Why builders hate architects

Cheers, alix. Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Currently you have JavaScript disabled.

In order to post comments, please make sure JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, and reload the page. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. We love small building jobs! January 26, By alix thebuilderette. Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. We get a good idea of how closely your preliminary design aligns with your budget, which guides the rest of the architectural design phase. Final Plans and Engineering - We collaborate with you and your architect during the rest of the architectural design phase to add valuable construction expertise and insight, value-engineering alternatives, and cost-saving options before the plans are finalized.

We ensure any budgetary or constructability issues are addressed now to avoid costly plan revisions or change orders later. Detailed Budget - As soon as the plans are made final, we work diligently to compile a comprehensive and accurate budget based on your plans and specifications.

We gather and vet dozens of bids from our vast network of quality, high-value subcontractors to produce the most accurate budget possible. Our goal is a no-holes budget, which translates in a smooth and stress-free construction process for you and your family.

Pre-Construction Phase - If you choose Sims as your builder, here is where things really get rocking. Our team pushes your plans through the HOA approvals and city permit processes. We create a comprehensive construction schedule for your home, guide you through the material selections process, and continuously refine the budget with each new selection. Like what you're reading? This blog is about helping you understand the opportunities available to you based on who you speak to first.

It is also about showing you how to put together a team that will support you in your building or renovating journey in the best possible way.

Great architects will help great builders create great projects — that work beautifully as homes and are enjoyable, functional places for their owners to live. When projects like this go well, all team members love being part of the process of creating something like this. As with other professionals, builders vary in the type, scale, quality and finish of work that they regularly undertake.

They can have systems that bring them efficiency and economy to their projects and they way they deliver them, that do not fit with bespoke, detailed projects. However, there are other builders who appreciate the level of thought that goes into this detailed approach.

I shared a post about a Grand Designs episode on my social pages recently, where Kevin McCloud was appraising the home, recently clad in its timber cladding. Kevin observed that the owner had forgotten to put flashing over the windows. The owner was building the project from simple drawings prepared by an architect. When an architect provides detailed resolution of a home, they think through all of these details at design and drawing stage.

Some builders like to use their systems, or to be involved in figuring it out as you go, or to make the decision on behalf of the homeowner. You can imagine that when the home is represented, in totality, down to specific connections — even the specific screw to use — that there can be a lot of pressure on the builder to know those drawings intimately, and make sure things get built that way.

The drawings form part of the building contract, so any diversion from them can be grounds to have work re-done or to seek some other resolution. It holds the builder accountable to all those decisions and designs that occurred before work commences on site.

I don't know how many times I heard, "Yeah, well how come these guys are getting paid so much, when I've got a kid in here that can pick their drawings to pieces?

I personally have a very good relationship with most of the Contractors I work with and have gone out for beers with many of them. There are many factors that go along with the mutal respect. One is to understand that most of these guys know what they are talking about, another is not to throw them under the bus if they make a mistake take them on the side and not infront of the owner and a third is to stand up for yourself in a non-insulting mannar.

Listen to the contractor and consider their ideas, sometimes you will find a better way. I know plenty of them are college educated and intelligent. My dad has worked at home depot since i can remember As I stated above one of my biggest critics is my soon to be father in law. So I can tell you am not turning up my nose at them.

Aside from that my experiences have been along the lines of what you all have stated. The contractor respects the architect that truly understands the building industry. The retired carpenter of 40 yrs I mentioned above also stated: "It should be a requirement for an Architect to spend at least 6 months working in each building trade: Carpentry, plumbing, electrician, mason I think the carpenter is partly right.

Architects should understand how things work in the field. More often than not, though, bitching about architects comes from being sticklers about design.

We don't always want to cut corners or do things in the quick and sloppy way. For instance, I've design a bartop that has a thick epoxy finish that needs to run over an eased edge and down a vertical part.

The fabricator is having a hellish time doing this evenly, and keeps calling to bitch about it 45 minutes yesterday. But that's the design! Should I change the design just because it's hard for him? It was in the bid package, they knew it was coming. He keeps suggesting changes to the design that would make his job easier, but make the design less interesting bolt two pieces of pre-epoxied wood together, for instance.

But, absolutely, respecting these people is crucial. A good, mutual relationship with a contractor will always result in a better project. A man is flying in a hot air balloon and realizes he is lost. He reduces height and spots a man down below.

He lowers the balloon further and shouts: "Excuse me, can you help me? I promised my friend I would meet him half an hour ago, but I don't know where I am. You've made a promise that you can't keep, but now you expect me to solve your problem. You're in the same position as you were before we met, but now it's my fault.

This one is aimed more at clients Dear Mr Architect, Please design and build me a house. I am not quite sure of what I need, so you should use your discretion.

My house should have between two and forty-five bedrooms. Just make sure the plans are such that the bedrooms can be easily added or deleted. When you bring the blueprints to me, I will make the final decision of what I want. Also, bring me the cost breakdown for each configuration so that I can arbitrarily pick one.

Keep in mind that the house I ultimately choose must cost less than the one I am currently living in. Make sure, however, that you correct all the deficiencies that exist in my current house the floor of my kitchen vibrates when I walk across it, and the walls don't have nearly enough insulation in them. As you design, also keep in mind that I want to keep yearly maintenance costs as low as possible. This should mean the incorporation of extra-cost features like aluminum, vinyl, or composite siding.

If you choose not to specify aluminum, be prepared to explain your decision in detail. Please take care that modern design practices and the latest materials are used in construction of the house, as I want it to be a showplace for the most up-to-date ideas and methods.