Our Services

What to expect with Set Square Studio

Creativity and innovation are fundamental to our vision here at Set Square Studio to get cracking on your project we recommend we meet you for a briefing and initial design visit. One of our team will visit you on-site to receive your brief and have a two-way dialogue to establish the fundamentals of your proposals and generate an acceptable plan and timescale to move your project forward. The designer will leave you with a creative initial design and set out the process with respect to the relevant planning process and constraints, construction methods and details, timescales and specific consents requisite for your specific project such as Party Wall Agreements or Build Over Agreements

The main objectives of the consultation are to:

• Discuss and understand your aims and requirements

• Take measurements to create an outline plan of the existing layout

• Explain design options by producing hand-drawn sketches of the possible solutions

• Discuss the proposals and adapt them if necessary to make sure it’s right for you

• Have an agreed hand-drawn design by the end of the visit

• Discuss necessary statutory consents, party wall agreements etc.

• Talk about budgets and finding the right builder

• Explain how to move your project forward

Setting out a plan

Following our initial meeting, we will create architectural drawings to put the scheme onto paper. This will be achieved in a timely manner and with an active dialogue with you ensuring all aspects of your expectations are considered. Following your sign off of these initial drawings we can look toward the next phase.
These are accurate drawings that are submitted to the local authority to obtain planning/permitted development approval for the changes you want to make to your home. These drawings, along with the calculations from your structural engineer, contain the specific information required to obtain building regulations approval for your project.

Planning Drawings

These are accurate drawings that are submitted to the local authority to obtain planning/permitted development approval for the changes you want to make to your home.

Building regulation / tender drawings

These are accurate drawings that are submitted to the local authority to obtain planning/permitted development approval for the changes you want to make to your home.

Detail level drawings

These detailed drawings illustrate the proposed layout of fixtures, fittings, units and lighting for your project.

Setting your sites

By understanding building costs, you can get the most out of your budget. Your architect can produce a ‘schedule of works’; a written summary of the main elements of the proposed works for the builder to price against, giving you a true like-for-like cost comparison between builders. Your architect can speak to builders on your behalf, managing the tender process until you’ve chosen your contractor.

Schedule of works

This comprehensive breakdown of the proposed works enables you to see exactly where the costs lie and if necessary, indicate where changes can be made to keep you within budget.

Reference builders

We can prepare a tender list of fully referenced builders from our database, or your architect can meet with any builder you are considering.

Tender Package compliation

The tender drawings and a schedule of works are sent to a selection of builders so they can provide comparative price information for the project.

Tender analysis

Once the prices have been received back from the builders, your architect can analyse them and report to you.

Once a builder has been appointed, the price and contract period can be written into a binding agreement, overseen by your architect to ensure the work is completed according to the plans, the timescale and the costs stipulated. There are various options available to you at this stage, from the architect acting as a ‘contract administrator’, to being used on an ‘ad-hoc’ basis and attending periodic meetings to check on progress.

Preparing contract documents

It is generally advisable to have a formal building contract. We can suggest the most suitable one for your project and prepare the documentation, ready for you to sign.

Site visit & meetings

Coming to site and/or meetings to answer queries helps to ensure the work is going according to the plan.

Contract administration and valuations

We can assume the role of ‘contract administrator’, assessing what work has been completed on-site, and can prepare valuation certificates which show what you need to pay.

Snagging

We will help make sure all the final details are finished properly, and prepare a ’snagging’ list of anything that is unsatisfactory for the builder to put right before he receives his final payment

Packages

So you can plan your project, set your budget and put your mind at ease we have put together a range of residential and commercial packages ranging from loft extensions to construction packages.