Client’s guide to interior fit outs
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We’ve put this short guide together to help our clients at the start of their project, and to answer some of the most common questions we get asked.
If anything comes to mind that’s not covered here, get in touch and we can help find an answer.
How much will it cost?
“The $64 Million Dollar Question”, how much will your project cost. It’s always hard to say at the outset of a project because there are so many variables - like the quality of fittings, amount and quality of loose furniture, number of bathrooms, whether you need to do any structural work, remediation or repairs etc. But, there are some broad rules of thumb, which we’ve listed out below:
For restaurant fit outs you should budget between £1,500 - £4,000+ per metre square. With the lower end being for more fast food type interiors and the top end for high end restaurants. Kitchens can take up a large proportion of the costs and could be as much as 40% of the budget.
Remember that you can spend between £60 - £700 on a chair alone, so these kinds of decisions can have a big impact on cost.
For office spaces you should allow between £1000 - £3000 per metre square for the fit out and around £750 - £1000 per person for furniture.
How much are professional fees?
Architects and designers charge their fees in different ways, from a % of construction costs which are then evaluated as the project costs change, time based charges (usually invoiced monthly) and fixed fees for each work stage. At New Makers Bureau we set out our fees at the outset of the project and unless there is significant change to the project brief or budget we stick to them. This helps our clients to manage the project finances and gives them peace of mind.
Often other specialists will be needed for a project, such as Building Regulation Inspectors, M&E designers and/or structural engineers amongst others. We advise our clients on these appointments as the project progresses and have built up a doof knowledge of the likely costs of these. We also have a network of well respected teams we work with.
Why hire a RIBA Chartered Architect?
A big reason clients choose a RIBA Chartered Architect is that they are well regulated, giving you peace of mind that the project’s design will be well managed, well resourced and you are covered if anything should go wrong. RIBA Architects, have a high quality of client care, good insurance cover and meet the highest standards of management and working practices.
How long will it take?
In our experience the design can take between 1 month - 3 months and the fit out can take between 2 months - 6 months, this will depend on the size and complexity of the project, the budget and the site (access, location etc). If you’re willing to spend more on the fit out is likely that it can be completed quicker.
Do I need planning permission?
For interior only works it’s unlikely you’ll need planning permission. But if you are within a conservation area (for example) you may need planning for the shopfront /signage and any works you do to external extract ducting. We undertake a review of your project at an early stage to understand whether it is likely to require planning permission or not.
What about building regulations?
It’s likely that you will require building regulations approval, particularly if you’re moving toilets, changing the ventilation systems or electrics. We prepare technical drawings for your project which are then used to begin the building regulations approval process. The final sign off happens once the project is completed on site.
Do you help to find a suitable contractor for the project?
We offer different levels of service depending upon the project and client, one of which is a full ‘tendering’ service where we collate the drawings, project specification and project preliminaries (contract type, key dates etc) and health & safety information and tender the project to at least 3 contractors . We then meet them on site, respond to any queries they may have and review the tender returns so we can advise you on the most suitable contractor for your project.
Client’s obligations in legislation
There are two important bits of legislation that govern all construction projects in the UK. These are the Construction Design Management Regulations (CDM) and the Building Safety Act. Under these laws as commercial clients you have certain obligations and responsibilities. Part of our duties are to make you aware of these and help to manage the health and safety aspects of the design.
Anything else?
Get in touch.
