Buying building materials

• The vast majority of selfbuilders hire the skills of a competent designer to help them create something within their budget and to negotiate the red tape. There are three main choices:
  1. Architect: a professional who has undergone lengthy training in design and construction and is qualified to use the protected name ‘architect.’ Qualifications can be checked at ARB.
  2. Plan drawer: A wide range of people claim to be able to prepare drawings or plans for self builders – some call themselves ‘architectural designers’ (which often means they are not qualified architects) but they may be experienced and some can do a reasonable job; others have no qualifications at all and are perhaps best avoided. A chartered architectural technologist is another option.
  3. Design and build, or package/kit build: selfbuilders often work with package/kit build companies who carry out the design functions for them.

• Package/kit build options are relatively easy to understand because there are many examples and photos of completed projects, so you can judge what it is you are likely to get. Architects tend to get used for more individual jobs, often with a strong design element. Most of the more expensive selfbuilds use architects (which is not to say all architects are expensive!). Plan drawers and technologists tend to focus on cost-effective solutions, often working in more traditional styles.