Scottish Elises

Resolution this year is to extend the garage from 2 to (hopefully) 4 car to enable me to gather all my cars under one roof for the first time. Does anyone have any experience with this type of job and can recommend reliable contractors in the Aberdeen area ?. I haven't sought planning permission yet but I don't think this will be much of an issue. Is it best to go to a firm that will do the plans and project manage all of the contractors ?. I've never dealt with anyhting like this before.

Thanks,

Robin

Going by the size, Planning Permission will probably be required, as will a Building Warrant. Suggest you check with council soonish...dunno about aberdeen, but some councils are taking up to 3 months to even look at applications just now...
Not local so can't recommend anyone, but ask about- word of mouth is always your best bet..

Drawings....Can be good to have someone independent involved if you have no experience, but for a simple garage (?) shouldn't really be necessary. Watch what you are charged for this if the contractor offers a package...they normally outsource drawing work anyway (and add a premium), so can be pricey....

Oh, and always keep a retention (say 10%) until job is properly sorted and you have Completion Certificates etc in your hand.

(Might be able to help with drawings if you are stuck- Architecture is my thing- At SE rates of course)

Uldis is mid project Garage and in ABZ, might be worth dropping him a PM.

I could write a book on my experience regards the construction of our detached garage. I got dropped in the sh1t builer- wise so ended up managing it all myself. I am sure I could tell u a couple of things that would help. One being that I didnt need a building warrant (did need planning permission tho). That could save u a few hundred quid - there are a couple of exceptions u need to adhere to to avoid it - mine being 1/2m from a boundary and 10ms (think it was) from the house. PM me if u want my 2p worth.

Depending on the last time your house had an extension and how big was it you'll need a planning permission.
And any construction above 30 sq m will need a building warrant as well (mine is 50 sq m).
I was misled by the guy that was doing my papers into believing that I didn't need a building warrant, and now am needing to do the paperwork with the garage almost finished and they want me to modify things (need to pay a small fine too!).

As far as I can see, better get a good architect or business that can guide you well.
But no, can't recommend anybody in the area (when I tried to get some people they were quoting about 1.5 years wait list ) so doing it myself (hence slooow)

Oh yeah well if its that big then OK, mine was smaller and sneaked in without the need for a BW

Just thought Id mention it. I spent the best part of a year building mine after John Wayne and co came and went.

might be able to get you an architect from our ABZ office to do a 'homer' for you, if required.

PM me if you want

Thanks all for the advice. I'll make a proper start by contacting the council and see where it goes from there. The one issue I have is that the apex of the pitched roof is perpendicular to the length of the garage therefore a length ways extension will probably need to have a flat roof. Only other option is to extend it width ways following the roof line but I think this would look a bit odd.

We had a guy called Doug Forbes do our attic extension plans for us.

He's not an architect but he seemed to know his stuff and certainly knows the planning process pretty well..

He did all the plans complete and all required submissions and for about £1500. His take on it was to submit them anyway & let the council decide what permissions were needed.

Once we got approved plans we just contacted builders ourselves & wound up using Deeside Construction in Banchory. Couldn't recommend them enough. Really good.

Had minor issues with Plumbing routing, changes and the building inspector (Bill Black) Legendary in the area for being a pain ....(Good guy though) in order to get the completion certificate but nothing tricky at all.

You'll need to get you're finger out if you want the planning process sewn up & job complete by autumn though.

You need to get dtraft plans knocked up & go out for prices asap.

Let me know if you want numbers

As all councils are different I would suggest phoning your local council planning department and arrange a meeting with a planning officer. That way they will advise you accordingly what is needed.

Dont pay someone to do this for you.

They will be more than happy to meet with you and will also not charge you a cent for it.

Wil

robin, keep it simple. i wouldnt approach the council straight away. its best to get an architect to do the complete thing for u. as in, he designs and gets planning permission for u. its basically hassle free.
i am an architect in aberdeen, but since i havent registered myself with he UK board, i am not authorised to apply for planning permission. but i could get one of my collegues to do the work and i could supervise the drawings in he office i work for.