Traditional and Listed Building Maintenance and Repairs

If you owned an antique clock you wouldn't let just anyone repair or maintain it. You would search out and research a person with appropriate skills, knowledge and experience to make sure the repair didn't make the problem worse. If people did the same for buildings then situations like this photo wouldn't happen. 

Unfortunately there are many more ways to damage a building and many more people who present themselves as having the skills to work on buildings but don't.

If you own a traditional or listed building Hearth Architects can make sure the work or repairs you plan won't damage the building, help you find suitable contractors to do the work well and also make sure that you apply for the necessary permissions from The Councill.

The Benefit of working with Hearth Architects

It's often said that you never know what you will find under ground until you start digging. However, I don't recall ever finding so much in such a small hole.

This project in Stirling involves approximately 1m² of excavation to enable the installation of a new stone hearth for a log burning stove as part of a wider renovation and upgrade of the kitchen and breakfasting area. 

The only hole dug contains 3 drainage pipes and one gas pipe all in the space where we need to put a foundation. The one pipe we were expecting is where we thought would be, just out of shot, under the floor that is being retained. 

This kind of situation is exactly where a client gets the best value and greatest benefit from their Architect and design team.

Architects are problem solvers and we are lucky enough to be working with a Contractor that has a great team on site to lend their experience and common sense to solving the problem quickly and efficiently. 

The normal solution would be to lintel over the drains so the walls don't put any weight into the pipes but the sheer number and tight grouping of pipes in this situation make that unfeasible, especially considering that one is exactly where we need to put a wall. 

We worked with The Contractor and Structural Engineer to diagnose the full extent of the problem and figure out how we solve it.

The benefit of working with Hearth Architects and gaining access to our problem solving skills is a considerably different method of achieving the same result. Crucially, there will be no difference at all to the appearance of the building compared to the original design and no increase in cost to the home owner. 

Working as a team and utilising the various skill sets of each member has meant that we can overcome challenges as they arise and keep the project on time and on budget.

Hearth Architects almost always advise retaining our services during construction so if unforeseeable situations like this do occur we are able to quickly attend site and actively solve problems while ensuring compliance with building regulations and design intent. 

If you are considering building work make sure you are talking to an architect that will provide you with the service and added value you deserve rather than just a person who draws plans and applies for permissions.

Underground services are often a cause of unexpected changes on site. Hearth Architects can help make these surprises as easy to deal with as possible.

Regulation of Architects

In the past few weeks, several households in Falkirk and Stirling have contacted us, sharing their experiences as victims of the lack of regulation in the construction industry.

These homeowners began their projects by engaging with seemingly credible individuals who led them to believe they were working with an architect. However, these individuals lacked the necessary qualifications and registrations to use the title architect or architects.

Many people, even many within the construction industry, are unaware that misrepresenting yourself or a company as an architect is a criminal offense.

In the UK, the title "Architect" is protected by law under Section 20 of the Architects Act 1997. Only those with the appropriate education, training, and experience can join the Register and become architects. Registered architects must hold appropriate insurance and adhere to the standards set out in the Architects Code.

As Architects we are subject to Regulation from the Architects Registration Board and the Architects Code. This can be viewed on the Architects Registration Board website.

To verify if someone is a registered architect, you can check the ARB Architects Register or ask to see their certificate of registration. Most architects appreciate this due diligence, as we all have stories of clients who have suffered at the hands of unregulated and underqualified individuals posing as architects.

All Directors at Hearth Architects are registered with the Architect Registration Board.