Help understanding role of architects/interior designers/builder!
aragall
8 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (6)
Virgil Carter Fine Art
8 years agoC Marlin
8 years agoRelated Discussions
Designer v. Architect v. Builder
Comments (2)Welcome to the forum. Since you've been reading for a while you've seen the range of opinions, and the tough love. Renovating an older home, 1800s? How much investigation of the house did the architect do? Hopefully you and the architect know quite a bit about the house at this point and could share with us. I'm not sure how large of a project this is. Presumably there have been a number of alterations over the years to varying and uncertain quality. Possibly materials that would be hazardous if disturbed through demolition. Or was everything completely renovated in the last 30 years? If there's been some investigation, then you might want to keep your architect. Rather than get someone possibly less qualified to do the construction documents--someone different who will have to play catch up or may not even ask any questions or be aware of all of the existing conditions before putting pen to paper. If you're not going to get enough details with this architect and you have a very specific outcome in mind, then you might as well write the check to someone who will give you that. But keep in mind that while it's never to early to think about details, you might not see them in the drawings now, depending on where you are in design and the architect's scope of services. Have you seen examples of construction drawings produced by your architect? Anyway, if you're concerned about total cost, stay with an architect and reduce the number of unknowns before the builders bid. At the end of the project it might be architect ($$), home designer ($$$), design-builder ($$$). Builders bidding on the whole thing right now would be assuming a lot of risk, and would rightfully account for this in their bids. Going with one builder means no competitive bidding. If the architect doesn't have a good understanding of the existing conditions, then no one should be getting the "thing drawn up" and you might want to consider a different architect....See MoreArchitect custom -> Builder Custom -> Semi Custom -> Tract
Comments (58)The question is...does it matter? I think it does, because words matter. We throw around words on this board constantly when we really mean other things, and I too am guilty of this. Custom really doesn't mean custom when used on this board, it means architect. So someone who maybe isn't experienced on this board may see the word "custom" and think they designed their house from the ground up, therefore it is very custom. When most posters really mean the house needs someone with professional design experience and some measure of talent to guide you through the design process or actually design the home. ----------- Also a better understanding of the differentiation can lead to better advice. In the area I was born in (an area that I still own land in), the major tract builder can build a 4,000 square foot house for under $280,000. If you can't differentiate between a tract and production builder, it is hard to understand how that is possible. ----------- Finally, I am not sure this board does a great job these days of helping people build a home. I might be alone in this, but I would prefer a well built, poorly designed home over a poorly built, well designed home. We focus so much on the design process and the freedom you have to make selections that we sometimes miss the real tragedy of production and tract builders, the shortcuts they take in construction in order to deliver those appealing prices. While I agree custom homes are better than semi-custom and semi-custom is better than production, etc., the real quality cutoff for me is control of the how the walls are built rather than where they are built. For me this is the biggest draw for an architect and the thing rarely touched on, but may actually pay dividends far into the future that make architects not only affordable, but profitable for those value conscious consumers. Again, this is just my opinion....See MoreBuilders and Designers Roles
Comments (28)The only subs I paid directly for were the well digger and the landscaper (and the latter appeared after the GC was essentially done, and yes, I really wanted to vet out and deal with directly the landscaper choices in the area without the GC). Landscaping I consider a totally different ball of wax. I didn't bring in a designer. Where things didn't matter to me, the GC chose. Where they did, I chose. I did purchase some of the actual items myself (major appliances, living/dining/kitchen lighting fixtures, front door, tile, kitchen hardware/faucets/sinks), and on the Home Depot items I did get his builder's discount. Supervisor fee? Wasn't one. Change Orders... he didn't do them as in charging for them. If I was willing and able to get something different without modifying essential structure, he put it in. Mind you, he wasn't the greatest, towards the end he decided to SLOW DOWN because he was no longer interested in constructing and seriously wanted to quit and retire. He also tried to cut some construction corners along the way. Just to note: My home is not "high end". It is a modified log home from a kit, where I'd say about 80% of the changes from original specs were made for the kitchen. I know how I like to cook, and how things so didn't work at all for me at the previous home, so I didn't feel any need to bring in a KD. Other than the semi-minor things the GC didn't listen to, it is an absolutely a marvelous kitchen! (I will note GW was a great help at that time....)...See MoreHelp Choosing an Architect/ Builder for New House Construction
Comments (25)@John Hrivnak, ArCH, AIA, MBA, NCARB, LEED AP - This is a problem with anecdotal evidence. You are not going to architect your way out of a bad builder. When we look at the advantages and disadvantages of design/build firms in aggregate it is pretty easy figure the trade-offs inherent in the model. This is not rocket surgery, it is a simple backward or forward vertical integration business combination and they have been happening a long time now. Somewhere deep in the past a wine maker said. "I think we would be more profitable if we grow the grapes." THE GOOD Every combination requires synergy, so the two parts being better together than they would be apart. In the case of the winery owning the grapes it is a change in the decisions around growing and harvesting grapes. Essentially you can tailor your wine to your grapes and your grapes to your wine. In design/build firms plans will be tailored to take advantage of builder proficiencies and enhanced communications. The designer will be able to anticipate areas where the builder may struggle and will design away from that when possible and communicate more clearly when not. Plans are more likely to hit cost targets as the design process is automatically designing to efficiency. There will also be more communication between the builder and designer during the design phase when they are in the same office. THE BAD Every combination has a sacrifice because of the exclusive nature of the combination. In the case of a winery, if you own the fields and have a grape harvest that is not particularly fantastic while a competing grower has a fantastic harvest, you are still required to use your grapes. If you sell your grapes and buy the others you have destroyed all of the value in the combination. In design/build firms that tailoring of plans to building efficiency will limit creativity. An architect for a design build firm is not going to design towards something the builder is not good at doing. They are going to design to strengths and away from weaknesses. Those strengths and weaknesses might not be shared by every builder. This is a tangible weakness and should be given serious consideration (e.g. If a builder has a preferred window supplier the designer is likely to find a way to incorporate those windows in the design even if a different window would be better). --- This entire thing assumes that quality is equal across the board, which it is not. I can assure you that the answer above is correct, yet it is also meaningless in your decision. Your decision is going to be based on your needs and your market. In your market you may well have several architect driven design/build firms (forward vertical integration), or you might have cost conscience builders providing design services (backward vertical integration). Do your due diligence and then pick the arrangement that you are most comfortable with. I would advise that you take pricing quotes with a grain of salt, the best value is not likely to depend on a quoted upfront price. Also I personally would not look at portability of plans from a design/build firm. This seems like the worst of all worlds... You limit design to strengths of one firm and then don't use that firm. Just my 2 cents... Good luck....See MoreUser
8 years agoUser
8 years agoworthy
8 years agolast modified: 8 years ago
Related Stories
FUN HOUZZ10 Leading-Role Movie Houses
Architecture and interior design steal the show in these 10 house-focused flicks
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNKey Measurements to Help You Design Your Kitchen
Get the ideal kitchen setup by understanding spatial relationships, building dimensions and work zones
Full StoryMOST POPULAR8 Things Successful Architects and Designers Do
Good architects tell a story and engage the senses. They understand the rules — and know when to break them
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGNTo Manage Stormwater Sustainably, Understand Your Site
Follow this guide to learn how water moves through your landscape and how best to manage it
Full StoryWORKING WITH PROSWant the Best Results? Join Your Design Team
Take a leading role in your home project to help the process go more smoothly and get what you really want
Full StoryWORKING WITH PROS3 Reasons You Might Want a Designer's Help
See how a designer can turn your decorating and remodeling visions into reality, and how to collaborate best for a positive experience
Full StoryWORKING WITH PROSConstruction Contracts: How to Understand What You Are Buying
Learn how plans, scope of work and specifications define the work to be completed
Full StoryARCHITECTUREThink Like an Architect: How to Work With a Design Wish List
Build the home of your dreams by learning how to best communicate your vision to your architect
Full StorySTANDARD MEASUREMENTSThe Right Dimensions for Your Porch
Depth, width, proportion and detailing all contribute to the comfort and functionality of this transitional space
Full StoryBATHROOM WORKBOOKStandard Fixture Dimensions and Measurements for a Primary Bath
Create a luxe bathroom that functions well with these key measurements and layout tips
Full Story
deleteduser