meter rates and our experiences of current and previous projects of a similar scale and type.
We also provide a detailed cost analysis service, that is best carried out at a developed design stage. For this we will work with a Quantity Surveyor to carry out a detailed cost assessment based upon current material costs and labour rates. This isn’t designed to be a guarantee of build costs but an effective indicator.
Finally, if costs[e1] come back from a proposed Contractor that are higher than you expected, we are experienced in digging into these costs and looking at opportunities to save money. Our approach to this is to look at aspects that won’t affect the primary qualities of the design. And this is more often than not quite effective.
[e1]Quotes?
We really enjoy working under a tight budget, because in providing innovative solutions, we add value to your project.
When you first get in contact, we can discuss you project aspirations together with your budget and assess the feasibility of this. We will assess your project based upon current square meter rates and our experiences of current and previous projects of a similar scale and type.
We also provide a detailed cost analysis service, that is best carried out at a developed design stage. For this we will work with a Quantity Surveyor to carry out a detailed cost assessment based upon current material costs and labour rates. This isn’t designed to be a guarantee of build costs but an effective indicator.
Finally, if costs[e1] come back from a proposed Contractor that are higher than you expected, we are experienced in digging into these costs and looking at opportunities to save money. Our approach to this is to look at aspects that won’t affect the primary qualities of the design. And this is more often than not quite effective.
[e1]Quotes?
My building is listed, Can you help?
Absolutely – we are happy to have a chat about any specific factors that affect your project. We have experience working on projects with listed buildings, in Conservation Areas, in the green belt and under differing local legislation.
These factors might affect aspects of the design, along with the documentation required for planning applications. We will assess and discuss the impact of this with you before the design process starts to ensure that all factors are considered at an early stage.
These factors might affect aspects of the design, along with the documentation required for planning applications. We will assess and discuss the impact of this with you before the design process starts to ensure that all factors are considered at an early stage.
Im concerned about the impact on my neighbours.
We completely understand that a construction project will impact on others, especially people who live in neighbouring properties. Our aim is that our designs are sensitive to their context, and that means your neighbour’s property and the wider area.
We consider right to light and implications of the party wall act on all projects. We will happily discuss the project with your neighbours. And we will issue party wall documentation on your behalf.
If there is a more complex situation with your neighbours, we might recommend engaging a Party Wall Surveyor.
We consider right to light and implications of the party wall act on all projects. We will happily discuss the project with your neighbours. And we will issue party wall documentation on your behalf.
If there is a more complex situation with your neighbours, we might recommend engaging a Party Wall Surveyor.
I want a Passivhaus, but i don't need the badge.
Whilst we can design a highly efficient house without achieving Passivhaus Certification, there is a big difference between a Passivhaus and not a Passivhaus.
The Passivhaus standard is a brilliant and extremely rigorous performance standard. Designing a Passivhaus involves calculating the effect of everything in and outside of the building, from the form, and placement of windows, to the amount of insulation, thermal bridges through junctions, the amount of heat your washing machine produces and even down to the length and type of copper piping in your building. This does take a good amount of time, and this results in a finely tuned, high performance building.
If you do not go for certification, you won’t get into the details of these calculations, therefore whilst we can say with a degree of accuracy that the building will be efficient and comfortable, it simply won’t be to the standard of a Passivhaus.
There is often a trade-off with priorities when considering certification or not. Are your priorities performance, or is it a particular view, layout, or. A lot of the time, other priorities, mean that certification is not the priority, and that is fine, it is about getting the right balance for you. We will discuss all aspects of this with you, if you are considering whether to build a Passivhaus or not.
The Passivhaus standard is a brilliant and extremely rigorous performance standard. Designing a Passivhaus involves calculating the effect of everything in and outside of the building, from the form, and placement of windows, to the amount of insulation, thermal bridges through junctions, the amount of heat your washing machine produces and even down to the length and type of copper piping in your building. This does take a good amount of time, and this results in a finely tuned, high performance building.
If you do not go for certification, you won’t get into the details of these calculations, therefore whilst we can say with a degree of accuracy that the building will be efficient and comfortable, it simply won’t be to the standard of a Passivhaus.
There is often a trade-off with priorities when considering certification or not. Are your priorities performance, or is it a particular view, layout, or. A lot of the time, other priorities, mean that certification is not the priority, and that is fine, it is about getting the right balance for you. We will discuss all aspects of this with you, if you are considering whether to build a Passivhaus or not.
Im worried about getting planning permission for my project.
We want to provide reassurance in saying that we believe the planning process is there for very good reason, and we appreciate the importance of the planning system. It isn’t without fault but it is important.
There are a lot of horror stories out there about obtaining planning permission, but we feel this is likely down to bad communication, bad drawings, or badly considered design.
To date, we have a 100% success rate on planning applications. [e1] We believe in having good, open communication with the planning department, and having a considered design approach. This provides the greatest likelihood of success.
[e1]what happens if this doesn’t stay true do we then take it off the website, would that be noticeable or does that not matter
There are a lot of horror stories out there about obtaining planning permission, but we feel this is likely down to bad communication, bad drawings, or badly considered design.
To date, we have a 100% success rate on planning applications. [e1] We believe in having good, open communication with the planning department, and having a considered design approach. This provides the greatest likelihood of success.
[e1]what happens if this doesn’t stay true do we then take it off the website, would that be noticeable or does that not matter
My house is cold, what can i do?
Im not sure whether to extend or move.
How much more expensive is a Passivhaus?
What is your design style?
There are always going to be things that we love and things that we don’t like. However, we think that all of our designs are the results of the process, discussions and development with the clients. We hope that a design will be bespoke to the people that will be living in it, and whilst we will certainly bring our ideas to the table, we don’t have a specific design style.
I want to build with Natural Materials, can you help?
We would love to work with you! We are always looking to reduce the embodied carbon in our projects. A lot of the time, this needs to be through tweaking more mainstream construction methods, which has proven effective.
However, we are knowledgeable and keen to use construction methods such as straw bale construction, hemp/lime, earth construction, as well as using materials such as cork, clay plasters, woodfibre and timber construction.
However, we are knowledgeable and keen to use construction methods such as straw bale construction, hemp/lime, earth construction, as well as using materials such as cork, clay plasters, woodfibre and timber construction.
How much do I need to be involved?