Principal Contractors
Construction drawings developed for the people who have to build from them.
Before specialising in construction detailing, I owned and ran my own contracting company, undertaking Design & Build projects from initial survey and design, through planning and Building Regulations, to pricing and turnkey construction.
I produced the drawings myself and then built from them. I've therefore experienced first-hand the value of getting the technical information right – and the cost, in my own time as well as on site, of getting it wrong or producing information that simply isn't needed.
That experience still shapes the way I detail buildings today.
Buildability in the detail
Good construction information isn't about producing more drawings or specifying more than necessary. It's about providing the right information, in the right place, at the right level of detail – no more, no less.
My drawings consider the practicalities of construction from the outset, including:
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Brick dims and block coursing
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Practical footing widths
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Floor build-ups coordinated with block coursing
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Floor-to-ceiling heights coordinated with standard plasterboard sheet sizes and suitable tolerances
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Setting-out dims to outside faces
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Service runs, structure and construction sequencing
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Stocked, readily available and economical materials wherever appropriate
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Avoiding unnecessary specials, cutting, waste and over-specification
These can be small decisions on a drawing, but multiplied across a project they can make construction simpler, quicker and more economical.
Design & Build
Where the design and planning information has been handed over to the Main Contractor, I can develop it into the coordinated technical information required for Building Regulations and construction.
I work directly with the contractor and coordinate with engineers, energy assessors, Building Control and other specialists as required.
The objective is straightforward: buildable, compliant construction information that works on site and reflects the commercial realities of delivering the project.
A working partnership
I don't see each commission as an isolated project.
I actively encourage feedback from the people using my drawings on site. As I get to know a contractor's preferred materials, details, construction methods and ways of working, that knowledge can be carried into future projects.
Over time, we can streamline the process together – faster detailing, familiar construction solutions, less back and forth and more efficient delivery on site.
The aim is a long-term working relationship where successive projects become easier to detail, easier to build and more profitable for both of us.
Principal Contractor / Principal Designer
The Building Regulations Principal Designer and Principal Contractor roles form an increasingly important part of technical design and compliance.
Please get in touch to discuss the requirements and the most appropriate arrangement for your project.