I've got an ancient, decaying sheet asbestos garage which I want to replace.
The thing is, I don't really want an off-the shelf standard garage. The new
garage could be non-rectangular to make better use of the shape of the
garden, plus I want a workshop area at the end and I want a single pitch
roof.
It seems OTT to pay an architect for something like this but maybe that's
the way to go - has anyone got experience with bespoke garages and will it
cost the proverbial pair of limbs if I do have to get an architect in?

Alan
--
email ~= s/nospam//

"Alan" wrote in message
o.uk...
I've got an ancient, decaying sheet asbestos garage which I want to
replace.
The thing is, I don't really want an off-the shelf standard garage. The
new
garage could be non-rectangular to make better use of the shape of the
garden, plus I want a workshop area at the end and I want a single pitch
roof.
It seems OTT to pay an architect for something like this but maybe that's
the way to go - has anyone got experience with bespoke garages and will it
cost the proverbial pair of limbs if I do have to get an architect in?

You don't really need to pay for any professionals - if you know how to do
it yourself. But that's the problem I guess. If you try from a zero
knowledge standpoint, you will fall into all sorts of pitfalls that would be
avoided if you did get a pro in.

From our rather more simple conversion, if I did any one thing differently,
it would have been to speak to the council BCO earlier. He was full of
excellent advice, which led to simpler and cheaper, but equally good
standard work than what was specified by the architect.

As regards the architect - the main things that he is going to do, which you
may struggle with, are the planning application and Building Regs stuff.
Whilst the builders I saw were great at building, they were not really 'sit
down at a computer and prepare plans' people.

Also - if you went ahead with only the sketchiest of ideas of what to do,
you have no recourse when the builder doesn't meet that.

To be honest, for what you describe, I doubt that an architect would really
cost that much. Do know any retired ones?

JW

In an earlier contribution to this discussion, Alan
wrote:
I've got an ancient, decaying sheet asbestos garage which I want to
replace. The thing is, I don't really want an off-the shelf standard
garage. The new garage could be non-rectangular to make better use of
the shape of the garden, plus I want a workshop area at the end and I
want a single pitch roof.
It seems OTT to pay an architect for something like this but maybe
that's the way to go - has anyone got experience with bespoke garages
and will it cost the proverbial pair of limbs if I do have to get an
architect in?

Alan

If you know what you want, could you draw your own plans? I did!

If you need someone to draw the plans, look for an architectural technician
rather than an architect - they're a lot cheaper! You'll probably find a few
advertising in your local free paper. One of those will draw the plans you
need for planning permission, and for building regs approval - if needed.

If it's free-standing (i.e. not joined to the house), less than 30 M^2 floor
area, and made of non-combustible materials, it's probably exempt from
building regs - but you'll likely still need planning permission.

It's well worth having a word with the Planning and Building Control
departments at your local council. If they're like mine, they will be very
helpful, and advise you how to proceed with getting the necessary
permissions.
--
Cheers,
Roger
_______
Please reply to Newsgroup. Whilst email address is valid, it is seldom
checked.

Alan wrote:
I've got an ancient, decaying sheet asbestos garage which I want to
replace. The thing is, I don't really want an off-the shelf standard
garage. The new garage could be non-rectangular to make better use of
the shape of the garden, plus I want a workshop area at the end and I
want a single pitch roof.
It seems OTT to pay an architect for something like this but maybe
that's the way to go - has anyone got experience with bespoke garages
and will it cost the proverbial pair of limbs if I do have to get an
architect in?

Alan

'non-rectangular' is going to cause problems, cost a fortune and quite
probably look hideous.

You don't say what area you want to utilise, but can't you have a standard
garage and then build the workshop onto the back of it? - or build an
oversized garage and partiotion a space off as a workshop?

--
Phil L
RSRL Tipster Of The Year 2008

In an earlier contribution to this discussion, Phil L
wrote:

'non-rectangular' is going to cause problems, cost a fortune and quite
probably look hideous.


There are lots of ways of being 'non rectangular'. Something L-shaped would
probably be ok. I doubt whether the OP had anything too esoteric in mind.
--
Cheers,
Roger
_______
Please reply to Newsgroup. Whilst email address is valid, it is seldom
checked.

On 04/04/2010 17:10, Phil L wrote:

'non-rectangular' is going to cause problems, cost a fortune and quite
probably look hideous.

:-)

We've got a trapezoidal bit of the house, and had it fairly
comprehensively rebuilt a few years back. It looks ok, but the joiners
doing the roof didn't realise that you need a slope on one of the eaves
otherwise you end up with a curved roof (assuming ridge parallel to one
of the walls). Fortunately I was able to point the architect at them,
who were a little more persuasive than I was.

On Apr 5, 2:30 am, Alan wrote:
I've got an ancient, decaying sheet asbestos garage which I want to replace.
The thing is, I don't really want an off-the shelf standard garage. The new
garage could be non-rectangular to make better use of the shape of the
garden, plus I want a workshop area at the end and I want a single pitch
roof.
It seems OTT to pay an architect for something like this but maybe that's
the way to go - has anyone got experience with bespoke garages and will it
cost the proverbial pair of limbs if I do have to get an architect in?

My architect says that he always "saves his fee", i.e. without him it
would have cost me more in stuffups and problems with the council.
I used an architect for a carport! It was certainly unusual (and
simple and cheap).

"Roger Mills" wrote in message
...
In an earlier contribution to this discussion, Alan
wrote:
I've got an ancient, decaying sheet asbestos garage which I want to
replace. The thing is, I don't really want an off-the shelf standard
garage. The new garage could be non-rectangular to make better use of
the shape of the garden, plus I want a workshop area at the end and I
want a single pitch roof.
It seems OTT to pay an architect for something like this but maybe
that's the way to go - has anyone got experience with bespoke garages
and will it cost the proverbial pair of limbs if I do have to get an
architect in?

Alan

If you know what you want, could you draw your own plans? I did!

If you need someone to draw the plans, look for an architectural
technician rather than an architect - they're a lot cheaper! You'll
probably find a few advertising in your local free paper. One of those
will draw the plans you need for planning permission, and for building
regs approval - if needed.

If it's free-standing (i.e. not joined to the house), less than 30 M^2
floor area, and made of non-combustible materials, it's probably exempt
from building regs - but you'll likely still need planning permission.

It's well worth having a word with the Planning and Building Control
departments at your local council. If they're like mine, they will be very
helpful, and advise you how to proceed with getting the necessary
permissions.

http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/eng...noutbuildings/

If you keep the roof height down you don't even need planning permission.

"Matty F" wrote in message
...
On Apr 5, 2:30 am, Alan wrote:
I've got an ancient, decaying sheet asbestos garage which I want to
replace.
The thing is, I don't really want an off-the shelf standard garage. The
new
garage could be non-rectangular to make better use of the shape of the
garden, plus I want a workshop area at the end and I want a single pitch
roof.
It seems OTT to pay an architect for something like this but maybe that's
the way to go - has anyone got experience with bespoke garages and will
it
cost the proverbial pair of limbs if I do have to get an architect in?

My architect says that he always "saves his fee", i.e. without him it
would have cost me more in stuffups and problems with the council.
I used an architect for a carport! It was certainly unusual (and
simple and cheap).

Possibly advertise for a retired or whatever architect on gumtree. Its free

On Apr 5, 9:39*am, "David WE Roberts"
wrote:
http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/eng...gwork/projects...
If you keep the roof height down you don't even need planning permission.

Have they dropped the requirement for sheds to be "substantially non-
combustible" if within 0.5m or 1m of the boundary?

On Mon, 5 Apr 2010 17:00:15 +0100, "SS"
wrote:
"Matty F" wrote in message
...
On Apr 5, 2:30 am, Alan wrote:
I've got an ancient, decaying sheet asbestos garage which I want to
replace.
The thing is, I don't really want an off-the shelf standard garage. The
new
garage could be non-rectangular to make better use of the shape of the
garden, plus I want a workshop area at the end and I want a single pitch
roof.
It seems OTT to pay an architect for something like this but maybe that's
the way to go - has anyone got experience with bespoke garages and will
it
cost the proverbial pair of limbs if I do have to get an architect in?

My architect says that he always "saves his fee", i.e. without him it
would have cost me more in stuffups and problems with the council.
I used an architect for a carport! It was certainly unusual (and
simple and cheap).

Possibly advertise for a retired or whatever architect on gumtree. Its free


It's free? For how long? Isn't Gumtree owned by eBay?

On 4 Apr, 15:30, Alan wrote:
I've got an ancient, decaying sheet asbestos garage which I want to replace.
The thing is, I don't really want an off-the shelf standard garage. The new
garage could be non-rectangular to make better use of the shape of the
garden, plus I want a workshop area at the end and I want a single pitch
roof.
It seems OTT to pay an architect for something like this but maybe that's
the way to go - has anyone got experience with bespoke garages and will it
cost the proverbial pair of limbs if I do have to get an architect in?

Alan
--
email ~= s/nospam//

Think what you want is an architectural technician, he/she will be
familiar with building regs etc but cheaper than fully qualified
architect, find them in paper and gumtree etc under titles like Plans
Drawn .

Gumtree is getting expensive since ebay bought it, bump an ad 1.50
etc

Cheers
Adam

"Adam Aglionby" wrote in message
...
On 4 Apr, 15:30, Alan wrote:
I've got an ancient, decaying sheet asbestos garage which I want to
replace.
The thing is, I don't really want an off-the shelf standard garage. The
new
garage could be non-rectangular to make better use of the shape of the
garden, plus I want a workshop area at the end and I want a single pitch
roof.
It seems OTT to pay an architect for something like this but maybe that's
the way to go - has anyone got experience with bespoke garages and will
it
cost the proverbial pair of limbs if I do have to get an architect in?

Alan
--
email ~= s/nospam//

Think what you want is an architectural technician, he/she will be
familiar with building regs etc but cheaper than fully qualified
architect, find them in paper and gumtree etc under titles like Plans
Drawn .

Gumtree is getting expensive since ebay bought it, bump an ad 1.50
etc

Cheers
Adam

Every couple of days just delete your ad and repost to bump up for free.
I keep the ad on a word document and just copy/paste into gumtree.
Only takes a couple of minutes.

On Tue, 6 Apr 2010 11:42:39 +0100, "SS"
wrote:


"Adam Aglionby" wrote in message

Gumtree is getting expensive since ebay bought it, bump an ad 1.50
etc

Cheers
Adam

Every couple of days just delete your ad and repost to bump up for free.
I keep the ad on a word document and just copy/paste into gumtree.
Only takes a couple of minutes.


I feel sure that eBay will find a way of preventing that in future.

On 6 Apr, 18:14, Bruce wrote:
On Tue, 6 Apr 2010 11:42:39 +0100, "SS"
wrote:



"Adam Aglionby" wrote in message

Gumtree is getting expensive since ebay bought it, bump an ad *1.50
etc

Cheers
Adam

Every couple of days just delete your ad and repost to bump up for free.
I keep the ad on a word document and just copy/paste into gumtree.
Only takes a couple of minutes.

I feel sure that eBay will find a way of preventing that in future.

Already do , in certain categogeries, it will repost but buried pages
down listings, seems to be more than just identical text, so a use for
al those free sims....

Cheers
Adam

David WE Roberts wrote:


"Roger Mills" wrote in message
...
In an earlier contribution to this discussion, Alan
wrote:
I've got an ancient, decaying sheet asbestos garage which I want to
replace. The thing is, I don't really want an off-the shelf standard
garage. The new garage could be non-rectangular to make better use of
the shape of the garden, plus I want a workshop area at the end and I
want a single pitch roof.
It seems OTT to pay an architect for something like this but maybe
that's the way to go - has anyone got experience with bespoke garages
and will it cost the proverbial pair of limbs if I do have to get an
architect in?

Alan

If you know what you want, could you draw your own plans? I did!

If you need someone to draw the plans, look for an architectural
technician rather than an architect - they're a lot cheaper! You'll
probably find a few advertising in your local free paper. One of those
will draw the plans you need for planning permission, and for building
regs approval - if needed.

If it's free-standing (i.e. not joined to the house), less than 30 M^2
floor area, and made of non-combustible materials, it's probably exempt
from building regs - but you'll likely still need planning permission.

It's well worth having a word with the Planning and Building Control
departments at your local council. If they're like mine, they will be
very helpful, and advise you how to proceed with getting the necessary
permissions.


http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/eng...noutbuildings/

If you keep the roof height down you don't even need planning permission.

It's not the floor plan that bothers me it's the roof joists etc. I could
live with a rectangular shape, it just wouldn't maximise the use of the
available space.
What sort of configuration and materials would I need for a single-pitch
roof etc.? I'm not in the business so I don't know what's available.

Alan

--
email ~= s/nospam//

In an earlier contribution to this discussion, Alan
wrote:
David WE Roberts wrote:


"Roger Mills" wrote in message
...
In an earlier contribution to this discussion, Alan
wrote:
I've got an ancient, decaying sheet asbestos garage which I want to
replace. The thing is, I don't really want an off-the shelf
standard garage. The new garage could be non-rectangular to make
better use of the shape of the garden, plus I want a workshop area
at the end and I want a single pitch roof.
It seems OTT to pay an architect for something like this but maybe
that's the way to go - has anyone got experience with bespoke
garages and will it cost the proverbial pair of limbs if I do have
to get an architect in?

Alan

If you know what you want, could you draw your own plans? I did!

If you need someone to draw the plans, look for an architectural
technician rather than an architect - they're a lot cheaper! You'll
probably find a few advertising in your local free paper. One of
those will draw the plans you need for planning permission, and for
building regs approval - if needed.

If it's free-standing (i.e. not joined to the house), less than 30
M^2 floor area, and made of non-combustible materials, it's
probably exempt from building regs - but you'll likely still need
planning permission.

It's well worth having a word with the Planning and Building Control
departments at your local council. If they're like mine, they will
be very helpful, and advise you how to proceed with getting the
necessary permissions.


http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/eng...noutbuildings/

If you keep the roof height down you don't even need planning
permission.

It's not the floor plan that bothers me it's the roof joists etc. I
could live with a rectangular shape, it just wouldn't maximise the
use of the available space.
What sort of configuration and materials would I need for a
single-pitch roof etc.? I'm not in the business so I don't know
what's available.

Alan


Exactly what shape of footprint do you have in mind. It's impossible to
advise without knowing what shape it has to be. All you've said so far is
'non-rectangular' - which leaves a lot of options!
--
Cheers,
Roger
_______
Please reply to Newsgroup. Whilst email address is valid, it is seldom
checked.

Roger Mills wrote:

In an earlier contribution to this discussion, Alan
wrote:
David WE Roberts wrote:


"Roger Mills" wrote in message
...
In an earlier contribution to this discussion, Alan
wrote:
I've got an ancient, decaying sheet asbestos garage which I want to
replace. The thing is, I don't really want an off-the shelf
standard garage. The new garage could be non-rectangular to make
better use of the shape of the garden, plus I want a workshop area
at the end and I want a single pitch roof.
It seems OTT to pay an architect for something like this but maybe
that's the way to go - has anyone got experience with bespoke
garages and will it cost the proverbial pair of limbs if I do have
to get an architect in?

Alan

If you know what you want, could you draw your own plans? I did!

If you need someone to draw the plans, look for an architectural
technician rather than an architect - they're a lot cheaper! You'll
probably find a few advertising in your local free paper. One of
those will draw the plans you need for planning permission, and for
building regs approval - if needed.

If it's free-standing (i.e. not joined to the house), less than 30
M^2 floor area, and made of non-combustible materials, it's
probably exempt from building regs - but you'll likely still need
planning permission.

It's well worth having a word with the Planning and Building Control
departments at your local council. If they're like mine, they will
be very helpful, and advise you how to proceed with getting the
necessary permissions.



http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/eng...noutbuildings/

If you keep the roof height down you don't even need planning
permission.

It's not the floor plan that bothers me it's the roof joists etc. I
could live with a rectangular shape, it just wouldn't maximise the
use of the available space.
What sort of configuration and materials would I need for a
single-pitch roof etc.? I'm not in the business so I don't know
what's available.

Alan


Exactly what shape of footprint do you have in mind. It's impossible to
advise without knowing what shape it has to be. All you've said so far is
'non-rectangular' - which leaves a lot of options!

The area would allow for something about 9m long but with a front wall/door
of 2.5-3m and a rear of 4-5m (possibly with a removable section to allow a
small digger through if needed). If the trapezoid shape is a real problem
then just a a 3mx9m rectangle would do.
I do want to maximize the open space in the roof space for storage purposes
though - after all what are garages for (surely not for putting cars in)?

Alan
--
email ~= s/nospam//

"Alan" wrote in message
o.uk...
I've got an ancient, decaying sheet asbestos garage which I want to
replace.
The thing is, I don't really want an off-the shelf standard garage. The
new
garage could be non-rectangular to make better use of the shape of the
garden, plus I want a workshop area at the end and I want a single pitch
roof.
It seems OTT to pay an architect for something like this but maybe that's
the way to go - has anyone got experience with bespoke garages and will it
cost the proverbial pair of limbs if I do have to get an architect in?




I did a house extension on what is called a Building Notice. You still pay
Building Control but you don't need formal plans or specification. They
visit at each key stage and advise on the next stage. Worth asking about.

mark