FAQs

  • Budget and build costs always come up in our first conversation. That’s because if you can’t afford it, it’s not going to happen. So we start by giving you a realistic budget, based on how much similar projects have cost. The final construction sum is then priced by the builder - or a quantity surveyor if you want professional advice.

    To get a good idea right now, we’ve put together some guidance on budgets, and detailed breakdowns of numbers for common projects here [link].

    Of course, there’s not just the financial cost of a project to consider. There’s the cost to your wellbeing and the planet too. Construction is one of the most resource-hungry industries around and any building project demands time, energy and headspace. Which is why we ask about sufficiency before efficiency: is a bigger building really the answer, or would a smaller one, done well, use less of everything and serve you better?

  • We cost our projects in two stages. We charge an initial Project Workshop fee of £250 for our first scoping meeting – this is where we identify the problems behind your project and some potential solutions. You can take those findings away to think them over, take them elsewhere, or move forward with us if we're a good fit.

    Once you're on board, fees typically start from around £20,000 for a £150,000 budget (that's the total project budget – not just construction cost), £25,000 for £250,000, and £45,000 for £500,000. This covers everything from briefing through to handover.

    We invoice in stages as the work is completed – never upfront – and any additional work is always agreed first. See our full fee guide for how this breaks down, including how we charge and why smaller projects cost proportionally more [link].

  • As early as possible – ideally, before your ideas are fixed and your heart is set on a route. 

    That’s because a good architect won’t just provide drawings and make your vision real. Instead, they’ll ask questions, listen, identify the issues, solve the problems and guide you through the process, making sure you’re building what you really need. 

    We often meet clients who have already have an estimate from a builder. But this will only cover construction, excluding VAT, professional fees, fittings, interior finishes. By involving us early, you can get a realistic picture of what your project will cost - and avoid nasty surprises later.

  • The answer to this is almost always ‘it depends’. Timelines can vary hugely depending on the size and complexity of what you're doing, the nature of your site and building, and the amount of collaboration involved.

    As a rough guide, design typically takes 6-12 months, and building another 4-8, though both vary a lot by project. Committing to a build is a big decision and it’s always best to make sure you are happy with everything before rushing to get something built.

  • It depends on the project. Some small extensions and alterations fall under permitted development, which means you can build without a full planning application, provided you meet a specific set of rules on size, height and position. Bath's conservation areas and UNESCO World Heritage status adds another layer worth understanding early, since they can change what's permitted before you've even started designing.

    We check this as part of the brief, not as an afterthought, and where a project needs planning permission, we see it as a normal part of the process to plan for, not an obstacle to design around.

  • First of all, make sure they are registered. Anyone calling themselves an architect in the UK must be registered with the ARB, the Architects Registration Board, which is the legal, government-backed regulator. RIBA membership is worth checking too – this is a professional body architects can join voluntarily. 

    Look at projects similar in scale to what you're planning, not just their most striking work. Have they completed projects like yours? How do they work? How much do they charge?

    Then meet them. 

    Building work can be stressful and you could be working with your architect for months and sometimes years. Having someone you trust – and like – is as important as the quality of the design. 

  • The most important thing is an open mind.

    You may want to bring us a briefing document, an inspiration board and firm(ish) ideas about what you want. Just be prepared for us to pick it apart and check that we’re solving the real problem, not the one you’ve pictured.

    Equally, you may prefer to just vent your frustrations about what’s wrong with your home: the shabby kitchen left by the DIY-fanatic who lived there before, the clutter and mess or your indecisiveness and lack of ‘designer’ flair. We’re used to starting from there too.

    Other than that, the main things we need are: 

    • Some of the information from our briefing form 

    • A good idea of your budget

    • A collaborative mindset

  • Not building in contingency.
    Even a well-planned project can uncover surprises once work starts on site. Having some contingency in your budget helps deal with these – as does having an architect with you, on site, who knows how to respond and solve problems.


    Confusing the cost of construction with the cost of the whole project.
    Design fees, surveys, planning costs, VAT, and everything you usually supply rather than the build – such as kitchens, bathrooms, fittings, flooring – often add up to as much as construction itself. We build all of this into your budget conversation from the start, so the number you're working towards is the real one.


    Not realising how much more a change costs the later it happens.
    A strategic decision changed early – extension instead of loft conversion, for example – costs relatively little. The same decision revisited once it's gone through planning costs a lot more. The same is true of smaller decisions – like where an island unit stands or the style of floor finish – these are relatively easy to change on paper, but much harder when you are managing a busy site.


    This is why we invest extra time at the thinking stage, so the design we commit to paper is absolutely the right one.

  • We have connections with local builders and help shortlist the right ones to tender for your project. For most projects we run a formal competitive tender process, with a detailed breakdown of the works so every quote is pricing for exactly the same thing and can be compared fairly. If you already have a builder in mind, we're happy to work with them too.

    Price is only part of the decision. 

    Builders vary in how they work: some are collaborative, some more traditional, and their experience matters – for example, have they worked with natural, biobased materials? Can they retrofit insulation? We’ll help you think through who's actually going to suit your project, not just who is cheapest.

  • Not every architect works in the same way. At Silvan, we stay involved throughout the build. Our main role is to protect your design, making sure decisions made along the way don't quietly undo the problem the project set out to solve in the first place.

    In practice, that means two things for most projects: technical design input on site, and contract and financial management, called contract administration. It's a genuine partnership. We're in it with you through the parts that are hard as well as the parts that are exciting.

    Find out more about what we do at each stage of a project [link].

  • In the UK, there’s no legal requirement to use an architect for an extension, renovation or loft conversion. So the short answer is ‘no’. But working with a good architect can help ensure your budget is spent wisely, and your project runs more smoothly.

    Unlike architects, builders don’t have to be registered with a statutory professional body or hold a particular qualification. Many builders are excellent and take real pride in their work, but choosing the right one – and making sure everyone knows what’s expected – matters. 

    A good architect will help you by finding and selecting a builder you can trust, communicating with everyone involved and being there on site to make sure the finished project is the one you set out to create.

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