Frequently Asked Questions
Work Stage 1: Preparation – Setting the Foundations
Having completed the point cloud scan, we then import those data points into our architectural software (Revit) these come in to scale, and within +/- 2mm. We use the correct wall, floor and ceiling types for your home, so that we actually build up the model accurately.
If you were to cut through the house in our software, you would see the correct construction materials represented. From an accuracy point of view, the model is correct to within a few centimetres max. No house is absolutely straight and true, and we follow the data from the point cloud as faithfully as possible.
It should be dimensionally accurate to within a few centimetres; any more than a 5 cm deviation and we would potentially carry out an additional survey to understand why. On older properties that have stood for 100 years or more, our accuracy might be slightly further out where plaster or framing hides details. In such cases we make sensible, experienced assumptions (see below).
Not usually. The point cloud scan captures both horizontal and vertical data, along with a suite of around 100 photographs. This is also coupled with a detailed site survey checklist completed during your Needs and Options Review.
Altogether this information almost always gives us everything we need. We would only revisit if it is truly necessary, for example if the project brief changes, if weather affected data capture, or if some of the point cloud files did not align perfectly. In practice, a re-visit is quite rare.
We ask for around two weeks. From the point you go ahead, we will confirm a project kick-off date, and then it takes about two weeks from that date to complete the necessary work.
This includes not just creating the model but also internal quality checks. Every existing model is reviewed with second-eyes by a senior team member before we move into concept design. Getting the existing model right is absolutely critical, so this stage includes built-in review and approval steps.
That is correct, we do need to make some assumptions. The main ones relate to cavity thickness, wall construction, and sometimes floor build-ups.
For older properties, lath and plaster can be thick enough to sound like masonry. In newer properties, dot and dab plasterwork can sound hollow, so it sounds like timber, but is in fact masonry, which sometimes makes interpretation tricky. Anything underground or behind plaster is, by necessity, an educated guess.
We have worked on hundreds of similar homes, so 99 times out of 100 our assumptions are spot-on, but occasionally something will surprise us.
If that happens, it is rarely serious. We always err on the side of caution, especially when deciding if something is load-bearing.
If a wall turns out to be timber rather than masonry, or foundations shallower than expected, a workable solution is usually found quickly by the builder or rarely a structural engineer. If it does require our input later down the line, for example a site visit or extra drawing work, that would be handled on an hourly basis.
However, in almost every case, our assumptions prove correct, so this is an uncommon issue.
Yes. While it is not a formal part of our process, we are always happy to provide a short video walkthrough of the existing model if you would like one. It can include a quick visual of floor plans and sectional views so you can see how your home has been captured digitally.
It is not just about the model. We also:
- Accurately capture level differences throughout the property and grounds.
- Draw boundary treatments such as fences, walls and hedges, required for planning validation.
- Prepare existing site and roof plans, elevations and material notes in line with local authority requirements.
Although this stage focuses on setting up the existing drawings, we use this time to establish all the base information we will need later. That means when we move into concept design, we are ready to go with fully validated existing information in place.
Yes, the point cloud data can detect those details. However, showing them graphically in our drawings would usually be unnecessary and would add clutter.
Minor deviations such as slightly uneven walls or gentle floor slopes are typically handled later, at the construction documentation stage, where we can add notes or discuss them directly with your contractor.
We do, however, always show meaningful level changes, steps, and any other structural variations that affect the design.
Work Stage 2: Concept Design – Big Ideas
This is presented to you in a handy e-brochure alongside an explainer video to outline the designs and some of the rationale that we’ve had. You will get a single option for every element of your home, and we will present that to you before we have our first meeting.
You will see almost photorealistic images of both the inside and the outside of your home. Using the latest architectural software and a very experienced team of designers and architectural visualisers, we will present to you just the right amount of information to help you really get a clear indication of what you’re actually going to receive once the building has been built.
We will have a concept design meeting once you’ve had a chance to review the designs and watch the explainer video. We’ll invite you into the office to answer all of your questions and hear all of your feedback. We will note all of that down before we go ahead and prepare draft two of the designs for you.
Draft two is part of the developed design stage. The concept design stage ends at the end of the first meeting. The first concept meeting is where we conclude that work stage and move into developed design. We don’t incorporate your feedback live at the meeting, but we will explore any further preferences on certain aspects together.
Yes, you will. You’ll receive the concept package alongside an explainer video so that you can understand everything that’s going through our heads while we’re preparing it. This gives you time to gather your thoughts and prepare a list of questions or changes for that first meeting.
The answer to this is no. The Needs and Options Review is our place to make informed decisions on the different types of extensions and what’s going to work well for you. We’ve worked hard on the zoning and some early-stage costings, and so there should not be any need to greatly edit the fee proposal client brief, which is the combination of the Needs and Options Review.
If you do deviate from the brief, then we would tend to want to review our fee proposals again. If it has gotten simpler, our fees will come down, but this is a very rare thing to happen given how much work we put into the Needs and Options Review. In fact, we can’t think of a single time it has actually happened where a completely different extension type was chosen. Perhaps different aesthetics, materials, roof shapes, or sizes of extensions, but they all tend to be in the same place but even that in itself is pretty rare, given the work done in the Needs and Options Review.
We ask for about four weeks from the project kicking off, sometimes slightly earlier. In general, it’s around four weeks.
Your concept designs include a full suite of internal and external 3D visuals, an explainer video, and time for your concept design meeting in the office or on Teams. Any requests for site visits at this stage are chargeable, as they are not included in the original fee proposal.
Yes, we can. We can model up the neighbouring structures, though we haven’t measured these accurately, so it should be taken as approximate rather than exact data. That should also be made clear if you share it with your neighbours.
We can certainly show the massing of neighbouring houses represented on the drawings if you’d like to share those visuals. It’s not necessary from a planning perspective, but if it’s something you would like, we’re happy to provide it. Please do let us know ahead of us starting the concept designs.
Yes, we can. We can model up the neighbouring structures, though we haven’t measured these accurately, so it should be taken as approximate rather than exact data. That should also be made clear if you share it with your neighbours.
We can certainly show the massing of neighbouring houses represented on the drawings if you’d like to share those visuals. It’s not necessary from a planning perspective, but if it’s something you would like, we’re happy to provide it. Please do let us know ahead of us starting the concept designs.
All of this will be ironed out in the Needs and Options Review. Of course, if anything crops up during the design phase, we’ll let you know right away.
It’s important to say that we don’t interpret or apply the planning or building control rules ourselves, so any advice we give you here can’t be held against us in the future because these rules are often interpreted differently by each local authority.