Other Consultants
Structural
Engineer
If any structural changes are being proposed or if the building is new, you
will need to appoint a Structural Engineer. He or she is required to carry out
calculations and details of the structural elements to satisfy the Local Authority
at Building Warrant stage that the structure is stable and strong enough.
Quantity Surveyor
A Quantity Surveyor is a cost consultant who can advise on construction costs
much more accurately that your Architect usually can. As the drawings are progressing,
he or she can then prepare "Bills of Quantity" - documents itemising
every element of the proposed building. These allow Building Contractors to
price the construction work more accurately and are then used as a basis for
the cost of any changes which invariably take place during construction. You
will also find it is easier to get Building Contractors to submit a price if
you have Bills of Quantity prepared. A Quantity Surveyor will also deal with
any financial claims made during the building work by Contractors. It is essential
to employ a Quantity Surveyor on large projects, although with building costs
rising it is becoming more common to employ a QS on house extensions and smaller
projects.
Mechanical and Services Engineer
On bigger or more complicated projects, you may need to appoint a specialist
engineer to specify and detail services such as heating or electrical installations.
House alterations and extensions do not usually need this level of detail.
Land Surveyor
It may be neccessary to employ someone to provide an electronic survey drawing
of the site or existing building, before design can begin.
CDM Co-ordinator
Projects which are likely to involve more than 4 persons on site at any one
time or last more than 30 days on site, 500 person hours or involve demolition,
and are not for a domestic homeowner in their principal residence, will require
the appointment of a CDM Co-ordinator to oversee the Health & Safety issues.
This appointment is required under the Construction (Design and Management)
Regulations 2007, which also places a number of other important obligations
on clients to ensure that the Health & Safety issues are adequately resourced
and addressed at an early stage.
Grant Bulloch Architect Ltd. can advise you which of these appointments are likely to be necessary, and obtain fee proposals for your consideration.
