Browse Forums General Discussion Re: Who Does what 2Jun 02, 2011 11:29 am My understanding is, Drafts persons can draw basic to intermediate level plans and provide drawings to the same standard of an architect where they are supervised by an architect. Drafts persons are usually TAFE trained and are best for simple changes or small additions to existing homes where you have existing plans. An Architect trains at University for 4-6 years and can give complete detailed drawings and even specify materials required and tolerances to be adhered to such as load spans, re-enforcement, timber and steel sizes and other components like glass, brick, tile, and roofing. An architect holds responsibility of the specification of the house. If the house where to be deemed unsafe An engineer can design a component of a house for you that is not readily available, must be custom made for purpose or certify existing components that may not be rated for the suited application. For designing a house you would: Get an architect or drafts person to design the floor plan. Get an architect to specify materials required Get an engineer to design foundations Re: Who Does what 3Jun 02, 2011 12:30 pm chrisandkate Get an engineer to design foundations And any beams, columns, special trusses The Harder You Try - the Luckier You Get ! Web site http://www.anewhouse.com.au Informative, Amusing, and Opinionated Blog - Over 600 posts on all aspects of building a new house. Re: Who Does what 4Jun 02, 2011 2:08 pm bashworth chrisandkate Get an engineer to design foundations And any beams, columns, special trusses Special trusses maybe but from what I could read it sounded like architect can specify these where a standard unit is available. I could very wrong, but i also prefer to have engineers involved on those spots too. Re: Who Does what 5Jun 02, 2011 2:12 pm Draftsman (my previous job) - will draw everything, all details. Architect - Will design it and make sure it will all look good. Engineer (current job) - Will make sure it wont fall down and is strong enough :p Re: Who Does what 6Jun 02, 2011 2:43 pm wrexter Draftsman (my previous job) - will draw everything, all details. Architect - Will design it and make sure it will all look good. Engineer (current job) - Will make sure it wont fall down and is strong enough :p From my experience (and general residential building industry consensus), architects will make it look good, but don't always get the practicality stuff right - the amount of times it gets to site and "just doesn't work" are countless! Whereas drafties and designers can generally draw it as well as design it to look good, so I've found drafties (a good one anyway) to be more reliable in that way because you've got both aspects covered Now I'll just wait for an architect to reply and tell me off! Re: Who Does what 7Jun 02, 2011 3:03 pm You are pretty much right wrexter. Draftspersons and designers would prepare 95% of all house plans and designs for residential houses. Architects 5%. However, if I was building a multi storey residential complex, or a residential flat building, it would be wise to engage and Architect. m.h. Re: Who Does what 9Jun 02, 2011 7:43 pm nev25 Theres a Designer in the Picture too????? LOL yes Most residential builders will have both designers and draftspeople - the designers actually "design" houses, so they are qualified/experienced to create house plans from scratch and redesign homes. Drafties at residential builders generally just make changes to the standard plans. Having said that though, many drafties are experienced enough to cover the design aspect - that's how designers begin, they are the drafties who have enough experience (and creativity) to become a designer and design homes. As A1 says, architects come into play when you need a complex or flats etc, something larger that needs someone more than just a residentially experienced person. Re: Who Does what 10Jun 02, 2011 11:11 pm CA3105 nev25 Theres a Designer in the Picture too????? LOL yes Most residential builders will have both designers and draftspeople - the designers actually "design" houses, so they are qualified/experienced to create house plans from scratch and redesign homes. Drafties at residential builders generally just make changes to the standard plans. Having said that though, many drafties are experienced enough to cover the design aspect - that's how designers begin, they are the drafties who have enough experience (and creativity) to become a designer and design homes. As A1 says, architects come into play when you need a complex or flats etc, something larger that needs someone more than just a residentially experienced person. SO what Qualifications does a designer have or are they just Draftspeople with experience Re: Who Does what 11Jun 02, 2011 11:11 pm CA3105 nev25 Theres a Designer in the Picture too????? LOL yes Most residential builders will have both designers and draftspeople - the designers actually "design" houses, so they are qualified/experienced to create house plans from scratch and redesign homes. Drafties at residential builders generally just make changes to the standard plans. Having said that though, many drafties are experienced enough to cover the design aspect - that's how designers begin, they are the drafties who have enough experience (and creativity) to become a designer and design homes. As A1 says, architects come into play when you need a complex or flats etc, something larger that needs someone more than just a residentially experienced person. SO what Qualifications does a designer have or are they just Draftspeople with experience Re: Who Does what?: Draftsperson, Architect and Engineer 12Jun 02, 2011 11:23 pm Just draftspeople with experience. I've never known of a Designer with more than a TAFE qualification (well, some may have a uni degree but it is not a requirement to become a designer). It's more about the hands on experience from enough years of drafting that enables them to capably design. Most draftspeople have the aim of moving into being a designer eventually, it's the next step up within the drafting field. In residential project builders, the designers are the ones that get to sink their teeth into what they are doing - they design the one-off homes, the display homes, the new standard plans - all the things from scratch or all the alterations to plans that really need to be thought about. The drafties get the more basic changes to make, like the standard prestart or contract changes that don't require major re-designing. But then as those drafties eventually get their experience, they learn how to design. Re: Who Does what?: Draftsperson, Architect and Engineer 13Jun 03, 2011 8:59 am There are two design phases in designing a house. Let's call them general design and engineering. The general design can be done by a draftsperson, building designer or architect. A draftsperson would provide little design input and basically draws up whatever you ask for. At the other end of the spectrum we have architects who would do a design that suits your block. Once the general design is complete, the design is subitted to Council for consent. Once this is obtaiend, structural engineering (and sometimes hydraulic and geotechncial engineering) work needs to be done. This is for footings, slab thicknesses, steel reinformcent sizes, concrete strength, beam sizes, any strucutral steel etc. This is done by a separate person since it's a full 4 year degree to learn this stuff and it's a disipline in itself. Hope this puts everything into perspective. Demolition August 2009, Construction Started September 2009, Completed December 2010 Re: Who Does what?: Draftsperson, Architect and Engineer 14Jun 03, 2011 3:10 pm Casa2 Once the general design is complete, the design is subitted to Council for consent. Once this is obtaiend, structural engineering (and sometimes hydraulic and geotechncial engineering) work needs to be done. This is for footings, slab thicknesses, steel reinformcent sizes, concrete strength, beam sizes, any strucutral steel etc. Just a little correction - engineers reports are generally done before council approval, because the council requires engineers details to be able to approve plans for a building licence. If a council doesn't receive engineers details with the rest of a building licence application, they won't give the final building licence approval until the engineers details are given to them. Unless you mean the council Planning Approval rather than Building Approval - as engineers details are not required for planning approvals Re: Who Does what?: Draftsperson, Architect and Engineer 15Jun 03, 2011 9:46 pm Architects design Draft persons document. They take the design and put it into a form for permits ie do the drawings in a way that they comply with Australian Standards, check the council regulations etc. Very few architects would produce final plans themselves, they would use a draftperson, or have a junior, graduate who does it. The current course for 'Building Designers' is a 2 1/2 year TAFE course. Or someone who has architecture training but not satisfied the requirements to be registered as an 'architect' could also call themselves a building designer.Some drafts people will help design, others prefer to just document. Depends on training and personal interest. Engineers work out the technical specifications for anything the draftsman or architect think needs it eg slabs, footings, buildings in high wind areas, buildings on the side hills etc etc. Like someone said, they make sure buildings wont fall down, sink into the ground, blow away or anything else. The draftsman will include any engineer specifications in the drawings. The engineering is the engineering. It's irrelevant how much material you have. Unless it fits the requirements of your design the engineer can't "make"it work. You might… 7 9687 3 6402 Your build is relatively simple, I believe your job can be easily done by a good building designer, you really do not need to pay for the architect. 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