YOBR you have the right attitude, but what SISSOKO is relevant too.
A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing.
The exempted development schedule of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 has a couple of little land mines in it.
You should read it thoroughly before giving unqualified advice SISSOKO.
The design of the roof - especially to the rear of a single storey or dormer house or a projection in plan to the side of the house could render the whole thing non-compliant.
At the least the design should be checked over by a competent archtiect or the local planning officer.
The problem is, even amongst the MRIAI's there are few enough who know the planning legislation inside out.
You should also consider what you'll need at sell-on in the way of certification of the works - Buidlers Certs aren't Architects Certs.
It used to be that a good draughtsman or technician would draw up plans like this and take them to an architect to get them certified.
Some took it a step further and started calling themselves "architects" and made a good living out of it.
The current state of the Building Control Act 2007 is putting pressure on small unqualified operators.
Now we see self-builders and the like totally forgetting about the certification from professionals that solicitors more and more are requesting to complete a sale.
We also see builders retaining the service of architects to offer a full package, so the market can provide at least one solution.
At the bare minimum you should get a set of plans looked at by your local planner and given the all clear.
You can take the meeting yourself and indeed most of them prefer you just to send in the drawing [I hope to do this myself later today].
That leaves you with sorting out a cert.
Some architects will do small works to houses [see below]
It can give a surprising amount of opportunity to do something interesting for low cost.
Done well, it can add considerably to the quality of a small house.
Of course, if you think you only need a toilet extension you might not see the possibilities.
However, there is a world of a difference in tacking a toilet on to the rear of a house, stealing all the light, and ruining the visual amenity and contact with the garden...
AND
Spending a little extra to locate the service areas internally and extend out the living accommodation, possibly with a lantern light and a pitched or even a flat roof, to throw some light back into the depth of the house.
There are one or two builders out there that can do this work well and not damage the adjoining property, but here you should really have an engineer on board as well to check out the structural modifications are economical, workable and safe.
Sometimes you also need a bit of expertise dealing with the neighbours in terms of the party wall and showing you are giving the work due consideration is always a good first step.
Many professionals will do small jobs for relatively low set fees and these can always be negotiated to suit the House owner.
Now is a good time to try to negotiate fees with any building professional.
Noel Brady is one of the best architects I know of for elegant solutions to small residences.
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And this is one of the sexiest small extensions I have ever seen.
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I don't know what Noel charges, but I pass it on for what its worth.
My connection is that we qualified from the same college and once were in the same year.
I met Noel again recently at a function and renewed our acquaintance.
We don't work together or give each other referrals [apart from this].
Good luck with the work.
ONQ.