Do You Need An Architect For A Home Extension?
It’s usually one of the first questions that comes up once a family’s decided an extension is the answer. You’ve probably had the conversation more than once, stepping over toys or trying to find somewhere quiet for a work call, and landed on “we need more space.” Then straight away comes the follow up question: do we need to hire an architect, or can our builder handle all of that?
We get asked this a lot, and the honest answer is that it depends entirely on what you’re building. Some extensions genuinely need an architect’s input. Plenty don’t, and paying for one on a fairly standard project can add cost and time that simply isn’t necessary.
When You Probably Don’t Need One
For a straightforward single storey rear extension, a side return, or even many double storey extensions, a specialist design and build company can usually take on the whole thing without you needing a separate architect at all. This tends to hold true when the extension follows a sensible, practical footprint rather than anything structurally unusual.
At Convert Your Garage, our own team handles the design, the drawings and the Building Control submission as one continuous process. That means a single point of contact from your first phone call right through to the finished room, rather than trying to keep an architect, a builder and a Building Control officer all talking to each other. In our experience, that alone can save weeks off a project, simply because nothing gets lost in translation between different professionals.
One of the biggest misconceptions is that skipping an architect means skipping proper design. It doesn’t. It just means the design happens under one roof instead of several.
When An Architect Genuinely Earns Their Fee
There are projects where bringing in an architect makes real sense. If you’re picturing something architecturally bold, a large wraparound extension, unusual angles, floor to ceiling glazing that needs careful engineering, an architect’s experience in maximising light and flow on a tricky plot is worth paying for.
Listed buildings and conservation areas are another obvious example, and so is anyone who wants a home that looks genuinely unlike anyone else’s on the street, rather than a well built, practical space for family life. If that’s you, it’s worth having that specialist on board from day one.
Planning Permission Changes The Picture
Whether your extension needs full planning permission or falls under permitted development affects how much design work is actually required, regardless of who’s doing it. Many single storey rear extensions fall under permitted development, provided they stay within set size and height limits. Double storey extensions and larger builds are more likely to need a full planning application, which means more detailed drawings from the outset.
This is where experience really counts. We deal with planning departments across Greater Manchester every week, not once or twice a year, so we know what local officers expect to see on a submission. That familiarity tends to mean fewer requests for amendments and a smoother path through the system.
Don’t Confuse Architects With Structural Engineers
These two get mixed up constantly, and it’s worth untangling them. A structural engineer works out loads, beam sizes and foundation requirements, and their input is needed on almost every extension whether or not an architect is involved. It’s a non-negotiable part of Building Regulations approval, not an optional extra.
We arrange structural calculations as part of our service, so you’re never left trying to track down and manage a separate engineer on top of everything else you’re juggling.
What This Actually Means For Your Budget
Architect fees are typically calculated as a percentage of your build cost, and for a full service covering concept design through to construction, that can add a genuinely significant amount to your overall spend. For homeowners who want a well designed, practical extension rather than a highly individual architectural statement, working with a company that offers design and build under one roof is usually the smarter financial move.
If you already know roughly what you want, an open plan kitchen diner, an extra bedroom for a growing family, proper room to work from home instead of at the dining table, there’s a strong chance our in-house team can take that from first sketch to finished space without an outside architect ever needing to get involved.
If you’re trying to work out whether the numbers stack up, our guide on how much value an extension can add to your home is worth reading alongside this one.
What A Typical In-House Design Process Actually Looks Like
It usually starts with a free survey. We come out, take proper measurements, and spend time talking through what you actually want the space to do for you, not just what it should look like. From there, we produce initial layout drawings so you can picture how the extension will work before anything’s set in stone.
Once you’re happy, we move on to full technical drawings, structural calculations, and the Building Control submission. Because it’s all handled by the same team, changes are quick. If halfway through the design stage you decide you’d rather have wider doors onto the garden, or the media wall needs to move, that’s a conversation with the people actually building it, not a round trip through someone else’s diary.
Architect Vs In-House Design At A Glance
Every project is different, but here’s roughly how the two routes tend to compare for a fairly standard family extension.
In-House Design & BuildIndependent ArchitectCostDesign included in the overall build priceTypically a percentage of build cost, often 8 to 15 percentPoints of contactOne team from survey to completionArchitect, then a separate contractor to build itSpeedFaster, no handover between different professionalsCan take longer, especially if the architect and builder aren’t used to working togetherBest suited toStandard rear, side and double storey extensionsUnusual footprints, listed buildings, or a highly individual designStructural engineerArranged as part of the serviceUsually arranged separately, sometimes recommended by the architect
Neither route is automatically the right answer. It comes down to what you’re building, and whether cost and speed matter more to you than a completely individual design vision.
Common Misconceptions About Architects And Extensions
A lot of homeowners assume you legally need an architect for any extension. You don’t. Building Regulations, and where relevant planning permission, are the legal requirements, not the involvement of an architect specifically. An architect is a choice about how your drawings and design get produced, not a legal box you have to tick.
Another common misconception is that going the design and build route means a generic, cookie cutter layout. That hasn’t been our experience. Working with an in-house team simply means the design conversation happens with the people who’ll actually be laying the foundations, rather than with someone who then hands the job over to a separate contractor.
So, Do You Need One?
Here’s how we’d suggest thinking about it. If your project is a well proportioned family extension solving a genuine space problem, more room, more light, somewhere for everyone to actually spend time together, an architect probably isn’t necessary. If you’re chasing something architecturally striking on a genuinely difficult site, it’s worth having one involved.
Start with a free survey. Once we’ve seen your property and understood what you’re trying to achieve, we’ll tell you honestly whether our in-house service covers it, or whether your project would genuinely benefit from bringing in an architect. We’d rather give you a straight answer than talk you into a service you don’t need.
Questions Homeowners Often Ask Next
Once people have decided they probably don’t need a separate architect, a few follow up questions tend to come up straight away.
Can I use my own architect’s drawings with Convert Your Garage? Yes. If you’ve already had an architect draw up plans, we’re happy to quote and build from those. It’s a fairly common situation, particularly if you started the process before finding us.
What happens if planning permission gets refused? We manage the planning application as part of our service, and because we know what local officers expect to see, refusals are rare. If anything does come back, we’ll amend the drawings and resubmit rather than leaving you to navigate it alone.
How much do architects typically charge? Fees vary widely, but a full service from concept to construction is often quoted as a percentage of your build cost, commonly somewhere between 8 and 15 percent depending on the scope and complexity of the project.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Convert Your Garage design my extension without an architect?
Yes. Our in-house team handles design, drawings and Building Control submissions as standard, covering the vast majority of rear, side and double storey extensions we build.
Do I still need a structural engineer if I don’t use an architect?
Yes. Structural calculations are required for Building Regulations approval on almost every extension, and this is arranged as part of our service.
Will skipping an architect save me money?
In most cases, yes. Architect fees are usually calculated as a percentage of build cost, so a design and build service tends to be more cost-effective for straightforward projects.
How do I know if my extension needs full planning permission?
It depends on size, height and your property type. We assess this during your free survey and advise you clearly before any work begins.
What if I want a more unusual or ambitious design?
For architecturally complex projects, we’re happy to work alongside an architect you’ve appointed, or point you towards one if your vision needs that level of specialist design input.
Why Choose Convert Your Garage
Because our design service sits in-house, you’re not paying separately for an architect, a structural engineer’s coordination fee, and a builder who’s never worked with either of them before. Our team has taken hundreds of extensions from a rough idea at the kitchen table through to a finished, Building Control approved room, and we know exactly what Greater Manchester planning departments want to see on a submission. That means fewer delays, one point of contact throughout, and a finished extension backed by a 10 year warranty.
How To Contact Convert Your Garage
Convert Your Garage
Established in 2002
4,315+ completed garage conversions
33 industry awards
10 Year Warranty
If you’d like to talk through your project, we’re always happy to help, whether you’re ready to book a survey or still at the research stage.
Telephone:
0161 766 6518
Website:
https://www.convertyourgarage.com
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