Why don't you want an architect involved?

I'm not interested in hiring an architect because I'm trying to keep the costs down. I can't do a whole house remodel here - but if I can open the galley kitchen up to an adjacent room without a huge amount of time, cost and trouble, that would help it seem a little less cramped. The contractor suggested that the work involved wasn't that big of a deal - $800-1500 for an LVL beam. That's reasonable, but if it also requires thousands of dollars to an architect, then I won't even pursue this possibility.

Unless you're not interested in a permit which would worry me, you DO need a structural engineer to draw a plan and figure out a workable plan that will keep the house standing. I suppose it's possible to use only him/her, if you know what you're doing. We moved an exterior wall and hired an architect who was very reasonable, (lucky!) and she in turn hired the structural engineer and the energy calculation guy--we're in CA. Yes, it costs, but when it comes to moving load-bearing walls I think it's necessary.

Right, as I said in my initial post, I understand that I would need a structural engineer. And we want all work fully permitted of course. What I am asking is whether I also need an architect. And I guess a corollary would be why? Unlike what sjerin describes, there are no outside walls moving, this would simply be taking a 30" wide interior doorway and opening it with a beam so that it would be approximately 90" wide, enabling each run of cabinets in the small galley to continue uninterrupted into the adjacent room.

I'm not trying to cut corners --I have no intention of winging any of this - or doing any part of the demo or construction myself for that matter. I am just trying to find some relatively simple, relatively lower-cost and less invasive ways to remake the space I have into a more functional kitchen. If I were redesigning the entire layout of the house or even just the first floor, hiring an architect to do the design would be obvious. But there is no design going on here; just widening a doorway. It would just never occur to me that something like this would require an architect.

Talk to your town/city building department. See what they say. We needed an architects stamp on plans in order to get the work permit. Each area is different. Maybe the structural engineer can stamp it. If you do need an architect, ask around. We found a civil engineer who was an architect on the side. Not a great kitchen designer but excellent with the support needed, etc.

Best advice I can offer is get to know the building department in your area. They will tell you what you need.

It is entirely possible that you don't even need an engineer. I obviously haven't seen your house, but if it is a simple bearing wall, the building code specifies the header required. If there are any columns inside the wall that you plan to remove, you would definitely need an engineer.

Check your local building department. Every county and many cities and towns have different requirements for what kind of projects require plan review and whether those plans need a professional seal and what type. North Carolina doesn't require an architect's seal on any 1 or 2 family residential, but my county still requires plans to be submitted for review for almost every little thing. The neighboring county doesn't even require plans for a new home permit. If a seal is required, sometimes an engineer can seal what would be considered an architectural drawing. Many towns have a dedicated number just for homeowners who are trying to figure out what is required for whatever job they want to do.

I was going to say the same thing as Debrak. If you are pulling permits, your city may require an architect approval. Ours does-which is annoying for something as simple as just moving a doorway.

Aha, I get it now! THANK YOU! (And sorry, I realize that I'm clueless.) I am in a very bureaucratic area of the world just outside DC. I knew I would need a permit, but a quick look at the County requirements suggests a lot of detailed construction drawings and in complicated cases (not sure if this qualifies) a professional seal. Even in lieu of that, it sounds like a contractor couldn't or wouldn't draw up the plans for permit submission themselves. Hmm.

I'm struggling because truthfully the doorway widening doesn't really win me much other than a bit of light and better sightlines through the house. It's such a stupid kitchen, a narrow corridor that leads to the main living and dining rooms (an addition to the original small house.) And there are no good tradeoffs for improving it short of blowing up the entire house!

Now if anyone has any advice on plumbing (maybe I'll try that forum as well) I'd be even more incredibly grateful!

1) plumbing is the same for kitchen and laundry. Mine back to one another and share the same drain lines and vent stack and the water lines are in the same run together. Distance from the vent stack is a consideration if they are going to share it so you need to verify code for that in your plan or you might need a second vent stack if the areas are too far apart. If they are side by side or very close you are fine.

2) You just need a header to open up a load bearing wall. Your building dept will sign off your plans prior issuing the permit and verify that you have everything to code. I highly recommend opening up the wall. I did two in the house I live in now and one in the house I am moving to in a couple weeks. I was fortunate in all three cases there was a pocket door in the location I opened the wall so my long header was already there but it really isn't technically challenging to put one in.

The difference in feel of the houses and flow from the rooms is amazing.

kitchen sink and washer drains will be different. The washer may have a standpipe with a trap at floor level. I'm also not sure if the diameters are different (2" for one, 1.5" for the other). go ask on the Plumbing forum.

Yes, definitely post the plumbing question on the Plumbing Forum. There are a number of very helpful, knowledgeable folks there.

Light and sightlines are everything! Don't give up on this. We widened the doorway from our dining room to the kitchen and its wonderful!

My reference above was to a laundry tub, I should have clarified that. I have two older homes right now and don't have a washer box in either and drain and plumb my laundry right to and from the the laundry tub. Plumbing is the same if you have a laundry tub and I am not familiar enough with a washer box to comment on how it would differ in that arrangement!

Wow I'm a bit stunned at those of you who think that doing work illegally or work that risks life safety in any manner is ok. Architects and engineers have licenses for a reason. For the type of work you are describing, the costs are minimal, especially in relation to construction. Architects can design beams, etc so you wouldn't need to hire both a structural engineer and an architect. Additionally once an architect has specified the work, the contractor will be required to build to that standard.

If nothing else, speak to a professional before proceeding. They will tell you what it will take to get your job done.

Felixnot, I'm not sure where you're reading any approval of doing work illegally or in a risky fashion. I explicitly wrote in my posts that I will hire professionals and get permits. What I was asking was why an architect for something that doesn't entail any design work; I got some help understanding why that MIGHT be the case. I don't believe anyone here encouraged me to do illegal work or dodge permits, so I don't see any point to your scolding.

I'd call around and get some estimates for rerouting pipes through the slab. It might be less than opening the wall.