Question 1

How much will our project cost?

Accepted Answer

The cost of your project will be determined by its size and scope. We can put you in touch with consultants and builders who can give you an estimated cost before applying for building consent.

Question 2

We have a design that we have drawn, can you incorporate this into our project?

Accepted Answer

Yes, absolutely. We have found that when a client approaches us with a design in mind, it takes a lot to change their mind. We use that design as a starting point and develop the concept design as we work through the process. The final design may look similar or it may look completely different to the initial client design but we encourage clients to be part of the design process.

Question 3

We are based outside of Christchurch, can you work on our project?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we can but we like to meet our clients in person before commencing. If we can’t meet in person, we can connect via online meeting platforms (eg Zoom) before commencing any project.

Question 4

How long will the entire architectural design process take?

Accepted Answer

The timeline for our work is determined by the size of the project. For a mid- sized alteration, we would recommend allowing six months approximately from fee agreement approval to having a building consent lodged at council.

Question 5

What is a building consent and do we need one?

Accepted Answer

A building consent is required under the building act if your project requires certain building work. Most projects will require a building consent and we are happy to liaise with council on your behalf to gain a building consent for you before commencing construction. Some work can be completed without a building consent via a building consent exemption, see below for more information.

Question 6

Can you complete building consent exemption work?

Accepted Answer

Yes we can, a building consent exemption can be gained for minor works on a building project within certain limitations outlined by local / central government without having to go through the full building consent process, this will save you both time and money.

An approved building consent exemption is also attached to your property file making it clear to any future purchasers of your property that the work has been carried out by licensed tradespeople.

Question 7

How long does the building consent process take?

Accepted Answer

Councils are required by law to have your building consent processed within 20 working days; this does not always equate to four weeks though. We usually recommend our clients allow 6-7 weeks from the time the building consent application is lodged to having your building consent approved. Some applications may take longer than this due to council work load and RFI items raised during processing.

Question 8

What is a council RFI and can we avoid them?

Accepted Answer

An RFI is an abbreviation for Request For Further Information, these are requested by the council during the building consent processing stage. Our documentation aims to reduce the amount of these RFI’s we receive thus providing you with a building consent in a timely manner.

Question 9

Do you work on earthquake damaged buildings?

Accepted Answer

Yes we do, we have worked alongside other consultants on earthquake repairs of various sizes.

Question 10

What is a resource consent and do we need one?

Accepted Answer

A resource consent is required if your design does not comply with the local council district plan rules. We will advise when this is required during the design process. If we believe we cannot obtain a resource consent for you, we can put you in touch with a planning consultant who will be able to.

Question 11

Can you deal with council on our behalf?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we are more than happy to provide this service. We have built trusted relationships with various councils over time and know the information they require to get a building consent approved in a professional and timely manner.

Question 12

We don’t have a builder, can you recommend one?

Accepted Answer

We work with various builders with specific skillsets suited to different construction projects. We have worked with these builders for a number of years over dozens of projects and are happy to recommend them to you.

Frequently Asked Questions