Author Archives: tomwp2018

Bats are amazing little creatures and so varied that their species numbers make up a fifth of all mammal species!…

Part L of the building regulations deals with the thermal performance, or limiting the heat losses from any given building….

A Schedule of Works is a contractual document used to capture a description of a building project, essentially a list…

On the whole, extension and alteration work can be designed, presented and understood with traditional drawn formats. Tom Spriggs Architects…

Work to a Listed Building comes with its own unique challenges. Not all projects are viable, care has to be…

Not hearing next door, a bathroom or simply being able to listen to music in one room and the tv…

This article is an introductory post, not intended to be a complete source. If you suspect you have asbestos, or…

A SAP calculation is a spreadsheet based calculation to work out heat losses and gains of a building. It stands…

  Tom Spriggs Architect Ltd is now a member of The Green Register. The Green Register is an educational body…

I popped by an alteration and renovation project currently on site this week. Progress is going well and the new…

The veranda, porch, covered area, canopy, portico, stoop, whatever you call them, I think they are an extremely undervalued feature,…

This can be a complex area, and this is only a very small introduction to the subject. As VAT rules…

When appointing an architect to carry out design work on your home or project, pretty much the first thing (apart…

The clients of this project were looking to add an extra guest bedroom, along with a rear extension for a…

PVC windows have had a place in buildings for some time now, and show no sign of becoming less popular,…

TRADA (The Timber Research and Development Association) and BS5268-2 give guidance on how large holes and notches can be cut…

Planning and Listed Building Consents were recently granted for the conversion and adaptation of a substantial building in a central…

If you have an agricultural barn, it is possible to convert it into a house without formal planning permission. This…

When submitting a planning application, it is usual to submit all the drawings and written documentation online. The system to…

Living and working within a small radius is a great feeling, Tom Spriggs Architect Ltd will very happily work further…

When designing an extension, a new build house, or even a garden shed, the angle or pitch of the roof…

Tom Spriggs Architect Ltd is proudly a member of the Twentieth Century Society. The Society, originally founded as the Thirties…

  Firstly, The GDPR isn’t to be confused with the GPDO (The General Permitted Development Order) which is the part…

The parlance of buildings can be confusing, there are technical terms and common terms that find their way into everyday…

A recent purchase of a ‘Homes’ glossy magazine inspired me to write this post. An article within showed a series…

Tom Spriggs Architect Ltd has been a supporting member of the Exeter Cycling Campaign since its inception over a year ago. The Campaign does good work in promoting cycling infrastructure provision in Exeter’s growth. Many of our streets, parks and new development are very suitable for cycling and walking. Exeter is a compact city centre that can be navigated quickly without resorting to car use. 

Planning applications are made to your local council, who are responsible for all the applications within their area. They follow…

  It’s been on the cards for a little while now, but the forecasted planning application fee rise of 20%…

Tom is celebrating the safe arrival of a new baby boy this week! The office is running skeleton hours and…

The Architects Registration Board is the independent UK regulator for architects. They keep the official register of UK architects and…

This was at my own home, a bit of a ‘doer-upper’. Built in 1864 it is a solid Victorian house…

Permitted Development essentially allows someone to make alterations and additions to their buildings without needing Planning Permission. A set of…

There are two fundamental parts to architectural drawings. ‘Planning’ and ‘Detailed design’. The concept, appearance and layout design is undertaken…

Congratulations! A lot has been achieved by the time planning consent has been granted. A site/building survey has been undertaken,…

I had the pleasure of visiting Touch Design Group’s factory this morning to review the custom built kitchen going into one of my projects currently on-site. Everything is going to plan and the part-complete kitchen looks fantastic! It’s been carefully designed by Touch Design, myself and a very enthusiastic and knowledgable client. The design has evolved throughout the process and TDG’s attention to detail is unsurpassed.

Above: Left: ‘Letterbox’ solution connects 3 rooflights without impacting too greatly on roof structure. Centre: New beams allow complete removal of…

Pairing up with Hilary Lawson of 5 Points Architecture again, Tom and Hilary prepared a submission for an invite-only competitive…

In this example spalled bricks refers to surfaces of bricks being damaged by improper pointing. It is a broad subject…

  Planning consent has been achieved to convert and upgrade a courtyard scheme, converting some tired office space to new…

Rooflights, skylights, sun tubes/pipes, glass roofs and roof lanterns. They are all ways of bringing in daylight, sunlight and ventilation…

Whilst not an unattractive plant, Japanese Knotweed is an aggressive plant that has some particular impacts upon the building ownership…

Finding out as much information about your site early can influence how a project develops. There are various freely available…

Need? Well, probably not. However…. Architects can carry out a range of services, that can bring a positive influence to…

Pizza ovens, or earth ovens can be a great addition to any garden or terrace. They are a simple yet…

A recent visit to mid-Wales allowed a first hand experience of composting toilets, living in a yurt and additional research…

Right in the middle of Exeter is the magnificent Exeter Cathedral, a fine example of Gothic architecture. Its vaulted ceiling…

A small new farm shop needed some shop fittings. The inside of the barn has been lined with natural finished…

A planted or green roof can bring about many technical as well as aesthetic benefits to a project. The most…

A cavity tray is a barrier to water or moisture (usually formed of plastic) in a cavity wall. It slopes…

During some recent travels I visited New York. Partly built on reclaimed land from the natural harbour, surrounded by water…