What do I do first?

What Do I Do First? A Beginner’s Guide to Home Renovation

So, you’ve decided to finally tackle that big home project. You’ve got the Pinterest board, you’ve picked out the gold taps, and you’re ready to start swinging a sledgehammer.

Wait! Put the hammer down.

Before the first brick is moved, there’s a bit of a "dance" you have to do with the professionals. Doing things in the wrong order is the fastest way to blow your budget or—worse—end up with a house that’s legally unsellable.

Here is the Filby Builders step-by-step guide to doing it right.

Step 1: The Vision & The Architect

Think of the Architect as the "Director" of your movie. They take your messy ideas and turn them into a professional plan.

• Do I always need one? For a small bathroom swap? No. For an extension or moving walls? Yes.

  
  

• What they do: They create the "Planning Drawings." These show what the house will look like from the outside so the Council can decide if it fits in with the neighbourhood. And whether your idea will actually work! They will also look to enhance your ideas and bring new things to the table.

  
  

Step 2: The "Will They Let Me?" (Planning Permission)

Once you have those drawings, you send them to the Council.

• Planning Permission: This is about Aesthetics & Impact. Will it block the neighbor's light? Is it too big for the garden?  

  
  

• Permitted Development: Sometimes you don't need full permission for small stuff, but you should still check, just to be safe.

  
  

Step 3: The "Will It Fall Down?" (The Structural Engineer)

This is where people often get caught out. Once the Council says "Yes, it looks nice," you need a Structural Engineer to make sure it's safe.

• What they do: They take the Architect’s pretty drawings and add the "Calculations." They tell us exactly how thick the steel beam (RSJ) needs to be to hold up your bedroom floor when you take out that kitchen wall.

  
  

• Why you need them: Without these "Structural Calcs," your builder is just guessing—and Building Control won't sign off on the work.  

  
  

Step 4: The Rulebook (Building Regulations)

People often confuse this with Planning Permission, but they are totally different!

• Building Regs: This is about Safety & Quality. It covers insulation, fire safety, drainage, and structural integrity.  

  
  

• The Inspector: A Building Control officer will visit the site at different stages to check the depth of your foundations and the size of your steels.  

  
  

Step 5: Finding Your Builder (The Filby Stage!)

Now that you have your Architectural Plans, your Structural Calcs, and your Building Regs ready, you are "Ready to Tender."

• Why wait until now? Because without these documents, a builder can only give you a "guesstimate." With them, we can give you a fixed, accurate quote because we know exactly what materials and engineering are required.

  
  

The "Golden Rule" Summary

1. Architect (The Look)

2. Planning (The Permission)

3. Structural Engineer (The Strength)

4. Building Control (The Safety)

5. Builder (The Reality!)

   
   

Not sure where your project fits?

If you're staring at a wall and wondering if it's "load-bearing" or just "leaning," give us a call! We’re always happy to point you toward the right architects and engineers to get your project off on the right foot.

Filby Builders Building dreams (on very solid foundations).

What’s your project? If you tell me what you're thinking of building, I can tell you which of these steps you can skip and which ones are non-negotiable!