Kitchen Plan's to be Drawn Up

I am having a new kitchen built and have been quoted 2% of the final build price by the architect (or whoever draws up the plans) to draw up the plans. Is this about right ? Only building consent is needed as it will be within the current footprint of the property.

Ta

I'l do it on my etch-a-sketch for a fiver...

Is the kitchen being designed by the Architect as well? This is pretty cheap.

Having said that, if the architect is just drawing the plans up and not managing the project on site this is probably too much. If they are only involved at this stage then agree a fixed fee, get the drawings and dont deal with them again.

They are just drawing up the plan's for the build nothing else. My father in law will project manage it for us and we will be taking the plans to a Kitchen Place to have this designed seperate.

Unless they are involved all the way through then it should be a fixed fee for the work they are carrying out. If at a later date you back to them and ask for more then that will be exra.

At the moment, they are doing about 4 drawings. Should you then decide to spend a lot more, even if you dont get any more drawings done, there fee would go up with the % of the project cost.

They are just drawing up the plan's for the build nothing else. My father in law will project manage it for us and we will be taking the plans to a Kitchen Place to have this designed seperate.
then why do you need an architect?

*Designer sparkle.

Thanks, Looks like I will get some more quotes.....

Looks like a total faliure to understand people's roles on my part but who would draw up the plans ? I have been told its 2% but may have mis-represented there job title.

*Designer sparkle.

Its costing enough as it is.....Designer sparkle is certainly not at the forefront. May need to sell a kidney to pay for the actual kitchen units, unless the wife want to live in a squash court with a tap and a bucket.

Thanks, Looks like I will get some more quotes.....

Looks like a total faliure to understand people's roles on my part but who would draw up the plans ? I have been told its 2% but may have mis-represented there job title.

This all depends on what sort of kitchen you are buying, are we talking a Magnet/Howdens type thing?

If so, those people draw up free plans for you, then you should get a very good installer who will be able to maximise the potential from those plans and liaise with the suppliers about the inevitable missing parts/wrong sized bits.

If it's something a bit poncier then the artichoke might be useful, but only if they are overseeing the job, otherwise when the installer runs into problems with the plan (very probable) he may not get any sense from the artichoke.

TBH, for most standard kitchens you don't need or want an architect.

Log on to ikea, they've got a free kitchen design widget, do it for free

This all depends on what sort of kitchen you are buying, are we talking a Magnet/Howdens type thing?

If so, those people draw up free plans for you, then you should get a very good installer who will be able to maximise the potential from those plans and liaise with the suppliers about the inevitable missing parts/wrong sized bits.

If it's something a bit poncier then the artichoke might be useful, but only if they are overseeing the job, otherwise when the installer runs into problems with the plan (very probable) he may not get any sense from the artichoke.

TBH, for most standard kitchens you don't need or want an architect.

this is true.

600mm width modules are the most common... services triangle... power away from water source by 1000mm presto...

Ahh sorry re-read my first post as I don't think I have been clear, the plans are being drawn up for the builder to build the space first off, We are knocking down internal wall's and extending (but all within the current footprint). I am also planning to use the same drawings to take to a kitchen specialist.

Ooh services triangle that sounds rude.

Aha. The kitchen element of this a red herring.

You are having an extension done. Is 2% of the build price a reasonable fee for the architect? It doesn't seem bad to me. If you can agree a fixed price with the builder, you will in effect be fixing the fee too - is that within budget?

If it's too much money and a very simple build, you can probably find a builder who will knock up some plans and build it themselves. (This is a risky strategy).

Kitchen folk will come and measure up and do all their planning within the kitchen price, or use the Ikea widget etc as above^.

yeah sorry the Kitchen part was not really important. 2% is about what I was expecting, £7-800 was banded around at the start so is within budget. Just wanted to be sure my expectations were justified...

Thanks all....

Offer to pay him in apostrophes...

Yeah nasty habit....or could it be the start of parkinson's ?

Your architect will no doubt have to lodge a Building Control application for the works that show any new/alternations to existing drainage and any ventilation requirements to the new kitchen etc.
Are you having any structural works done eg new steel beams? If so, this should form part of the Architect's Building Regs submission. And if there are any new beams these will need to be sized by a Structural Engineer and their calculations submitted.
Best get the Building Regs Application in early as if there are any additional requirements by the council these can be incorporated into the build.
I agree- unusual to have a percentage based fee for this one.

Yes lots of steel going in...new kitchen will be open plan (aprox 10.5m * 6m) and the steel will needed to support the whole back wall of the house and half of the right wall. Also drain's will be moved as well.

Have you employed a structural engineer?

Yes, we are using the same structural engineer that we have used previously. The only compromise we have had to make is that as we did not want a central column in the middle of the kitchen we will now not be able to have bi-fold doors across the back wall as the large steel beams will need to sit on some rather large stone pillars. TBH we could have gone for the bi-fold but the cost of the work around would have been huge....

Your architect will no doubt have to lodge a Building Control application for the works that show any new/alternations to existing drainage and any ventilation requirements to the new kitchen etc.
Are you having any structural works done eg new steel beams? If so, this should form part of the Architect's Building Regs submission. And if there are any new beams these will need to be sized by a Structural Engineer and their calculations submitted.
Best get the Building Regs Application in early as if there are any additional requirements by the council these can be incorporated into the build.
I agree- unusual to have a percentage based fee for this one.

Zzz!

Best get the Building Regs Application in early as if there are any additional requirements by the council these can be incorporated into the build and subsequently ripped out after you've had the approval because they look so fucking ridiculous and make your house look like an old people's home.

fixed.