Using an architect to assess feasibility of your renovation project

Architect involvement in your renovation project

You have seen that it is not usual to have a complete survey of a property done before purchase, although occasionally it is still advised.

You might also like to discuss your project with an architect at this stage rather than after you have purchased the property.

Although an architect is usually involved later on, when plans need to be drawn up for the project (a requirement of planning permission for projects having more than 170 square metres of floor space) it is less common before the purchase.

But if you have questions about the feasibility of the project that you are planning, it would be best to resolve them early on. Such queries might include:

- Will the existing building support the weight of the new roof?

- Is the ground where you are planning to build a large extension secure enough to support the building?

- Is the budget that you have sufficient for the project that you are planning?

Depending on your circumstances, and the size of your project, of course, none of the questions may apply.

We have never personally used an architect at this stage, but that is in part because it never occurred to us to wonder whether the building was strong enough to support the new roof we planned. We simply assumed, through our ignorance, that if there was an existing roof, then why not a new roof? That ignorance subsequently caused us some difficulties (not insurmountable), and we may act differently in future.

On balance, if you have any doubts, it is better to spend a few hundred euros up front to find out if your project is feasible, rather than wait until you have actually bought the property.

It goes without saying that I would use a local architect with experience of local techniques and conditions.