Hello everyone,
I need your help again.
We are still looking for an architect, and I’m still unsure about the best way to approach this.
- Unfortunately, we have no recommendations from friends, acquaintances, or family.
- We have asked owners of houses we like that are currently being built or recently completed, but none of them worked with an architect; they handled the planning themselves.
I have now gathered some addresses, focusing on firms located near us. Their websites don’t provide much information, and none seem to specialize exclusively in single-family homes—most also offer commercial projects, and so on.
Should I simply call and arrange a non-binding consultation to find out whether they can deliver what we want and if the personal chemistry feels right? Should I contact three different ones to have a choice?
What if they design a draft that we don’t like at all?
Is it possible to agree upfront that the service will only involve planning and drawing the floor plan and nothing more? How are the costs for floor plan planning usually handled? So far, I understood that architects’ fees are calculated based on the construction budget. But how can costs be estimated if I only want the floor plan drawn? Whether I build it using more affordable or the most expensive materials doesn’t initially affect the floor plan itself.
I really have a thousand questions in my head and don’t know how to start.
I’ve already looked at hundreds of floor plans from providers offering turnkey builds online, but never found one that really fit.
We don’t want a super fancy design house with unusual architecture, but we do have a few specific requirements, which is why we’re considering working with a designer.
Does anyone have any tips for me?
I need your help again.
We are still looking for an architect, and I’m still unsure about the best way to approach this.
- Unfortunately, we have no recommendations from friends, acquaintances, or family.
- We have asked owners of houses we like that are currently being built or recently completed, but none of them worked with an architect; they handled the planning themselves.
I have now gathered some addresses, focusing on firms located near us. Their websites don’t provide much information, and none seem to specialize exclusively in single-family homes—most also offer commercial projects, and so on.
Should I simply call and arrange a non-binding consultation to find out whether they can deliver what we want and if the personal chemistry feels right? Should I contact three different ones to have a choice?
What if they design a draft that we don’t like at all?
Is it possible to agree upfront that the service will only involve planning and drawing the floor plan and nothing more? How are the costs for floor plan planning usually handled? So far, I understood that architects’ fees are calculated based on the construction budget. But how can costs be estimated if I only want the floor plan drawn? Whether I build it using more affordable or the most expensive materials doesn’t initially affect the floor plan itself.
I really have a thousand questions in my head and don’t know how to start.
I’ve already looked at hundreds of floor plans from providers offering turnkey builds online, but never found one that really fit.
We don’t want a super fancy design house with unusual architecture, but we do have a few specific requirements, which is why we’re considering working with a designer.
Does anyone have any tips for me?
B
Bauexperte28 Nov 2014 11:08Hello,
Assuming your plot is at an average of 55.00 m (180 feet) and the adjacent street is at an average of 55.50 m (182 feet) above sea level, it makes perfect sense not only to adapt to the street level but also to plan at least one extra step higher so that a heavy rainstorm does not cause minor flooding. Water should always run away from the house, not towards it! Therefore, your house should be planned at around 55.70 m (187 feet) above sea level. If the development plan specifies a one-story building with an eaves height of, for example, 4.00 m (13 feet), those 70 cm (28 inches) can already be problematic since they also affect the knee wall height. This shifts the 2.00 m (6.5 feet) line inside the attic.
Your architect, however—since there is no other way—starts at sea level "0" and now diligently plans your house. Referring back to the example above with a probable knee wall height of 1.30 m (4.3 feet) for a one-story single-family house. If we think further and you like the design—at least the first draft—then eventually you will receive a preliminary site plan showing the elevations above sea level: and it says—the knee wall has to be reduced! At that point, the submitted draft could be useless...
Since you consciously chose to build with an architect, it is therefore important for them to know the existing terrain heights and to have access to the preliminary site plan.
On the other hand, I don’t understand how it helps if your current favorite architect presents a first draft, but you are not even sure you want to hire them. It could cost several thousand dollars if it turns out that the chemistry is not right. Why don’t you ask to see finished plans or reference houses first, based on which you can decide?
Best regards, Bauexperte
Panama17 schrieb:Every planner will start with an assumed height "0 – top of finished floor" above sea level and from there consider the eaves and ridge heights. There are also development plans that do not use the top of finished floor as a reference point but another measure; explaining this would go beyond the scope here.
"the play with heights depending on the often-used reference level top of finished floor ./. pushing eaves and ridge heights"
What do you mean by that?
Assuming your plot is at an average of 55.00 m (180 feet) and the adjacent street is at an average of 55.50 m (182 feet) above sea level, it makes perfect sense not only to adapt to the street level but also to plan at least one extra step higher so that a heavy rainstorm does not cause minor flooding. Water should always run away from the house, not towards it! Therefore, your house should be planned at around 55.70 m (187 feet) above sea level. If the development plan specifies a one-story building with an eaves height of, for example, 4.00 m (13 feet), those 70 cm (28 inches) can already be problematic since they also affect the knee wall height. This shifts the 2.00 m (6.5 feet) line inside the attic.
Your architect, however—since there is no other way—starts at sea level "0" and now diligently plans your house. Referring back to the example above with a probable knee wall height of 1.30 m (4.3 feet) for a one-story single-family house. If we think further and you like the design—at least the first draft—then eventually you will receive a preliminary site plan showing the elevations above sea level: and it says—the knee wall has to be reduced! At that point, the submitted draft could be useless...
Since you consciously chose to build with an architect, it is therefore important for them to know the existing terrain heights and to have access to the preliminary site plan.
On the other hand, I don’t understand how it helps if your current favorite architect presents a first draft, but you are not even sure you want to hire them. It could cost several thousand dollars if it turns out that the chemistry is not right. Why don’t you ask to see finished plans or reference houses first, based on which you can decide?
Best regards, Bauexperte
Thanks for the explanation!
The development plan is available, and it does not specify maximum eave or ridge heights. There are hardly any regulations anyway (the plan is from ’85). Two full floors plus an attic are permitted. On the right and left of the plot, there are two three-family houses with 2.5 floors.
We are now arranging quotes from a surveyor and a geotechnical engineer as soon as possible so that we soon have solid foundations to work from. Not that I’m annoyed I haven’t done this already, no... I’ve had the contacts sitting around here for weeks :-( .
The tip to ask for plans of already built single-family houses is good – that’s something I didn’t think of myself this time.
The development plan is available, and it does not specify maximum eave or ridge heights. There are hardly any regulations anyway (the plan is from ’85). Two full floors plus an attic are permitted. On the right and left of the plot, there are two three-family houses with 2.5 floors.
We are now arranging quotes from a surveyor and a geotechnical engineer as soon as possible so that we soon have solid foundations to work from. Not that I’m annoyed I haven’t done this already, no... I’ve had the contacts sitting around here for weeks :-( .
The tip to ask for plans of already built single-family houses is good – that’s something I didn’t think of myself this time.
Hello everyone,
I just wanted to give you a quick update. We have met with both architects and received two initial designs. Both have many good aspects but also several areas that can be improved. We will need to revise our requirements, decide what is essential and what we can do without, and then discuss this with the planner.
So, I don’t think it makes sense to share the designs here just yet.
I just wanted to give you a quick update. We have met with both architects and received two initial designs. Both have many good aspects but also several areas that can be improved. We will need to revise our requirements, decide what is essential and what we can do without, and then discuss this with the planner.
So, I don’t think it makes sense to share the designs here just yet.
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