Tag: design

Architecture & Building

The advanced Leica 3D scanner in architecture

2nd February 20220

Here at Pro Arkitects we are using a state-of-the-art 3D Lazer scanner, to get the technical measurements of your property. If you are interested and want to find out more about the scanner and what it does, read on.     

What is a Leica 3D scanner?  

Leica 3D laser scanning software suite sets the industry standard to capture, visualise, extract, analyse, share, and represent point cloud data. They deliver outstanding range, speed, and the highest quality of 3D data.  

What is 3D scanning?   

3D scanning is used widely in architecture and construction. It is a highly accurate method to capture the details of an existing building or construction site. Laser scanning can help designers visualize their designs by using real building data as a foundation. 

How does 3D scanning work? 

Specialised software drives the laser probe above the surface of the object. The laser probe projects a line of laser light, onto the surface while 2 sensor cameras record the changing distance and shape as it sweeps along the object.  

At pro arkitects we want to provide the best service that we can, and we achieve this by using the Leica scanner. Our drawings have become so much more detailed because the scanner captures accurate measurements and scans.  

Pros and cons of 3D scanning –   

Pros –   

  • Between 1 and 2 million points of measurable data is collected per second.   
  • It takes a fraction of the time compared to measuring by hand.   
  • You will get the drawings quicker.   
  • Helps design teams to save money.   
  • Increases professionalism of your project.  
  • Gives architects confidence in their work.  

Cons –   

  • The laser scanner is very expensive   
  • Errors could happen while the scanner is scanning   

How much does a Leica scanner cost? 

Laser scanners can be quite expensive. However, the level of detail and advanced technology they use. There are plenty of great entry-level options for a couple of thousands of pounds. Although, the mid-range 3D scanners tend to cost between £7,400 – £29,500. The very high-end scanners can reach up and over £737,000. 

Materials

The advantages and disadvantages of thermally modified wood

2nd February 20220

Thermally modified wood definition – 

Thermally modified wood is wood that has been modified by a controlled pyrolysis process of wood being heated. In absence of oxygen inducing some chemical changes to the chemical structures of cell wall components in the wood in order to increase its durability. 

How to modify the wood –

The wood is placed in a chamber and is gradually heated to 210 – 230 Celsius, and completely void of oxygen to prevent combustion.

The purpose of the wood –  

The bending strength of the wood is reduced during the heating process. So, thermally modified wood is not suitable for structural applications. It is commonly used for non-load-bearing applications such as decking, flooring, wall paneling. As well as ceilings, accent walls, and interior and exterior doors.  

the sustainability of modified wood – 

Going green has never been more crucial than it is now. The process of thermal modification involves zero chemicals, eliminating the harsh toxic substances, that are often in building materials. Sourcing the wood carefully and thoughtfully, while thinking about how to best optimize performance is key for sustainable growth.  

Advantages and disadvantages to using this wood –  

Advantages –  

  • Free of chemicals  

This process only heats and cures the wood. There are no harmful chemicals or toxins that go into the process. Chemicals in wood are dangerous to touch and breathe but you won’t have to worry about that with this wood.  

  • Sustainability  

The modification process will naturally create longer-lasting wood, which will lead to less deforestation in the future. Although, this is contributing to a sustainable building future. 

Disadvantages –  

  • More expensive  

As well as, the original lumber, you will also be paying for the modification process. However, the price will also depend on where you live and the type of wood that you use.  

  • Becomes brittle  

After heating the wood to such a high temperature, a popular complaint is that the wood becomes brittle. This has people wondering how stable the wood can actually be.  

  • Could burn faster 

Due to the low moisture content, the thermally modified wood could end up burning quicker and easier.  

Americana™ Thermally Modified Wood Decking

Contact us

Contact us
Loft Conversion

The best 2022 guide to a Velux loft conversion

28th January 20220

If you’re looking to gain extra space in your home, and want to add value to the property, then a loft conversion can be a great solution.  

What is a Velux loft conversion? 

A Velux loft conversion is when the shape of the existing roof is retained and Velux windows are installed into the rafters. The rafters will have to be cut depending on the size of the new windows, the inside of the roof space is fitted out to a carefully thought-out design. The name Velux is after a famous brand of loft windows.   

Will you need planning permission?  

Most loft conversions are considered permitted development, which means you won’t need to get planning permission as long as the building work fits certain criteria. So, if you’re looking to get a simple conversion with roof windows, you generally don’t need to worry. However, it is best to check just to be safe.  

How long does a this loft conversion take to complete? 

Velux loft conversions are usually completed in between 4 and 6 weeks since they are one of the simplest conversion types. 

Cost of a Velux loft conversion –  

The average cost for a Velux loft conversion is around £27,500. However, there are various things that will affect the cost such as: 

  • Size of windows 
  • Number of windows required 
  • Type of windows 
  • Head height and space of your loft 
  • Where you live 
  • Style and quality of finishings  

Velux windows –  

A Velux window is easier to install than a dormer window, and still provides a good amount of light to the space. The windows are paired with a number of modern features, such as: 

  • Electric operation  
  • Solar operation 
  • Top hung hinges  
  • Hundreds of blinds and shutter options  
  • Extra-large balcony windows 

How they can transform your home? 

Compared to other loft conversions, Velux requires less construction and hence low cost. The main addition in the loft will be the Velux windows to transform the space. Many of our clients have used this extra space for: 

  • Bedroom 
  • Home Office 
  • Living Room 
  • Bathroom 
  • Entertainment Room 

You see, there are lots of possibilities to transform this unliveable place into something useful for the whole family. Furthermore, the windows in the loft will allow for more natural light and ventilation. If you are living in a warm area, then you can use glass that prevents sunlight from entering. 

Contact us

Contact us
Advice Center

How close can you build to your boundary line?

27th January 20220

When planning a home extension or garden, it’s important to consider if planning permission is required. And then how close to the boundary line the build will be.  

What is a boundary line?  

A boundary is a line that divides one area from another. It may be called a border and defines the extent of one or more areas that are adjacent or in close proximity. Boundaries can be defined physically by coastlines, rivers, roads, walls, fences, and lines painted on the ground.  

How close to your boundary can you build? 

If you’re planning on building an extension of more than one storey, you cannot go beyond the boundary at the rear by more than 3 meters. However, this only applies when there is no other property on the land to the rear of your home.   

A general guideline shows that a build that reaches 2.1 meters is considered acceptable and anything over that  

How close can you build to the neighbour’s boundary?  

The party wall act allows an absolute right to build-up to the boundary between you and your neighbour. It also allows you to build astride the boundary line, but only with your neighbour’s consent. 

A householder planning application may be required, which takes into account the opinions of neighbours and any other parties that may be affected by the new build. You should talk with your neighbours throughout the process to reduce the risk of them rejecting any proposal.  

What is the process for building on the boundary (party wall)? 

If you want to build a wall or garden wall astride the boundary wall, you must tell your neighbour. You can do this by serving a notice, called a party wall notice. You must also inform the adjoining owner if you plan to build a wall only on your land but up against the boundary line. However, if you have a party wall agreement, your neighbour can’t prevent you from building such a wall.  

Permitted development boundary lines –  

If the proposed build falls within permitted development rights, then the council must approve it. As long as it meets the required regulations. For example, a detached new build must have a maximum eaves height of 3m and a total maximum height of 4m.  

Contact us

Contact us
Extensions

Everything there is to know about wraparound extensions

27th January 20220

A wraparound extension is a great way to add space to the rear of the house for an open-plan design. Here’s what you need to know.  

What is a wraparound extension?  

Wraparound extensions are essentially a hybrid of side and rear extensions which form an L-shape at the back of the property. By maximising the space to the side and extending to the rear, the wraparound extension gives you an impressive extension that will transform how you live.  

Why choose a wraparound extension?  

With this type of extension, you can extend into the side alley of your house, if you have one. Meaning you won’t have to extend that far into your garden, which is ideal for people who have a small outside area.  

Here are some other advantages of an L-shape extension: 

  • Opens up your kitchen area 
  • Brings more light into your home 
  • Plenty of design options 
  • Allows better connection to the garden 
  • Allows space for new rooms.  

Would you need planning permission?  

It is likely that you would need planning permission for a wraparound extension. While a small side return extension and a rear extension may be possible under permitted development, there might be restrictions for joining them together.  

Permitted development rules that would apply to both the side and rear elements of wraparound extensions include: 

  • You can extend a detached property by 8m to the rear if it’s a single-storey extension. (6m for a semi or terraced house) 
  • An extension must not result in more than half the garden being covered 
  • Side extensions can only be single storey with a maximum height of 4m and a width no more than half of the original building.  

How much do they cost?  

There is no set price for a wraparound extension because every project is different and the costs vary. Averagely in London, you are looking at paying around £75,000 to £145,000, and outside of London, you can expect to pay £60,000 to £120,000.  

A few factors which will vary the prices are:  

  • Materials used. Some materials are more expensive to build with, due to their quality and accessibility.  
  • Structural work. The more structural work you have for your project will increase the construction budget.  
  • Contractors. Individual contractors are cheaper. However, they can be slower without the access to additional resources and relationships that you would like larger companies.  
How much does a wrap around extension cost? // Wrap around single storey extension

Contact us

Contact us
Architecture & Building

Advantages and disadvantages of coach houses

26th January 20220

What is a coach house?  

A coach house, also known as a carriage house is best described as an outbuilding or a house situated above a row of carports or garages. They were originally built before cars were around and were made to house horse-drawn carriages and the related tack. Although the days of horse and carriages are gone, this is a well sought out property to lease to tenants.  

Current usages –  

Since we don’t use horses and carriages nowadays, here is a list of modern usages:  

  • Apartments 
  • Guest houses 
  • Automobile garages  
  • Offices 
  • Workshops 
  • Retail shops  
  • Bars 
  • Restaurants  
  • Secondary homes 

How popular are coach houses?  

Coach houses aren’t a hugely popular property, but they are becoming more well known. If you’re a property buyer or investor, you may want to consider purchasing a coach house to rent out.  

Advantages and disadvantages of a coach house-  

Advantages  

  • Very affordable  

Coach houses are usually second dwellings, it allows the property owner to live in the main house while renting out the coach house. Because a coach house is attached to its garage, they are often cheaper all around than a property that has a detached garage or carport of the same size.  

  • Don’t live above any neighbours  

A great advantage of living in a coach house is that you don’t live above or below any neighbours. This means that you would never get a noise complaint, and you can be as loud as you like.   

  • Got get a bit of land 

Unlike flats or apartments, coach homes have yet to have some land because they are separate buildings. Having a garden space is important for some tenants to relax and unwind. If you are a landlord you may want to think about installing a garden for the coach house. A garden could be a Wishlist item for some tenants.  

  • Cost effective  

The money spent on taking care of a smaller space is a lot lesser than what’s required for a bigger space. You will spend less money on cooling, heating, and general home maintenance. You also won’t have enough space for unnecessary things when you go shopping.  

Disadvantages –  

  • Poorly insulated  

One of the biggest disadvantages is that they have a bad reputation of being difficult to heat and cool. Before jumping straight into buying the property you should check to see if the garage below is insulated.   

  • Hard to resell  

If your plan it to buy one of these houses and re-sell it you should rethink that idea. It will be far easier to rent out than to fully resell the property. This is due to the demand being lower than family homes, so these properties often sell below value. 

  • They are hard to insure 

They are hard to insure because they are a combination style building. Which makes comprehensive insurance difficult to get or much more expensive.  

Architecture & Building

How much does it cost to build a new house in 2022?

26th January 20220

Buying your first home is exciting, so just imagine the excitement of building your first home. Self-builds are becoming a popular trend in the UK, with more homeowners opting to build rather than buy. However, you should know how much your dream house is going to cost.  

Build cost factors –  

Here are several key factors which can affect the cost of building a house:  

  • Size 
  • Location 
  • Build quality 
  • Complications  
  • Design complexity  
  • How many storeys  
  • Professional services required 

Size of the house –  

The price of your project can vary majorly depending on the size and design of your proposed house. A great way to get a general estimate is to think about the cost to build a house per square metre. Averagely in the UK, you can expect to pay anything from £1,500 – £3,000 per m2.  

Location of where you want to build –  

The prices of building a house differ widely depending on the location. However, the closer to London you decide to build the more expensive the project will be. Central London is the most expensive area to build in, in the UK and the second-highest priced in the world. If you are looking for the cheapest areas in the UK to build a home, you should look in the North West and Scotland. Prices average between £99,000 – £160,000 for a new build.  

Build quality –  

The materials you choose to use and the finish you want will have a big impact on the price of your project. However, the prices of materials have been increasing rapidly over the last year and in 2022. This is because of a supply and demand issue caused by lockdowns and Brexit. This means you may have to pay a little extra for certain materials. 

Complications –  

When it comes to a new project it is always good to have a plan and a budget just in case anything goes wrong. There are many potential complications that can arise during a build. This can happen during the planning stage, or when the building work is underway, which is why it is important to have a contingency plan.  

Design complexity –  

It is common knowledge that the more complex your design is, the more the price will increase. More complex designs take longer to build meaning you will need to pay more for contractors. Also, your architect’s fees will be higher because they have to spend more time on your drawings.  

The number of storeys –  

The more storeys you design your property to have, the more the price will increase. A single-storey property will be cheaper to build than a two or three-storey house. However, the size, shape, and location of the plot will decide how many storeys you can build. 

Professional services –  

You will also need to budget for an architect, project manager, and contractors. The industry’s standard fees for professional services range from 1% to 15% of the total cost, depending on the scale of the job.  

Image: https://www.redrow.co.uk/houses/cobden-gardens-hauxton-meadow-222361/cambridge-dcc4
Architecture & Building

Understanding the anatomy of a roof part 2

25th January 20220

When it comes to the roof of your home, there are quite a few components. Here you can gain an understanding of all of the details that make up a roof.   

Fascia –  

Firstly, a fascia is the attractive board along the side of the overhang and helps your roof appear finished. They are used to secure the gutters to the roof and keep them in place. Fascias also block water from penetrating the roof deck and coming into your home.  

How is a fascia attached? The fascia board is nailed to the rafter feet and usually has a rebate or lip for the soffit boards to slot into. They are then either fixed to a batten that is attached to the brickwork or sat on top of the last course of brickwork.  

Soffit –  

The soffit is the part of the overhang where your roof meets your siding. When rain or snow hits your roof, it runs down, and the overhang allows the water to flow away from your house. Soffit outlining the roofline allows for continuous ventilation and is one of the most effective ways to ventilate a loft.  

Where is the soffit on a house? The soffit is the material beneath the eave that connects the far edge of your roof to the exterior wall of your house. Besides being underneath your eaves, soffits can also be on the underside of a porch.  

Gutters –  

Guttering is a small thin trough that is used to collect water from your roof and completes the roofing protection system. It is used to direct rainwater away from the base of the building which helps protect the foundation. For a house to be complete, it needs a gutter system to function properly.  

Downspout –  

A downspout is a lightweight tube that extends vertically from the gutter trough to the ground. They exist to direct excess rainwater away from your home in a controlled manner. In addition, it is an important element of any gutter system that helps prevent soil erosion and damage to the property’s foundation.  

Flashing –  

Finally, flashing is a crucial roofing material that every roof needs to have. It is a sheet of thin metal material used to prevent water penetration or seepage into a building. Without flashing a roof would almost certainly develop leaks in sensitive areas.  

Contact us

Contact us
Loft Conversion

Adding a dormer to an existing loft conversion

25th January 20220

There are two reasons why people may want to do this: 

  • People buy a house with an existing roofline conversion and decide they want to upgrade the loft accommodation. They might do this to make the space larger, brighter and, perhaps change the interior usage.  
  • Secondly, the loft conversion is planned in two stages to spread the cost. Or because the demand for accommodation at that time is satisfied with a simpler roofline conversion. 

What is a dormer loft conversion? 

A dormer is a box-like structure with vertical walls which come out from the roof slope. They can vary in size and style. In addition, dormers are commonly used to increase the usable space in a loft and to create window openings in the roof.  

Do you need planning permission to add dormers to an existing loft conversion? 

The same planning deliberations will apply to the upgrade just like if you were to start from scratch. If your loft conversion was built under permitted development, you shouldn’t assume that the dormer you’re adding will be as well. So, some points that may make you need planning permission are: 

  • How far the dormer windows project from the roof 
  • Whether the property is listed or in a conservation area.  
  • How much structural change is made to the appearance and height of the existing roof.  
  • The overall size of the loft conversion, the upgrade could make the conversion larger than the original design.  
  • Your neighbours are affected by your dormer. Either by being over shadowed or over looked.  
  • The dormer exceeds 40 square meters on a terraced house or 50 square meters on a semi-detached or detached house.  

Although, not all dormer conversions require planning permission. Your builder or architect will be able to advise you on whether your plans fall within permitted development rights.  

Advantages of adding a dormer –  

Dormer loft conversions are one of the most popular options when it comes to loft conversions. So, here are some advantages of adding them:  

  • They are suitable for almost every type and style of house. 
  • Dormers increase the head height and usable floor space.  
  • You can use any type of window to match the property. You aren’t confined to Velux windows or roof lights.  
  • Could add a small Juliet balcony 

How much would it cost?  

Finally, if you already have an existing loft conversion and you want to add a dormer, you should expect to pay upwards of £5000. However, this all depends on the size, style, and other factors when it comes to a dormer.  

Image: Nuprojects.co – Eige arbeid

Contact us

Contact us
Architecture & Building

How much does it cost to build Annexe?

24th January 20220

Firstly, a garden annexe can transform a family’s life. By giving the person living in the building closeness to their loved ones. Whilst maintaining the privacy of having their own space. It provides the best of both worlds, especially if the main property doesn’t have the space or privacy required to accommodate a family member.   

What is an annexe?  

An annexe is a building joined to or associated with the main building, providing additional space or accommodation. It’s a self-contained living space featuring a kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom. In addition, the outbuilding can be attached to the main property or housed in a converted outbuilding.  

Will you need an architect? 

While an architect isn’t essential when it comes to building an annexe because it is a project that you can DIY. However, you may want to hire an architect to help you with the planning and positioning process to make sure your project is legal and safe.  

Planning rules –  

An annexe is usually considered to be an outbuilding, which is defined as being incidental to the use of the property. This is important as it will dictate whether you need planning permission.  

The local authority is likely to have concerns over things such as:  

  • The overall size of the annexe in relation to the main house and size of your garden. 
  • The specification of the living accommodation needs to be considered ancillary to the main house to be an annexe.  
  • They will want to know the reason you want to build an annexe. And what long term plans you have for it.  

How much does it cost to build?  

On average it is estimated to cost between £68,000 to £140,000 to build an average-sized one. An annexe is known to add as much as 20-30% value to the property, so it is a great investment. People have also been known to rent out their annexes, which can be a good thing because the property owner is getting some more income.  

Contact us

Contact us