Why Are AC Architects More Expensive?

This is a question we get asked often, and this article should hopefully provide a clear explanation.

We’ve been turning dream homes into a reality for 15 years, and in that time, we have carefully moulded our services to provide self-builders with everything they need for a successful project. This is factored into our fees.

We know this industry inside out, and we believe our approach can save homeowners time and money in the long run. In this article, we’ll show how we justify our fees here at ACA, and why our services are second-to-none when it comes to self-build:

A SERVICE TAILORED TO YOU

As a self-builder, you’ll need a considerable amount of information to hand when it’s time to go on-site. Our production pack contains details and information that are additional to a typical residential architect’s pack.

Our extensive work with self-builders means we know the common points of failure when it comes to building a home. Because of this, we ensure these elements have been considered, vetted and documented before you get to the site. This means your documentation is more complete, your project is de-risked and the inevitable surprises are minimised.

Any deviations from the initial drawings come at a higher cost when you’re on-site. This is why our design team prioritises those crucial initial stages with tools such as Virtual Reality and our 3D drawing package to ensure you are getting exactly what you want. We never progress to the next stage of the project until you are satisfied with your design.

There may be a higher upfront cost for our architectural services, but we believe that it equates to the money you’ll be saving by minimising the risk for changes on-site due either to a misunderstanding about the design or a lack of coordinated documentation.

To further aid in coordinated documentation, we work alongside the team of structural engineers at Allan Corfield Structures. This helps to bridge the gap between the structural engineer and the self-build client. Structural Engineers work hand in hand with our design team from the outset to create structurally sound and energy-efficient designs.

Regarding our fees, we always offer a fixed fee based on our calculation of how much work we believe your project will require. If we misjudge our initial calculation and realise your project needs more time, we will not come back and ask for more money. We would only ever charge more money for additional works out with the agreed scope. This additional fee would be agreed in advance. This helps to make our costs clear from the beginning of the project and makes calculating the cost of your professional fees less complicated.

You can find out more about self-build architect fees in our article here.

A HOME THAT PRIORITISES PERFORMANCE

It’s the job of your self-build team to build your dream home to the current building regulations. At AC Architects, we design homes to be better than the current regulations. The ‘Fabric First’ approach (the prioritisation of the performance of your building envelope) is the absolute minimum for our projects.

Our buildings are built to maximise performance through basic early design considerations and quality materials which in turn minimises energy load resulting in reduced running costs and efficiency of low-energy technologies. We have trusted partners who are qualified specialists able to provide our clients assistance with elements such as Sustainable Drainage Systems (SUDS) and the use of MVHR systems in our homes.

Our service package provides SAP calculations, EPC and PHPP Calculations (if you are aiming for Passive House standard) in-house to allow us to continually review the calculations throughout the design process and make the goal of building an energy-efficient home easier to achieve.

It’s no secret that energy prices are skyrocketing, which means owning an energy-efficient home is an essential motivator for self-builders. This additionally means that your home EPC rating is going to gather more attention from potential buyers in the future. A high-performing home reduces your running costs and simultaneously increases your home's value.

OUR VAST EXPERIENCE IN THE INDUSTRY

The self-build industry is ever-changing. Energy requirements are becoming more stringent. Building regulations are becoming more rigorous. Materials continue to fluctuate in cost. Whether you’re undertaking a new build, extending your property or renovating, you’re going to need an experienced team behind you.

We’ve spoken to thousands of self-builders, completed over 500 projects and helped to design dream homes in the most difficult of circumstances. We have a solid team of architects, technicians, technologists and structural engineers who can all offer a unique insight into your project. Alongside the traditional parts of an architect’s role, we work to assist and educate the self-builder throughout the build process.

A self-build is all about building relationships, which is why we’ve built up a strong network of self-build professionals in the years we’ve been practising, ranging from kit suppliers, project managers, mortgage advisors and a variety of quality tradespeople. With the low-energy market becoming more crowded, it can be difficult to differentiate between who is providing a quality service and who is just chasing the latest trend. A self-build team is only as strong as its weakest member, and we can work to put you in contact with the right people.

OUR KNOWLEDGE OF MODERN CONSTRUCTION METHODS

Since the beginning of our practice, we’ve looked at ways to ensure quality standards are met during construction. An effective means to achieve this is through the use of modern methods of construction. These methods ensure a high level of quality and consideration given to the thermal performance. Due to their off-site fabrication, they rely less on workmanship than traditional on-site construction methods.

Some Architects swear by traditional methods of construction. You can achieve a high-quality home with traditional build methods, but it can be challenging to achieve the level of detailing required unless you are experienced to know what to look out for and have the time to be on-site regularly.

Our practice works closely with many companies that supply modern construction methods, such as Timber Frame, SIPs (Structural Insulated Panels) and ICF (Insulated Concrete Formwork). These systems match our ethos of Longevity and Sustainability, all while following the ‘Fabric First’ Approach. We’ve been detailing these modern methods of construction for 15 years, and continually educate ourselves on their best practices through CPD and other industry experts.

A designer who isn’t as knowledgeable in these methods may be cheaper but could miss potential issues in the design until it is too late. Our team regularly picks up these issues when reviewing production drawings and coordinates with the builder and kit supplier to amend them before any remedial work is required.

From a construction cost standpoint, using these modern methods does come at a slightly higher initial cost, but it's a return on investment you’re going to see in the years to come.

CHOOSE THE SELF BUILD EXPERTS

When it’s time to set out on your self-build adventure, choosing an architect will be one of the biggest decisions you're going to make. You can easily find a cheaper, more general practice to carry out your project, but ask yourself:

Are they going to understand you as a self-builder?
Are they going to have a trusted network of specialists that your project can benefit from?
Are they going to deliver a carefully detailed, high-performance home?

These are questions you need to answer while you still have time.

Allan Corfield Architects is backed by a versatile, multifaceted and experienced team aiming to achieve the highest level in every element of our service. Our unique approach has been continually improved over the years to maximise performance and client satisfaction. Our fees may be slightly higher than other practices out there, but sometimes you have to spend a little more to save a lot.

It’s likely that you’re only going to do this once, so make sure it’s done right.