Kitchen / Dining room renovation

[Andrewd8323]

Hi all

We plan to knock through between the current dining room and kitchen and then swap the two around - so the new kitchen is in the current dining room.

There will be quite a lot of structural work involved:
1) knocking through between the two rooms
2) we want to take out two exterior walls and replace them with corner glass sliding doors
3) the current kitchen was formed by knocking two smaller rooms together, though instead of a steel there is a wooden lintel where the wall was removed (this was done prior to building regs being a thing in the early 1980s)- expect it makes sense to replace this with a steel at the same time as doing the other work.
4) the floor in the current kitchen is concrete with plywood on top then lino - I suspect this needs digging up and redoing as the floor is sloping and we are seeing bumps through the lino floor. I’m not sure if the damp proof membrane has potentially failed.

I have a decent idea of how I want the new layout to be and the work that needs doing, but not quite sure how to proceed. The main question I have is, who should I go to in order to kick the project off?

We’re not going to be extending, so an architect feels a bit of overkill. I could go straight to a structural engineer to get the drawings for the steels etc, but it feels like I want a bit more assistance than that. Ideally I want somebody who can:
1) challenge my design to see if there are potential improvements
2) make sure that everything I have planned is compliant with building regs (eg sufficient ventilation in the kitchen)
3) ideally a bit of project management. I’ve done a similar project in the past and designed / managed it myself, but it was very time intensive and stressful so I’d rather outsource a chunk of it this time round.

Is it an architect I need? Or somebody else?

Much appreciated

 

[blup]

You will need a designer, architect or not, who will liaise with an SE over the structural elements of the design. Building regs approval may be needed if you are re routing the waste pipes and drains for the kitchen.

 

[Murdochcat]

And the electrics will need significant changes too. How old is the property?

 

[Andrewd8323]

Thanks both - the house was built in 1930 and then the extension where the kitchen currently is was built in the 1980.

Will definitely be rerouting drains.

Ok - so an architect or designer is needed - I guess I’ll have an ask around and see if anyone can recommend one in my local area

 

[blup]

Recommendation is generally the best way, and the trades seem to prefer it if there is a known connection.

 

[Notch7]

Is it an architect I need? Or somebody else?

Architectural technician, is what you need. Ask for building regs drawings and structural details with sections etc.

Ask on your local Facebook group etc

ideally a bit of project management. I’ve done a similar project in the past and designed / managed it myself, but it was very time intensive and stressful so I’d rather outsource a chunk of it this time round

Get yourself a local one man band type builder, who does extensions etc.

Have a look around your area and look out for building works being done, stop and ask for a name.

Ask on local Facebook group page, but be careful to understand what are genuine recommendations and which are mates / wives / girlfriends putting forward a name.

 

[Andrewd8323]

Thanks all - appreciate the input