Embarking on a home extension in London should be an exciting journey. It’s a chance to reshape your home, create the space you’ve always dreamed of, and add significant value to your property. Yet for many homeowners, the prospect is overshadowed by anxiety. Fears of spiralling budgets, endless delays, and stressful conflicts between architects and builders are all too common.
For decades, the traditional construction model – where you hire an architect to draw plans, then put those plans out to tender for builders to price – has been the standard. While this can work, it often creates a fractured process with gaps in communication and accountability. A solution emerged in the form of the Design & Build model, which brought both design and construction under one roof, with one team and one contract. This was a huge step forward.
But what comes next?
At Reltic BIM, we believe the future is already here. We call it Design & Build 2.0. It’s more than just a single contract; it’s a fully integrated, technology-driven philosophy designed to eliminate risk, deliver absolute certainty, and put you, the client, in complete control of your project from start to finish. This article will explain exactly what Design & Build 2.0 is, and why it represents a revolutionary new standard for delivering a London home extension.
The Traditional Problem: Why Home Extensions Can Be So Stressful
To understand why Design & Build 2.0 is so effective, we first need to acknowledge the flaws of the old way. The traditional „architect-bid-build” process separates the key players, creating silos of information and responsibility.
The Design Silo: An architect designs your project, focusing on aesthetics and spatial planning. They produce a set of drawings.
The Pricing Silo: Several builders are invited to price the job based on these drawings. They often interpret details differently, leading to wildly varying quotes and a lack of clarity on what is truly included.
The Construction Silo: You select a builder, and the construction begins.
This separation is where problems arise. When an issue occurs on-site (and they always do), the „blame game” begins. The builder might claim the architect’s drawings were unclear or contained errors. The architect might argue the builder hasn’t executed the plans correctly. You, the client, are caught in the middle, facing unexpected costs and delays. This lack of a single, accountable leader is the root cause of most construction-related stress.
The Solution Arrives: The Rise of Design & Build
The original Design & Build model solved the accountability problem. By combining the architect, designers, and construction teams into a single company working under one contract, the silos were removed. If an issue arose, there was only one team responsible for solving it.
This „1.0” model brought significant benefits:
A Single Point of Contact: No more juggling different parties.
Streamlined Communication: The design and build teams work together from day one.
Faster Project Timelines: With fewer communication gaps, the process is inherently more efficient.
This model has been the foundation of our business for years. But we knew technology could elevate it to an entirely new level.
THE EVOLUTION
What is Design & Build 2.0?
Design & Build 2.0 is not just a service; it’s a system. It takes the organisational benefits of the original model and integrates them with a powerful technology backbone. This creates a transparent, data-driven, and predictable process that fundamentally de-risks a property extension for the homeowner.
It is built on three core pillars:
1. The Digital Twin: Building Your Home Extension Twice
The foundation of our Design & Build 2.0 process is Building Information Modelling (BIM). Before a single shovel hits the ground, we build a perfect, data-rich 3D digital replica of your entire project. This isn’t just a pretty picture; it’s a „digital twin” where every structural beam, pipe, window, and light switch is modelled with millimetre-perfect precision.
This virtual construction allows our architects, structural engineers, and construction managers to walk through the entire project, test for clashes, and solve complex problems digitally. We can see exactly how a steel beam will connect or how plumbing routes will navigate through the structure. By resolving these issues in the model, we eliminate the risk of them causing expensive errors and delays on-site. This is the very essence of modern, intelligent home refurbishment and construction.
2. Total Transparency: The 24/7 Client Portal
In the traditional model, the client is often left in the dark, waiting for updates. Design & Build 2.0 demolishes this opacity. Every Reltic BIM project is managed through a secure, cloud-based client portal (Autodesk Construction Cloud).
From day one, you have 24/7 access to:
The latest version of your 3D model and all architectural drawings.
The detailed project schedule, showing what is happening each week.
Daily logs and progress photos directly from your site manager.
All project documents, budgets, and communications in one place.
This level of transparency empowers you with complete oversight and eliminates uncertainty. You are no longer a passive observer but an informed and integral part of the project team.
3. Data-Driven Certainty: Fixed Prices & Timelines
Perhaps the biggest anxiety for any homeowner is the budget. The precision of our BIM „digital twin” allows us to quantify every component of your house extension. We can calculate the exact amount of materials needed, from concrete and steel to tiles and paint.
This data-driven approach removes guesswork from the quoting process. It means that once the design is finalised, we can provide you with a guaranteed fixed-price contract and a detailed, fixed project timeline. The price we agree upon is the price you pay. This is the ultimate financial reassurance and a core tenet of the Design & Build 2.0 philosophy.
THE CLIENT EXPERIENCE
The Real-World Benefits of a Design & Build 2.0 Home Extension
What does this all mean for you and your project? It means a fundamentally different and superior experience.
Absolute Budget Certainty The fear of spiralling costs is eliminated. Our fixed-price contract means no hidden surprises or unexpected invoices. You can plan your finances with complete confidence, knowing the budget for your London home extension is secure from day one. This is one of the most significant advantages over traditional construction methods.
A Radically Reduced Timeline Our integrated, digital process is inherently faster. Design decisions are made with more confidence through 3D visualisation. On-site errors are virtually eliminated. Communication is instant through the client portal. All of this combines to dramatically reduce delays, ensuring your property extension is completed on schedule.
Complete Creative Control Without the Risk Our immersive 3D walkthroughs allow you to experience and refine your new space before committing to the build. You can test layouts, assess natural light, and perfect every detail in virtual reality. This gives you unparalleled creative control while ensuring the final design is technically sound and buildable, a hallmark of a professional turnkey service.
A Truly Collaborative & Stress-Free Experience With a single, dedicated project manager as your point of contact and 24/7 access to all project information, the process becomes collaborative and transparent, not confrontational. We take on the full responsibility for managing every trade, every delivery, and every inspection, allowing you to enjoy the creative journey of your home extension project without the traditional stress.
The New Standard for London Home Extensions
Design & Build 2.0 is more than just an efficient process; it’s our commitment to delivering a better client experience. It’s about using technology not for its own sake, but to provide clarity, build trust, and deliver on our promises of a fixed budget and a fixed timeline.
For anyone considering a home extension in London, this modern, integrated approach represents the new standard in residential construction. It’s a smarter, safer, and more collaborative way to transform your home.
(Ready to start your journey? Explore our Home Extension services to see how we can help.)
Ready to Experience Your Home Extension Differently?
If you’re tired of hearing construction horror stories and want a process defined by clarity, certainty, and control, then Design & Build 2.0 is for you.
Contact our team today for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your project. Let us show you how our modern approach can transform your vision into a beautiful reality, on time and on budget.
When you work with Reltic BIM, you’re choosing a team that uses the latest technology to ensure your project is accurate, efficient, and delivered to the highest standards.
Contact Us for Your Residential Project
Ready to start your project with complete clarity and confidence? Get in touch with the Reltic BIM team today to see how our process delivers better results with a guaranteed fixed price.
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Email: office@relticbim.co.uk
Phone: 020 3576 2851
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