Browse Forums Renovation + Home Improvement 1 May 10, 2016 4:42 pm We want to renovate our house. We need: - advice on what is feasible from a engineering perspective - advise on how to design the house/drawing up the plans - the plan to be limited by our budget To my way of thinking the first issue is best dealt with by an engineer, the second by an architect and the third by a builder . The issue is that what one does affects the other (i.e., if the architect designs something, the engineer may then say it can not be done - or the builder may say it could be done but at too greater expense). I was wondering how you get around this kind of cycle? Are there firms that will do at least two of the three aspects? Otherwise I can't see how you don't end up going around in (costly) circles. Re: Architect vs builder vs engineer 2May 10, 2016 9:28 pm I'm not sure where you're located but in Vic an architect/draftsperson can be your first point of call. They can design to a known budget and also offer general advice on what is structurally viable (some even have in house engineers). Find one who will meet with you obligation free to develop a brief and get a quote Re: Architect vs builder vs engineer 3May 10, 2016 11:38 pm ljrt I'm not sure where you're located but in Vic an architect/draftsperson can be your first point of call. They can design to a known budget and also offer general advice on what is structurally viable (some even have in house engineers). Find one who will meet with you obligation free to develop a brief and get a quote Architect gets paid for their work Engineer gets paid for their work You get paid for your work Why should a builder not get paid for their advice on cost? Re: Architect vs builder vs engineer 4May 10, 2016 11:39 pm ljrt I'm not sure where you're located but in Vic an architect/draftsperson can be your first point of call. They can design to a known budget and also offer general advice on what is structurally viable (some even have in house engineers). Find one who will meet with you obligation free to develop a brief and get a quote Architect gets paid for their work Engineer gets paid for their work You get paid for your work Why should a builder not get paid for their advice on cost? Re: Architect vs builder vs engineer 5May 11, 2016 12:06 am ljrt I'm not sure where you're located but in Vic an architect/draftsperson can be your first point of call. They can design to a known budget and also offer general advice on what is structurally viable (some even have in house engineers). Find one who will meet with you obligation free to develop a brief and get a quote Architect gets paid for their work Engineer gets paid for their work You get paid for your work Why should a builder not get paid for their advice on cost? Re: Architect vs builder vs engineer 6May 11, 2016 8:28 am As per ljrt... Get a decent draftie or building designer in and discuss your project. Any of them with more than just a few years of experience should be able to give you a ballpark figure of what it is going to cost you and what your options are design wise and rough engineering options. An architect will do the same but take your budget and multiply x 2. Stewie Re: Architect vs builder vs engineer 7May 22, 2016 3:01 pm Also a qualified Interior Designer (not decorator). We have used architects 3 times now and they usually have an engineer and /or builder they can recommend. This time I am using an interior designer as I find their speciality is in designing space requirements, which is what need for this project. So if you are doing a big re-build and want something architecturally out of the box......go architect. If you are design wise and know what you want a Draughtsman can draw up your plans/ideas and a good builder can interpret your ideas as well. Also you let them know what your budget is and go from there. good luck. Re: Architect vs builder vs engineer 8May 22, 2016 8:40 pm Hi D101, There are companies that offer all these services under the one roof. Generally you start with the architectural plans. A good building designer will be able to advise on basic engineering standards and refer to an engineering consultant when required. When you discuss your budget make sure you allow for the cost of the drawings, both architectural & structural as well as any other reports needed on your site. Then give yourself a 10% contingency fund for the unexpected expenses that always come up in renovating. The remainder is your build budget and that is the amount your designer needs to work to. Good luck! Seek advice early, ask the dumb questions, avoid costly mistakes. Sage Passive Buildings provides independent and unbiased advice to home owners and renovators to give you the confidence to start. 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 9686 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. Remember, architect's… 3 10984 3 6402 |