Whether you’re considering a home addition for additional living space or to simply increase the value of your home, it’s important to weigh all of your options and make the best decision for your family. You might even consider getting an architect involved to assess and design your addition. However, there are some things you’ll need to consider before phoning the nearest architect you can find.
Architects and Home Additions
A home addition is an expansion on the original shape or size of one’s home. A homeowner may choose to build a new room such as an office, family room, or bathroom, among other things.
Architects lend their expertise by helping to design the expansion while making sure what they come up with is structurally sound and aesthetically pleasing.
Not All Projects Need an Architect
There are certain projects where an architect’s help may not be necessary. If the home addition is small and relatively simple in design, such as a sunroom or a deck, an architect’s services might not be needed. These types of projects can usually be completed with the help of a general contractor.
However, more complicated projects, such as a second story addition, will likely need a professional’s help to ensure the expansion is executed correctly and meets all local building codes.
Architects Are One Piece of the Puzzle
When it comes to completing a home addition, note that architects are just a piece of the puzzle. Architects don’t normally go around getting building permits. And you’ll still need a builder to construct your addition according to the plans.
Depending on the extent of your home addition, you might need other professionals as well such as plumbers, electricians, and HVAC technicians.
As Creatives, Architects May Feel Strongly About Their Ideas
While architects are creative professionals, they also have minds of their own. This can either be a good or bad for your home addition.
On the one hand, you might want someone who can think outside the box and come up with an innovative design for your expansion. On the other hand, you don’t want someone who’s going to be so set in their ways that they’re not willing to listen to your input or make any changes to the plans.
Don’t Architects Have Better Things to Do?
You might be wondering if architects really want to get involved in such relatively small projects. After all, they’re probably used to working on huge structures, right?
Actually, many architects enjoy working on home additions because it allows them to use their creativity on a smaller scale.
Also, not all architects are equal. Some of them may just be fresh out of apprenticeship and are looking for experience. Home additions are a great way for them to get their feet wet in the field.
Should I Hire an Architect for My Home Addition?
Before you take the plunge with an architect, ask yourself these questions:
- Have I vetted them? This includes looking at their portfolio, talking to past clients, and making sure they’re licensed in the state.
- Do they specialize in what I want done? If you want a home addition but the architect only specializes in commercial buildings, then they’re probably not the right fit.
- How involved will they be? Some architects simply hand over the plans and leave it at that. If you want someone who will be more hands-on, make sure to ask about their level of involvement before signing any contracts.
- Will they play nice with other parties? It’s important that the architect you choose gets along with other professionals involved in your home addition, such as the builder and engineers.
- Are they open to my input? You’re the one living in the house, so you should have a say in how the expansion turns out. An architect who isn’t open to hearing your ideas and suggestions probably won’t suit you or your needs.
- How will they handle potential changes down the road? Things happen, and sometimes plans need to be changed. An architect who is inflexible and unwilling to make changes mid-project probably isn’t the right one for you.
- How much will they cost? You might end up blowing your entire budget on just the architect alone. Remember that you still need to factor in the cost of the construction workers, materials, and other professionals who will be involved in your home addition.
You’ll want a positive response to all of the above as much as possible. Otherwise, the more answers in the negative, the less appealing an architect becomes. Note that finding an architect that hits all the marks isn’t a normal occurrence.
Designing Can Be a One-Person Job…
…but designing and building is a team effort. Designers handle the creative and artistic aspects while builders focus on the technicalities of construction.
You won’t need to worry about architect compatibility issues with Winthorpe Design & Build. We have designers in-house as part of a greater team of professionals. You can be sure that the left hand will know what the right hand is doing at all times.
Get in touch with us through our new process and you’ll see what a design-build team can do for your home addition.
