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Steve,
Two years ago I too designed my own house with Home Architect and then looked for a builder. The builder we hired suggested that an architect take a look and introduced us to one he had worked successfully with before. He ended up redrawing the plan and making several changes that we never even thought of and are great (including changing a stair well that wouldn’t have met code). We paid him by the hour and he did no construction supervision so it was quite reasonable.
I think that the architect was well worth the money we paid him and, considering that that stair may have been built below code and had to be modified later, may have saved us money. I say hire an architect to take a look.
As for the PE, at least in the Boulder CO area an engineer’s stamp is required. Not too expensive either – the architect worked with a couple of firms that gave us a pretty good deal.
We did check out designers and found that their fees range from dirt cheap to more than we paid the architect. In any case shop around so you know the market.
tf
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Steve,
Two years ago I too designed my own house with Home Architect and then looked for a builder. The builder we hired suggested that an architect take a look and introduced us to one he had worked successfully with before. He ended up redrawing the plan and making several changes that we never even thought of and are great (including changing a stair well that wouldn't have met code). We paid him by the hour and he did no construction supervision so it was quite reasonable.
I think that the architect was well worth the money we paid him and, considering that that stair may have been built below code and had to be modified later, may have saved us money. I say hire an architect to take a look.
As for the PE, at least in the Boulder CO area an engineer's stamp is required. Not too expensive either - the architect worked with a couple of firms that gave us a pretty good deal.
We did check out designers and found that their fees range from dirt cheap to more than we paid the architect. In any case shop around so you know the market.
tf
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Steve,
As an architect, I am some what biased. I think that a good architect can be invaluable to any project. I think Tom's approach and recommendations are accurate. The key is to find an architect whom you are comfortable with, and will review the design and make suggestions or comments. If you have a builder in mind, ask them about architects that they would recommend. Take a look at the architects past projects and make sure you like their designs, and their personality.
The project you describe is very simple, and a good architect can review it with you in a limited time, and make suggestions. Be upfront with the architect about what you want and the limited role you have in mind for them. I will admit that some architects are control freaks, who will not want such limited involvement. But many of us would be more that glad to take a quick look at your design and make comments. Remember to keep an open mind about any comments you may receive. It seems like you have put a lot of time and thought into the project, and I wish you the best of luck.
Chris
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I would say yes.
You did not mention local building codes and inspections. My experience in rural areas (only in the upper Midwest) is that some areas are so rurual that there are no permits and no inspection. I once built a house the design of which contained no fire blocks. When I asked about that, the local county authorities informed me that the if there was a fire the insurance adjuster would probably be there before the volunteer fire department. They could have cared less about the design, and didn't inspect a thing.
The moral of this story is that if you have local inspectors, my experience has shown me that they gloss over any plan done by an architect, and study in detail any plan done by a contractor. Not that this is bad, it is clear that architects are supposed to have more training and experience. When I do complex remodels in large urban areas where I work now, I almost always get plans done by architects with whom I have relationships with, pay them by the hour and sleep better. You will find that plan check, inspections, and other details breeze by. If you try it yourself, they will (and are probably justified) grill you.
So my recomendation is that if you are in an area which has plan check and inspections, by all means get an architect.
As for picking one, interview 5-6, what will they charge? Do they have time? Ask for contractors who have used them and speak directly with them. Framing contractors are probably the best source, as most mistakes that can't be corrected are in framing.
Good Luck!!
*I both designed and Built (Swung the hammer built) my own house a few years ago. By designing and laying it out yourself I'm sure you're quite intimate with the reasons why things are laid out the way they are. I designed my house remembering the things I liked and despised about previous dwellings. So, CAN you design it yourself? You've already done that.Is it up to, or as you want it to be, better than code requirements? Do you know what the code is? Have you read the code (ZZZZzzzzzz!!) that applies to your area? I'm sure your software has some sort of checks built in, but your local code may exceed these minima. At the least, show the plans to your local official. He should check them over for compliance and red tag any deficiencies. He SHOULD. However, it's still YOUR house. Are you BUILDING the house yourself (swinging the hammer?), or building the house yourself (contracting it out)? If the former, there may be things not spec'd out on the paper plans that you know need to be done, and you will do them as you go along, because YOU KNOW they need to be done. If the latter, the thoroughness or detail of the work that will be done will be just what is specified in your building plans. If you don't list blocking for cabinets and stair rails, it may not get installed. If the framers are consciencious good guys, they'll do it, but may charge you with a change order. You may get a bead of caulking instead of proper flashing. You may get funky electrical circuits with 14 ga instead of 12 ga throughout. You may just get 15 lb felt instead of an ice shield on your roof. You may get drywall cracks around window/door openings as the house settles because you didn't specify to the rockers not to put seams on the corners of window and door openings. You may get green board and mastic for your tiled tub or shower surround instead of cement backer and modified thinset. You may be calling Freddy Lu to "come take a look" because of the breezes that blow through in winter, even with the doors and windows closed. The beat goes on...and so will the heartache.Your dream house that you lavished over for so long in the design phase may be a disappointment in the end because the full design didn't quite make it from your brain on to the paper. It will all be a result of insufficient detail in the plans and incomplete spec sheets. A good builder will slap you over the head, ask "...didn't you mean to include this..." and then go do it right. An average guy may do just the minimum that's spec'd, and it'll show within the first few years of ownership. Because you're asking if someone should look at your plans, I think you should do just that. That's not a slam, it's a question on your part that shows you're concerned with the quality of product you will be living in. I give you credit. Others have given wonderful ideas and justification for having someone else take a peek.I love my house. I mean, I really LOVE it. It's me, it's my wife, it's my family. It's solid, tight, and comfortable. Every nook, every jog, every detail is there for a reason. I take great pride and satisfaction more for what's behind the walls then what's visible to the eye. You should have that same feeling when you're in your new place. Do it right this time, because if you screw it up, your wife will never give you a second chance!Best of luck...
*Mongo;I was taken by your wise words, and though I'd add my own.I made the mistake of carefully designing our home, and then having a contactor build it. (Even though I was doing the electric, finish carpentry and paint/finishing.) It is around 4200 sqft.I learned the hard way that I know more about building a quality home than the contractor, and most of his subs. As you aptly point out, the myriad of issues crop up which all add up. It is almost impossible to specify everything in a contract or plan. While we try to build all are projects at least once in our minds, sometimes the best way shows up once we're hammering. I've often said that a house is simply an unending collection of details. I recently read that Miles van der Rohe said "God is in the details". I like that.I recently cleaned up the hard drive on my old computer, and located 87 memo/faxs/notes to the contract dealing with corrections/problems etc. I spent at least four times more time on site than he did.In retrospect, I should have contracted it myself, and with the $30k I saved, paid for the paint and maybe the finish work (its fun but drove the little women nuts waiting).Like you, knowing the integrity and thought that creates this home gives me great satisfaction. I imagine that a nickname my wife uses may fit you as well...Mr. Overkill (Adam S)
*You may be required to have an architect or engineer in your state. Instates that require an engineer even if there is an architect, the architectis redundant. If you have never done working drawings, you will need tofind some one who has. If you intend to use a builder for all orpart of your project, you may find a designer/builder who will work withyou from the beginning. Design/build has a number of meanings, soyou need a person with the right qualifications. Interview and check referencescarefully. I always recommend engineering,but often architects can do theirown.As far as building over code, see my post. "Isover building better building?"
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Late this summer I plan to start my new house. I have been using 3D Home Architect for about 3 or 4 months working on floor plan, I have it maybe 98% the way I think I want it.
The house will be a 32 x 64 all brick rectangle , with a full length 8 foot wide porch ,front and rear. A Gull Wing truss roof ,( a local co. can build),large master BR in 1 end ,
2 smaller BRs and bath in other end . The rest is more or less and open floor plan. And a full , unfinished basement , with radiant heating tubes installed now, just in case I do finish it sometime. With an open ( on 3 sides ) 24 x 36 carport , 1st 12 foot bay will be a breezeway , then waist high brick wall , and then 2 - 12 foot bays ,with waist high wall on back and side. I want this house built OVER CODE with lo high end materials and very
good workmanship. The house is VERY simple design , SO !!
Now ,do I need a Architect , a PE , a good sharp Draftsman or Designer or WHAT ??
And how do I find ,( I live in rural East TN. 50 miles from Knoxville) , And what
questions do I ask , to see his work , resume , ect. ??