What, do they have little windshield wipers that come on when it rains?

No, they close, great idea, I had one in my bedroom as a child and constantly had a big rain puddle on the floor cause I always left it open.

That is actually fiendishly clever. Or a gimmick, I can't decide which.

Coincidental timing - my architect is recommending same and they are quoted at 731.85 whereas regular velux are 301.35 so I'd be very interested in a contact for this if you could help.

I'll send you a PM now for my guy he got us a great deal on our windows and doors.
They are gimiccy I agree but when it's lovely and warm they are great for cooling the place down and if you forget to close them they automaGically close if it rains!

We have to do quite an extensive refurb job + attic conversion, planning permission is also required, I'm dreading it. To those of you who have used architects: did they do the job on fixed fee or percentage of the construction cost? And what percentage should we be paying? Did your architect use builders they already had a working relationship with? Because i guess this would be worth paying for, if there was some trust already established. And did they do the site supervision? Any experiences appreciated.

Can you PM me the contact too? Just in case I ever need it

Most architects will do a fixed fee, if they don't, either insist on it or go elsewhere. Percentages used to be 12-15% for full service, sketch to finish, but almost all firms have come down on these significantly.



To be honest, in a house extension a client will quite often insist on a builder they know, most architects would prefer to use someone they have worked with before or at least that they can get references for.

Good luck with it.

Would you not be worried about kickbacks from the builder to the architect? Or at least an overly cozy relationship?

Thanks for all the feedback folks; consensus seems to be marginally on the side of architects being money well spent.

Without the price tag, the 7 years of training, the artistic talent, and the professional focus on designing optimal living spaces?

I've no doubt some builders are more design-focused than others and for a small extension a good builder may have enough experience from building similar ones to do a great job for you. But it is a bit insulting to an architect to say that the only difference between him or her and a builder is the price tag.

We got offered a 'finder's fee' from a kitchen manufacturer Think it was 5%.
The sad thing is that we probably would have given their name to clients if we'd been asked otherwise (as in never worked with these guys before, but their stuff looks good, as it did), but as a result, put them on our 'never contact again' list. Probably not what they intended.

I don't know any architect who has ever taken or been offered a kickback (excluding above kitchen guys). That's not to say it doesn't happen, but I've never heard of it.

PM Sent

Glad to hear. I have no reason to think it goes on, but especially in the case where the architect is being paid on commission, *and* choosing the contractors, it would make me nervous. Less so in the case of a flat fee of course.