5 Key decisions that could shape your build

Get a professional designer. They can help in several ways. Although we can design the oak frame, an architect will look at your home as a whole. You might need to make other alterations to the existing house to make an extension work properly for your needs. You might need to upgrade heating systems to heat the extended living space. An architect will look at the practical as well as the aesthetics of the design as a whole. For outbuildings they will consider the building setting, over shadowing or overlooking issues and whether the overall design complements the surrounding architecture.

In addition, they will help with gaining any planning permissions that might be required. They will have experience with your local authority and can guide you on what could be acceptable and provide all the plans and supporting documentation to support the application.

Further more, although we can quote/estimate costs for the oak frame, they can give you an indication of budget for the rest of the works required and then their construction plans will have enough information on them to enable a builder to quote too.

Get several quotes. If you have architect’s plans you can go to several builders and several oak frame suppliers for quotes. That way, the specification you want is clear and everyone will quote for the same design making comparing quotes easy.

Talk to your neighbours! We think it’s nice that you try and involve them at an early stage. The sight of a planning notice going up on the nearby gate post can send fear into some people and many people find it very difficult to read normal scaled plans. If you have full colour, 3D visualisations you can show your neighbours this is often a useful tool to explain your concept before submitting your application, if required, or starting the work.