ᐅ Is hiring an architect absolutely necessary?

Hello Gerd,

GerdBuchholz schrieb:

We want to build a single-family house in spring and have already designed our floor plan ourselves using a graphics program.
Do we absolutely need an architect to redraw our floor plan correctly from a technical perspective? Or is a draftsman and a structural engineer enough?

This question implies that you a) believe you can design a "buildable" floor plan, b) want to manage the trades yourself, and c) want to save money in the wrong place.

GerdBuchholz schrieb:

I heard that a certified structural engineer might also be sufficient.

If it’s about an exemption procedure (building permit/planning permission exemption), that can be an alternative.

GerdBuchholz schrieb:

If yes, how does the cost compare (roughly)?

A draftsman does not bill according to the official fee schedule for architects and engineers (HOAI).

GerdBuchholz schrieb:

Are there other reasons why one should definitely hire an architect (e.g., construction supervision, warranty)?

I increasingly wonder why people invest a lot of money in a single-family house but believe it’s essential to save at critical points of the construction project.

Best regards, Bauexperte

Bauexperte schrieb:

I increasingly wonder why people are willing to spend a lot of money on a single-family house but feel the need to save at crucial points of the construction project?

Sorry, but I can understand that. We also skipped hiring an architect. I preferred to invest that money in my staircase or my tiles. We just took a standard plan from a catalog and made only minor changes. Sure, an architect might have been able to perfect some details, but a nice staircase also makes a big impression...

Fortunately, our site manager is also an architect and reviewed the plans to avoid any major mistakes. But he hardly had to change anything. What I wouldn’t dare to do is to design a huge floor plan without any template, but if a standard design fits? Why not?

Hello,

kaho674 schrieb:

Sorry, but I can understand that. We also skipped the architect. I’d rather spend the money on my staircase or my tiles. We just took a standard plan from the catalogs and made only minor changes. Sure, the architect might have perfected some corner here and there, but a nice staircase also makes a statement...

I think we are basically talking (writing) past each other here...

You also have an architect behind the scenes when you sign with a general contractor. Even standard houses have been designed and structurally calculated at some point. You don’t necessarily have to meet this architect personally; well-trained draftsmen can handle the necessary discussions after the contract is signed. In fact, with the proper training, they can even submit a building permit / planning permission application for a standardized single-family home. Once you have moved in, you have definitely paid for architectural services.

To me, the original poster’s question sounded like they want to not only manage all trades themselves but also save the cost of proper planning because they have already designed “their” floor plan. I don’t know any draftsman who is qualified to start from scratch with a blank sheet of paper. If they were, they would have completed their education and become a licensed architect.

It was only based on this background that I wrote my answer. Since the original poster has not contradicted it so far, I assume I can still trust my gut.

kaho674 schrieb:

Luckily, our site manager is also an architect and took a look at it to make sure there were no major mistakes. But he hardly had to change anything. What I wouldn’t dare to do is create a huge floor plan from scratch without a template, but a standard design – if it fits? Why not?

I always find site-managing architects interesting. My personal opinion, and surely off-topic: to me, it’s like a management consultant. If they were all that good, they’d have their own firm / office.

Regards, Bauexperte

Bauexperte schrieb:
Hello,
I think we are really talking (writing) past each other here ...

Yes, I think so too. I assumed the original poster only meant the design/plan for the house. I wouldn’t expect someone to create and submit the entire planning plus structural calculations, etc., themselves. That easily amounts to what feels like 100 pages of just numbers and tables...

Bauexperte schrieb:

I always find construction-managing architects interesting. My very personal opinion and definitely off-topic: to me, it’s comparable to a management consultant. If they were all that good, they would have their own company/office.
Best regards, Bauexperte

Of course, he does. How else?

I wouldn’t recommend doing that.
I neither have the time nor the necessary experience to professionally supervise the trades. I’ve seen a few DIY designs from amateurs, and even as a layperson, I’m often shocked by the number of mistakes made—there’s a reason professional training takes several years. There are many tasks you can handle yourself, but project management and planning should be left to professionals. Additionally, it’s important to remember that if work is poorly done, you need someone who can be held liable. If you act as your own site manager, it becomes even more difficult to enforce claims than it already is—insurance companies can be quite tricky in these situations.