1. Describe how the house needs to work.
Start with the change you need in everyday life. Is the kitchen too small? Do you need a bedroom upstairs, somewhere to do laundry or a better connection to the garden? Include the existing rooms that will change as well as the new space.
In our Rugby kitchen extension, moving the kitchen into the new rear addition allowed the old galley kitchen to become a bathroom and laundry room. Those changes to the original house belonged in the brief as much as the extension itself.
2. Share your drawings and project stage.
Send the drawings you currently have and say whether they are still being developed, planning is pending, or you are ready to discuss construction. Include any structural information already prepared, and identify anything that remains unresolved.
You can still contact Milford & Sons at the ideas stage. Charlie works alongside an architect who can provide plans and structural calculations. An early conversation helps identify what design information is needed before a detailed construction quotation can be prepared.
3. Define where the building work finishes.
Make a written list of what you want included. A shell and a completed kitchen are different scopes. Discuss roof construction, glazing, kitchen supply and installation, plumbing, electrics, plastering, flooring and decoration. Include changes to existing rooms and outside work where required.
Also identify who is supplying major items. The Rothwell extension incorporated a client-supplied Wren kitchen. Making that responsibility clear helps separate supply decisions from the builder’s installation work.
4. Explain your priorities and budget.
Share the budget you are working towards and which elements matter most. The roof form, glazing, finishes and extent of alterations can all affect what is involved. If there are optional parts, list them separately so they can be discussed clearly.
In Rothwell, Charlie advised a flat-roof option for the upper extension to help the required space fit the agreed budget. That was a project-specific design decision, not a universal recommendation or a price for another home.
When comparing quotations, look at the stated scope, exclusions, supply responsibilities, allowances and VAT treatment alongside the total. Ask about unclear items before assuming two prices cover the same work.
5. Describe the site and daily arrangements.
Include your full address, access to the side or rear, changes in ground level and any practical restrictions you already know about. Say whether you hope to stay at home, which facilities you rely on and who will be using the property during the work.
The Northampton utility extension needed a building method suited to its tiered garden and lower-level garage. In Leicester, a temporary kitchen and phased work helped the family remain at home. Each arrangement needs to be discussed for the particular site.
6. Separate your preferred date from the build programme.
Tell Charlie when you would like to start and whether a particular event or move affects your plans. Distinguish design preparation and approvals from time on site. The agreed scope, materials, construction sequence and availability need to be considered before a programme is confirmed.
Finished projects are useful examples of how the team works, but their durations are not a promise for another property.
Send what you have, then agree the next step.
Use the project enquiry form to give your name, email, phone number, site address, project type, current stage and a short description. Mention any drawings you have so Charlie can discuss how to review them with you.
You do not need every answer before making contact. The aim is to establish the intended scope and what still needs to be worked out, so the next conversation moves the project forward.
Discuss your extension ↗