Design is only half the story when choosing an architect.
worthy
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
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Renovating on a 35k budget - design/build firm? architect? DIY design?
Comments (50)Do you have a Habitat for Humanity store or something similar in your area? You might consider trying a place like that and keep an eye out for nice cabinets that have been removed from another house that you could use in your remodel. Sometimes they have the counters too if they come out without breaking. Often these are removed from really large homes and there are enough cabinets for a smaller home and the extras can be used to make filler strips etc to make it look custom to your home. This is rarely an overnight exercise -- it could take quite a while and lots of searching to find something that could work, but it would be more budget friendly than all new. With your current budget you'll be choosing from the bottom end of the cabinet market. Also with your budget you should be considering that you might need to do some of the work yourself which is going to be tough with small children. You mentioned you can save $1000/month. Even if you waited a year to add to your savings that would make a significant difference to what you can afford as well as a contingency for other things that will definitely come up, its not an "if" but "when" when you start renovating and taking out walls. Plumbing or electrical or both could give you issues or pipes might need moving, venting moved etc. Plan carefully and come up with a "must have" list, then a "nice to have" list. Work with someone you can trust and work through what you can get from your must have list with your current budget. Good luck and congratulations on the new home....See MoreExterior Design & Color Help (2-storey Half Brick - Half Siding)
Comments (8)Ha, ha. Aluminum siding really is wonderful. The only reason we painted ours was because it was a horrible color, that fake redwood color. So very dated even 20 years ago. You should probably power wash the siding. Once the shutters are down, I'm sure their prior location will be noticeable since it will have no dirt underneath except for those bugs who have built their home there over the years (at least ours did). We were told that the only reason to replace aluminum siding was if the wood underneath was rotten due to water damage. If you don't have any leaking from your gutters, you are probably okay. If you ever do replace it, take it to a scrap yard for $$....See MoreUGLY to add second story over garage only?
Comments (16)Just a note about the two examples that Patricia Colwell posted, the first house is a multi-level where the rooms below are partially underground, which allows the bedrooms above not to loom quite so large above the rest of the house. Whereas the second house in blue has two full stories on the right next to a single story. In my area there were a lot of multi-level homes built in a way where the main level is slightly higher than the garage and has bedrooms above. In fact, my first house was like this. However, the main level of your house is currently level with the lot and so an addition on top of the garage is certainly going to be a lot taller than a multi-level / split level. There is some risk of an addition looking like this (or Patricia's example). I notice your current roof pitch is quite low as well. I think having a higher pitch and changing the direction of the pitch might help. Potentially if you build bedrooms where they are partially inside of the roof joists, you might be able to achieve something more along this line if you also raise the roof pitch on the main level. At the end of the day, you will need an architect to tell you what can be designed on top of your current house. Know that this is probably going to be incredibly costly....See MoreAdvice choosing Architect
Comments (17)@worthy what kind of payment terms would you be looking for? Our last build, we paid a retainer of 12.5%, a further 43.75% after completion of project background and schematic design and the balance after permit drawings were approved by the City. The contract allocated 300 hours for this service, after which time we were to be charged hourly rates of C$50-C$150, depending on the seniority of the contact. (Rates are from 4.5 years ago.) I was upfront with him, explaining a background as a licensed builder who wasn't going to be fussing, indecisive and second-guessing every choice. The dapper, suave, articulate architecture professor co-heading the firm was not who we actually worked with. (You think when you get a Robert A.M. Stern home, he's fussing over it?) Not having had experience with the City we were in, the Principal architect was mightily peeved at the extra hours he claimed his team had put in on the project without compensation. Footnote: As per @Mark Bischak, Architect, I see that Item 1.1 of the "Scope of the Work" includes"...walk the site." And 1.2 "Study sketches in 3D of ... main interior spaces...." Neither were done. ...... Unless we were in the C$10 million+ range and were a recognizable name, we would never have expected an architect to visit the site before a contract was signed. Professionals don't waste time. Unless it's on Houzz!...See Moreworthy
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoworthy
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoMark Bischak, Architect
2 years agoworthy
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoworthy
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoJeffrey R. Grenz, General Contractor
2 years agoworthy thanked Jeffrey R. Grenz, General ContractorJeffrey R. Grenz, General Contractor
2 years agoworthy thanked Jeffrey R. Grenz, General Contractorworthy
2 years ago
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