Architectural Technologists

Anyone else had a bad experience?

We looked for Architects and Architectural Technologists locally and found a chap in neighbouring Pembrokeshire. Seemed very pleasant if a bit disorganised but he said he could do what we required which was basically a rectangular extension across rear of cottage. We gave him a drawing which he never once made suggestions for. He took a few measurements then constantly asked us to take many more. My husband eventually did a CAD drawing of existing cottage and old extension full elevations everything. So that was a job we paid for and did ourselves. I applied for pre-Planning for advice as he kept insisting “ no problem “ when I asked if the new extension would be seen as percentage of Original Cottage rather than Original Cottage and tatty 60’s extension. Plus we wanted unusual tata steel roof due to its 5% pitch giving plenty of ceiling height. He downloaded a cross section from the website but Pre-Planning said it wasn’t acceptable and yes it was extremely large when following guidelines of extension size compared to Original structure. So we downsized it a bit and it was acceptable but the downloaded generic drawing off tata roof not so. They wanted our specific roof shown.

I asked him several times to speak to Planning as they were very helpful and to draw the roof construction but he ignored it every time.

A month later we had multiple re done drawings, basically adding in or correcting his incorrectly noted elevation measurements and wrongly positioned French doors etc., and what would give us a ceiling height at rear where we would be on our knees because he kept drawing the roof as separate when we knew it would have to come from part way up the cottage but still no roof diagrams. Planning suggested again that he call them to discuss it to save us submitting and getting refusal due to his constantly repeated downloaded cross section. They finally suggested we get an Architect!

We got a well know local Carmarthenshire co. Brilliant and really on the ball understood the problem phoned Planning immediately to discuss it and again a few times to clarify this or that and Planning approved. yeah!

Yes but we paid the other chap for final acceptable plans for Planning Application, Materials List and Building Regs and we ended up with nothing usable for Planning and nothing thereafter. He just ignores our requests for refund of portion of monies paid. £1100 total because he didn’t meet his obligations. He is ignoring us, Small Claims looking a good idea but what a hassle at an already stressful time. Probably banking on it.

A huge mistake never use these chaps get an Architect who will know how to draw a roof cross section and provide what Planning requests and who takes the time to suggests options for roof and having a vaulted ceiling in the lounge and correctly draws a damn chimney breast.

Hope this helps any burgeoning self builders and extension dreamers in South West Wales.