FOUNDATIONS 2024
Paving your way to your D.R.E.A.M Home
join the UK's most exciting (and only) free event for homeowners looking to extend their homes so you can avoid common pitfalls, apply for planning permission with confidence and nail the design of your D.R.E.A.M home
29th January - 1st February 2024
Struggling to get your extension project off the ground and need clarity on what you need to do?
Unsure what to do when?
For many homeowners extending is a new experience so it's fairly common to be unsure of the steps you need to take, and who you need to employ, and when.
Not sure what approvals you need?
This catches a lot of people out!
Many homeowners, and in y experience even builders, are unsure of exactly what can be built under permitted development and what requires planning permission.
Concerned about design / build cost?
If you're worried about costs you're not alone! A house extension is a pricey investment! Getting drawings done & planning approval can be expensive. Then the build is massively expensive.
You're not alone in your struggles and concerns
I see many people trying to "go it alone" online every day, and that's also where I see the many mistakes that are being made. Avoidable mistakes that end up costing - they cost time & money and bring lots of stress.
Mistakes such as -
Thinking their project doesn't need planning permission.
Have you ever been told by a builder that your extension doesn't need planning permission, when in fact, it does?
I see this frequently both in my business and in the online space.
Don't leave it to chance as you could risk having to take down what you build if you can't obtain permission for it.
Come and talk through your project with me and we can discuss your way forward.
Not submitting the correct information with planning applications.
Each application has its own set of circumstances meaning there are a multitude of documents which may be required to support any given planning application.
If you submit yours without the correct documentation your application will be delayed.
I can help you define what you need to submit for your specific project.
Using inappropriate materials for the construction of their home.
Not many people outside of the construction industry, and even many in it, don't have a thorough understanding of how older buildings work.
Buildings such as oak framed houses, or solid walled houses, need to be treated differently to modern cavity wall or modern timber framed buildings.
Using modern materials on older properties means you risk causing more issues than you solve, especially relating to problems with moisture, damp and rot.
Don't build in issues for down the line!
Let me help you get it right first time.
Not having a standard form of construction contract in place
This is possibly the biggest cause of problems that I see online on a daily basis.
Every project should have some form of contract, and not one provided by the builder which is not impartial.
Standard forms of contract protect both parties and set out clearly the parameters of the project.
Why would you risk your investment of thousands, or hundreds of thousands of pounds of your hard earned money on a building project and not have a tried and tested contract in place to help protect you?
Avoid these mistakes by attending FOUNDATIONS 2024. We can help you with all of the above and get you clued up on what your project needs, who you need to employ & when, what documents & approvals you may need & what can affect the costs of the works
Imagine if you could...
Have a clear picture of what you need to do
Know what approvals you need
Have a handle on build costs from the start
INTRODUCING!!!
FOUNDATIONS 2024
Paving your way to your D.R.E.A.M Home
join the UK's most exciting, and only free event for homeowners looking to extend their homes so you can avoid common pitfalls, apply for planning permission with confidence and nail the design of your D.R.E.A.M home
Coming to you FREE from 29th January - 1st February 2024
FOUNDATIONS 2024 is your free "get your project off the ground" event hosted by our architect, Charlotte Knott, to help you get clear on what you need to do to get that home extension project moving and make your D.R.E.A.M home a reality in 2024!
You will benefit from...
A thorough understanding of the process of extending your home. I, Charlotte Knott, an experienced architect, will talk you through the process of extending your home; from the very beginning including choosing an architect or deciding to go it alone, who you might need to employ & when, what applications you might need & what documents you might need to support your application to ensure it goes through the planning process without unnecessary delays, building regulations approvals, finding a builder & getting the project built, including what you should do to avoid common problems.
Real life examples of project costings to give you an idea of what can affect the cost of a project. Knowing what can affect costs is extremely useful as build costs aren't worked out on costs per square metre, which is often spoken about online. The actual costs come down to the specific details of the project, so understanding some of the things that can impact on costs will allow you to design your extension with costs in mind and help prevent you from getting a huge shock once you receive quotes from builders!
A safe space to ask your questions Just like my free Facebook group (UK Home Extension Community) this event will provide a safe space to ask your questions. No question will be considered a silly question. All questions are welcomed and will be answered with respect. I'll also be on hand within the Facebook group for and in the live Q&A and design session to answer any questions you might have regarding your home extension project.
Why the free
FOUNDATIONS 2024
event?
Too often I see people trying to go it alone to save money, however, in doing so it often ends up costing them more to put right mistakes that are made along the way, and the process definitely becomes more stressful than it needs to be.
I also see people asking questions inside other Facebook groups and getting so many conflicting, and often incorrect, answers that they end up more confused than before they asked.
Or, worse than that, as many of these groups are not properly moderated, they get abusive and sarcastic responses to their questions which leave them feeling stupid and attacked.
These mistakes & this stress can be avoided with the right guidance & support, and a properly moderated space.
That is why I have created the free FOUNDATIONS 2024 event - so you can get clarity on what you need to do to get your project moving, without fear of judgement, and without costing you a penny, so you can avoid making the same mistakes I see many people make when they try to save money and do it all themselves.
Here is the breakdown...
Introduction
We'll kick off the week with a live introduction so you can learn about the event and have a chat about where you're all at in your extension journeys
Where to start
The next evening there will be a live training on where to start, what to do, who to employ & when for your home extension project
Cost implications
I'll walk you through some examples and discuss the things which affected, or could have affected, the costs of these projects. This will help you understand what might affect the cost of your extension & may help you to bring your designs in line with your budget.
Live Q&A / design clinic
We'll end the week with a live Q&A and design clinic session. Come and get your questions answered, talk through what's keeping you stuck with your project or work through your designs with me, so you leave the event knowing what you're going to do and how to make the most of your home.
Plus you get the chance to win a free month inside the upcoming D.R.E.A.M UK home Extension Support Network
When you attend the live events of FOUNDATIONS 2024 and contribute to the discussions by commenting / asking questions etc.
The names of all those who attend and contribute will be put into a bowl and one lucky winner will be selected to win a free month inside the D.R.E.A.M UK Home Extension Support Network.
4 further winners will be chosen to win 50% off their first month inside the D.R.E.A.M UK Home Extension Support Network.
These prizes will only be available to those who attend this event, so book your place, show up and engage with me and you could win half price or free access to the much anticipated D.R.E.A.M UK Home Extension Support Network.
Meet Your Host
Hi, I'm Charlotte.
I'm a fully qualified RIBA chartered architect registered with the ARB (Architects Registration Board) and I'm a certified Passivhaus designer.
My passions are sustainability, natural materials & helping people of all financial means to achieve the home of their dreams, whether that be by remodelling and/or extending their existing home, or by designing a new home from scratch.
I have worked in architectural practices in Hereford and Worcester since 2009, and during that time I have worked on hundreds of house extension projects.
In 2018 I founded CK Architecture & started my free Facebook group - UK Home Extension Community, & in 2019 I founded CK Architecture Academy as a way of bringing architectural services to more people via more innovative methods.
Since then I've helped so many homeowners with their projects via free or low cost support, and I absolutely love it!
Here's Why You'll Love Us
Project specific advice
This is your chance to get free advice specific to your exact project, to help you move forward confidently and with a design you love.
Personalised
You'll be talked through steps to follow relating to your specific project to help things run as smoothly as possible for you.
Personable
I will speak with you without confusing jargon and technical speak so you leave with a full understanding of the process you need to undertake.
This Is For:
UK Homeowners who want to extend their homes & get design advice without paying huge design fees
Anyone who is finding it hard to get clear advice on how to proceed with an extension project in the UK and wants to speed the process along.
UK Homeowners who want to save as much cash for the build itself rather than spend it on designers etc, whilst still getting professional input
This Is NOT For:
Anyone dealing with a project which is not a house extension or renovation project
Property developers
Anyone outside of the UK as regulations etc differ from country to country and our experience is within the UK only
Thank you for the live Zoom Q&A session today. I joined more to listen in as I'm only at the stage of having lots of ideas in my head. It worked out for me even better as I was able to get a clear understanding of the process and who to involve. Yes, I could look online, but it can get so overwhelming, with so many opinions. It was really valuable to have my questions answered by an expert in a way that makes sense to me. I'll keep a look out for any future events. Thanks again.
Dani Collier
Thank you so much, Charlotte for your time and support at your drop-in session and in general. It was really informative and helpful. It is always so hard to decide on something that will have a huge financial and emotional impact on our lives, and your wealth of knowledge helped me get clarity. I love that you were able to pick up on some potential future issues for another attendee and thereby save them some problems in the long term. I look forward to hearing more about your launch and to working with you soon.
Mayura Patel
Hello Charlotte. Thank you so much for taking the time this afternoon to talk to me. I wasn't sure what to expect but I found it very informative and interesting to hear how much there is to take into account when planning to add to your home. The information regarding standard contacts was very insightful as was the information discussed regarding 'brick measurement'. I'm so pleased I was able to join. Hilary
HIlary Nixon
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this for me if I'm unsure whether to extend my home?
Absolutely, a quick discussion with our architect may well help you decide whether it's better for you to extend your existing home, remodel or move to achieve what you require.
Will you design my extension for me?
Everyone that signs up for the FOUNDATIONS 2024 free event will get the opportunity for design advice as requested during the live Q&A and design clinic session. You may even get sketches produced by our architect at that session showing possibilities for your project, however, the quality of any sketches provided by us will depend on the quality of the information & drawings provided by you, and no sketches / drawings provided by us will be suitable for submission to the local authority..
Is this event only for UK homeowners?
Yes. As our experience is within the UK we can only offer advice and guidance to projects which will take place within the UK as regulations differ in other countries.
Can my partner join in the live calls with me?
Yes, your partner (the person you are living with and extending your home with) is able to attend the live calls with you as this will help facilitate a successful project for you.
Quick Recap
FOUNDATIONS 2024 is a free event for UK homeowners to get clear on the process of extending your homes, on who you need to employ & when, what approvals you may need & what documents you might need to support your applications. It will also help you understand what comes after obtaining planning permission, you'll gain an understanding of building regulations, dealing with discharging planning conditions, dealing with structural engineers, getting quotes form builders, construction contracts (which every project should have), and getting your extension built.
You'll also gain an understanding of what can affect the costs of a project, which should help you make decisions with your own projects, as costs aren't really down to the floor area of your extensions, despite that this is often used as a rough guide in many online forums.