CompoSimmonite
Member
- Messages
- 5,616
- Location
- Werrington, Stoke-on-Trent
Before I took another path for work I was intending being an architect and, whilst that was 40+ years ago, I've still fancied building a house of my own design.
Sister in law had a two storey extension build on their house a few years ago and I was surprised at some of the things they had to do to pass inspection. For example the window height matched the same as the other, upstairs, windows but now they were deemed too high so a step had to be built inside so the distance from the step to the window sill met current standard. Power socket and light switch height was another aspect as they needed to be accessible for a disabled person so light switched in extensions are lower and socket higher than the rest of the house ! There was also a problem with the ceiling height being upstairs being a few mm too low so the plasterboard had to all be removed and adjustments made to the joists.
Neighbour has built himself a bungalow at the bottom of the garden and he has also told me about all the hoops he had to jump though.
My "minds eye" design is probably classed as unconventional so I'd like to read as much as possible about what is allowable / possible before developing the idea further. Obviously I'd have to get a professional architect to then turn my design into working plans
BTW I'm thinking of adapting a new pre made steel framework of an agricultural building like small barn as the basic shell.
At the moment this is still just a dream but to fuel me further can anyone suggest where / how I can get information about home building design requirements, regulations and such in plain English ?
Cheers.
Sister in law had a two storey extension build on their house a few years ago and I was surprised at some of the things they had to do to pass inspection. For example the window height matched the same as the other, upstairs, windows but now they were deemed too high so a step had to be built inside so the distance from the step to the window sill met current standard. Power socket and light switch height was another aspect as they needed to be accessible for a disabled person so light switched in extensions are lower and socket higher than the rest of the house ! There was also a problem with the ceiling height being upstairs being a few mm too low so the plasterboard had to all be removed and adjustments made to the joists.
Neighbour has built himself a bungalow at the bottom of the garden and he has also told me about all the hoops he had to jump though.
My "minds eye" design is probably classed as unconventional so I'd like to read as much as possible about what is allowable / possible before developing the idea further. Obviously I'd have to get a professional architect to then turn my design into working plans
BTW I'm thinking of adapting a new pre made steel framework of an agricultural building like small barn as the basic shell.
At the moment this is still just a dream but to fuel me further can anyone suggest where / how I can get information about home building design requirements, regulations and such in plain English ?
Cheers.