The Home Project Podcast helps homeowners navigate the complex world of architecture and construction with clarity and confidence. Hosted by architect Tina Patel and quantity surveyor Bart Kolosowski, the show breaks down how residential projects really work — from early ideas and budgeting, through design, planning, procurement, construction, and handover. Each episode explains the risks, terminology, and decisions that shape outcomes, translating industry knowledge into plain English. The goal is simple: to help you avoid costly mistakes, make informed decisions, and run a calmer, more predictable home project. Whether you’re planning an extension, renovation, or full refurbishment, this podcast gives you the insight professionals use every day — without the jargon, confusion, or horror stories.
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Booking probability
29%
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80/100
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The Home Project Podcast is a leisure podcast hosted by Tina Patel & Bart Kolosowski, with 23 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.
About the host
Tina Patel & Bart Kolosowski hosts The Home Project Podcast, a leisure show with 23 episodes published.
Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.
Episode #22
Structural Engineering Explained: Foundations, Costs And Cracks
Aug 6, 202658 min
Why does your structural engineer cost you more than expected? Engineering fees often take the blame, but the real cost drivers lie elsewhere. This episode unpacks what a structural engineer does on a residential project, from foundations and load paths to deflection and embodied carbon. We look at the design decisions, not the fees, that push steel tonnage and construction costs up. We also cover underpinning, why it is one of the most expensive interventions a homeowner can make, and how to tell which cracks in a wall need attention and which are simply a house settling. A £40 soil test can save thousands off a foundation bill. Get these decisions right and a project runs efficiently. Get them wrong and the cost, and the carbon, only grows. "A good engineer should be trying to find efficient solutions." - Alison Wallis You’ll hear about: What a structural engineer does Which building elements engineers design When engineers join a residential project Why efficient load paths cut costs Explaining deflection in plain terms How architects and engineers share options Design decisions that drive up costs Beam shape versus material weight costs Foundations, clay soil, and tree roots Embodied carbon in concrete and steel Cheap tests that reduce foundation depth Underpinning costs and cracks worth worrying about Connect with Alison: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alison-wallis-a5302919/ Weave Engineers - https://www.weaveengineers.co.uk/ Connect with us: Tima Patel - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tinapatel/ Bart Kolosowski - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bartkolosowski/ Produced by Between Tracks - https://www.betweentracks.com/
Party Wall Act Explained: What Homeowners Need to Know
Jul 23, 202658 min
Do you know if your renovation actually needs a party wall notice? Most homeowners assume the Party Wall Act exists to stop them building. In this episode, we unpack the Party Wall Act with a chartered party wall surveyor, covering exactly which works trigger it, from loft conversions and rear extensions to basement digs and chimney breast removals. We explain the notice periods, the difference between consent and a formal award, and why early, open conversations with neighbours nearly always save time and money. We also get into the practical traps: building too far from the boundary line, serving notice before planning permission is secured, and letting too many surveyors get involved on a single job. The episode sets out how the award process actually works, who pays for it, and what genuinely causes delays. Get the process right and the act works in your favour. Get it wrong, and a simple extension can turn into a costly, drawn-out dispute. "Consent trumps everything" in the party wall process. — Jonny Callard You’ll hear about: What the Party Wall Act actually covers Notice periods for different types of work Why consent overrides the statutory process Common works that trigger the act The three and six metre excavation rules Party structures in flats and leasehold buildings Why moving closer to boundaries can help Sharing a wall with your neighbour How the surveyor and award process works The role of the third surveyor Who pays for surveyors and consultants What really causes party wall delays Connect with Jonny Callard: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonnycallard/ Thomas & Thomas Surveyors - https://ttsurveyors.com/ Connect with us: Tima Patel - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tinapatel/ Bart Kolosowski - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bartkolosowski/ Produced by Between Tracks - https://www.betweentracks.com/
The Hidden Costs Quietly Killing Your Renovation Budget
Jul 10, 202656 min
Are your renovation decisions quietly draining your budget? The advice to get a structural survey is well established. The advice to get professional input before you even make an offer is not. In this episode, we dig into the decisions that add cost without improving your home. Buying a property without the right professional input, skimping on surveys, engaging contractors before there is anything to price against. We cover what to check before you purchase, why a measured survey is non-negotiable, and how developing the brief properly shapes both the design and the budget. We also look at how contract terms, unrealistic timelines and late design decisions quietly inflate construction costs in ways that are almost impossible to see coming. Get these decisions wrong and you will spend more, build less, and end up with a home that does not work for you. Get them right and every pound goes further. "The best projects are done in partnership." - Uwe Schmidt-Hess You’ll hear about: Why buying without advice adds hidden cost Planning history and freeholder risks Building Safety Act and tall buildings Pre-purchase architect advice explained Why cheap measured surveys cost more How early contractor quotes mislead you The danger of skipping cost consultants Contracts, bonds and unrealistic timelines Brief development versus chasing an aesthetic On-site changes and abortive work costs Why partnership makes projects cost-effective Connect with Uwe Schmidt-Hess: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/uwe-schmidt-hess-4a868383/ Patalab - https://patalab.com/ Connect with us: Tima Patel - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tinapatel/ Bart Kolosowski - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bartkolosowski/ Produced by Between Tracks - https://www.betweentracks.com/
Should budget or design come first? The assumption is that a design can always be scaled back once the costs land. We explore why setting a budget and developing a design in isolation is one of the most costly mistakes in residential projects. We cover what happens when design runs ahead of budget, why early-stage cost planning is essential, and how hidden costs, from structural work and party wall obligations to long lead-time materials and contractor delays, can derail even well-resourced projects. We also look at why the full project team, including quantity surveyors and contract administrators, should be engaged from the outset, and why timely decision-making is as critical as the design itself. Get this wrong and you face a tender bomb. Get it right and your project stays coherent from brief to build. "There's nothing worse than a tender bomb." - George Charalambous You’ll hear about: Budget vs design: the chicken and egg Why cost and scope must evolve together Hidden costs beyond the build price What happens when design outruns budget Early-stage cost plans and QS involvement Structural work and its cost impact Planning consultants and associated fees Party wall: the most-overlooked cost Long lead times and material delay costs Timely decision-making on site Choosing the right contractor: cost vs value When to prioritise specialist expertise Connect with George Charalambous: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-charalambous-mrics/ T&T Surveyors - https://ttsurveyors.com/ Connect with us: Tima Patel - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tinapatel/ Bart Kolosowski - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bartkolosowski/ Produced by Between Tracks - https://www.betweentracks.com/
<p>Are you spending money before your project has even begun?</p>
<p>The assumption is that the sooner works start on site, the sooner the project is finished. In reality, a premature start is one of the fastest ways to waste significant money.</p>
<p>We cover where the real pre-construction money traps are, from missing permissions and party wall awards to CIL charges, overcomplicated building management systems, and the VAT savings most homeowners never know to ask about.</p>
<p>We also look at why cutting corners on fees and structural elements almost always costs far more than...
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