Many new homeowners who are fresh to the home improvement experience don’t know where to start. They believe that hiring an architect is an unaffordable luxury that can be trimmed from the budget. But considering the financial and personal investment that is placed on one’s home, one should not compromise its future value. The goal of any home improvement project, should in addition to satisfying the functional requirements that meets the needs of the homeowners’ lifestyle, seek to preserve the overall integrity of the house. The goal must be sensitive to the original, but through thoughtful design develops a clear plan for future projects that does not need to be “undone” by future owners. Entrusting this responsibility to a contractor or builder is not using that individual for his expertise, whose knowledge and experience is better applied to the task of building.
The amount of disruption that any project presents can be directly related to how well the project has been organized from beginning to end. Often the biggest factor in many construction projects is the ability to maintain the scope of the project from exceeding the targeted budget. By obtaining the services of an architect, he or she can provide you with the guidance necessary to realize what is feasible with your construction budget, propose solutions that are realistic to achieve within your budget, as well as offer creative solutions that may not have been considered. Your architect can help you to establish a budget, define your objectives, and ensure that the project moves forward as scheduled.
The architect’s primary responsibility in any project, first and foremost, is to protect the health, welfare, and life safety of the public. This mandates an obligation to obey all building codes and to acquire the necessary approvals for any variance from the prescribed code. This compliance is also manifested by obtaining all necessary approvals that are contingent on obtaining permits issued from the building department. Today, in order for a person to legally claim the title architect, he or she must have received an accredited degree recognized by the National Architectural Accreditation Board, completed an internship under the supervision of a licensed professional, passed the Architectural Registration Exam, as well as met all the requirements of the state board for the state in which the individual plans to practice.
Architects can provide many important services that extend beyond the drawings necessary for the construction of a project. Architects act as the project owner’s representative throughout the entire building process by dealing directly with the general contractor [GC] and conducting observations of the contractor’s work to ensure that the work is being completed in accordance with the approved construction documents. Almost all projects at some point in the process, generally during construction, will have questions that must be answered or problems solved in the field. Architects are trained problem solvers. Therefore, it is critical that the project have a well organized set of construction documents, which not only include the drawings complete with all the necessary details, but in larger projects a coordinated set of specifications [specs], which convey important information through written narrative and describe the level of quality expected. In addition, a well-prepared set of documents also serves an important role in generating accurate estimates for the cost of construction.
When the GC has a thorough, well-coordinated set of documents, he or she does not need to make assumptions on quantities, materials, details, or level of quality and therefore doesn’t have to pass that “unknown” along to the client, with inflated numbers in order to protect their bottom line. This is even more critical for any project that will be soliciting contractors to competitively bid on the project, as the documents presented for pricing ultimately serve to establish the initial impression among the owner, GC, and architect. The voids in a poorly executed set of drawings can mean cost overruns, an endless barrage of questions, and last-minute details in order to correct errors in the field.
Architects also possess a wealth of resources, which include specialty contractors, engineers, material suppliers, and building trades people who have demonstrated their ability on previous projects and can serve as resources for new clients. Though it is impossible to reduce the possibility of errors or need for clarifications in any project, having a team that can work collaboratively can reduce the amount of finger pointing. This keeps the project on schedule and the team members from becoming adversaries.
Each construction project has its own set of variables, which should be defined as clearly as possible as quickly as possible. These may include defining what an owner can and cannot do on his or her property. It is much wiser investing a little time and money up front rather than charting a course down the wrong path that will inevitably require further investment in time, money, and frustration. By establishing a relationship early in the planning stages of your next project an architect can define the specific constraints of your property, which may include zoning laws, setbacks, buildable area, design guidelines, environmental approvals, and how these may affect the objectives of your proposal.
Gregory Holah is a registered architect in the state of Oregon and is the principal of Holah Design + Architecture, LLC. He may be reached at 503-453-7240 or greg@holahdesign.com or visit www.holahdesign.com.
