Building a garage

[Hendrix55]

We are thinking of adding a garage to our house.  Where do we start? Do we need an architect to draw a plan?

[smudge]

We engaged an architect for drawings of our garage, then asked the council for planning permission - thankfully it was granted. Have fun!

[zmudge]

Architect's are very expensive things to employ and unless you are after a garage to look like The Gherkin not worth the cost. Architectural Designers and Building Technicians (who advertise in the local papers and Yellow Pages) are more than adequately qualified to design a garage and a jolly site less expensive. Whoever you appoint will prepare the necessary Plans, Elevations and Specifications and see it all through until Planning Permission and Building Regulation Approval has been obtained (including any necessary amendments from the original scheme). You will have an option for the person/firm you appoint to continue after PP and BRA and prepare documents on the basis of which you can invite a number of builders to submit competitive quotations, and a further option for the person/firm to supervise the work after you have appointed a builder.

[smudge]

The independant achitect we used wasn't that expensive Hendrix & he produced just what we asked for.

However, the builder we contacted via the Yellow Pages, turned out to be unsatisfactory! Our plans showed a pitched roof, but he kept insisting that it would be easier to build a flat one! We realised that he couldn't read the plans, so didn't engage him to carry out the work.

We then engaged a recommended builder who did the job to perfection.

I'm not saying that all builders from the Yellow Pages are not up to scratch, just feel that it's sometimes best to go by recommendations.

[Octavius]

A building surveyor can do this, get a few quotes before appointing someone.

[Hendrix55]

Many thanks for your help.  I  now feel prepared to commission my new Gherkin garage...

[Octavius]

As long as it's not a Shard of Garage....