Are you ready for the fourth stage? (Technical design, preparation and getting quotes from builders)

​By now you have had your house extension approved by Planning. Congratulations!
As we promised we will guide you through to the end. Before starting on site, there
are a few more things to be done and decided on! We need to answer and investigate
​the questions below one by one: 

1- DO YOU NEED BUILDING REGULATIONS APPLICATIONS?

​For more information please open the Building Regulation Applications blog post

2- IF YES, WHICH BUILDING REGULATION APPLICATION DO YOU WANT TO USE?

​For more information please open the Building Regulation Applications blog post

​3-DO WE NEED MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SITE TO PREPARE THE BUILDING REGULATIONS DRAWINGS? ​

​The following factors will be discussed with you while we are preparing Building Regulation Drawings:

• Soil type: This will be needed to design the foundation. It can be found out from your local council, your neighbours or digging a trial hole. 
• Close by trees:  This will also affect the foundation. Can we remove it? Is the planning application needed? (Conservation area, listed building, TPO)
• Drainage investigation: MH depth, any public sewer on site. You may need a Build over Agreement. Please see our Builder over agreement page. You will be informed of this is when the application is approved with a condition. Drainage can affect the foundation and building size. 
• Roof type: Which roof contraction will be used for new extension? A traditional cut roof or a truss roof.
• Existing structure: Sometimes it is essential to know load bearing walls, joists directions, adequate foundation under load bearing walls, existing roofs, existing beams, existing foundations before making changes to the structure. We may ask you to lift floor boards, opening on walls, dig a trial hole next to a wall and cut ceiling joists to get the information we needed. Otherwise, we will have to make assumptions; it can be costly and cause on site delays.  
• Is there any asbestos on the site? If so, asbestos should be removed by a licensed contractor

4-DO YOU NEED A PARTY WALL AGREEMENT? ​

The client must find out whether the works falls under Party wall Act if: the building work involves work on existing walls which is shared with another property; or building on a boundary with neighbouring property; or Excavating near a neighbouring building. If it does, the Act requires the client to notify all affected neighbours of the proposed works. Please click here to read more about The Party Wall Act

5-DO YOU NEED TO NOTIFY THE HEALTH AND SAFETY EXECUTIVE AND FILL IN F10 FORM? ​

All parties are assumed to be aware of their responsibilities under the Construction Design and Management (CDM) regulations 2015. If you are unsure of this please contact the architect. The client will need to appoint (in writing) the principal contractor. Principal contractor is required to plan, manage and coordinate the construction work. The client MUST make sure the principal contractor filled in F10 Form and sends the notifications. Click here to learn more about CDM Regulations and to fill in the F10 form.

If there is more than one contractor, the client MUST fill in and send the F10 form before the contraction phase begins. 
​
When is a construction project 'notifiable'?
A construction project is notifiable if the construction work is expected to:

• last longer than 30 working days and have more than 20 workers working at the same time at any point on the project
• exceed 500 person days

6-HAVE YOU CHECKED THE INSURANCES?

​The client should make sure the contractor has public liability insurance. If there is more than one contractor, the client will need two policies; public liability covering risks to the public and employers liability which covers you should someone working for you have an accident. Also existing house insurance policies should cover building work.

​7-HAVE YOU NOTIFIED THE BUILDING CONTROL THAT YOU ARE STARTING ON SITE?

​This needs to be done 2 days before you start on site and it can be done online. Please see Building regulation application blog for more information.

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