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| Q1. What do architects do? |
| A1. Architects are trained and licensed professionals whose specialty
is to design building structures. They work closely with allied professionals
such as Civil Engineers, Landscape Architects, Structural Engineers, Mechanical
Engineers, Electrical Engineers, Interior Designers, and other construction
design specialists. Architects typically are the "quarterbacks" of
the design team, acting as the lead professional dealing with the owner
of the project, and coordinating the work of related specialists and engineers. |
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| Q2. How are architects trained, and who licenses them? |
A2. Architects typically attended universities that have a special degree
program leading to a Bachelor of Architecture or Masters of Architecture
degree. Most Bachelor of Architecture Degrees are planned five years programs,
with an additional two years for a Masters degree.
Architectural studies include the history of architecture, art and design
studies, planning, fundamental structural, mechanical, and electrical engineering,
as well as other typical undergraduate courses in math, sciences, and the
humanities. Some schools also have classes in professional practice and
business matters.
Following graduation, most states require at least a three year apprenticeship
working for a licensed architect before one is qualified to take the architects'
professional exam. In order to use the title "Architect," one
must qualify by education and apprenticeship, and have taken and passed
the State exam, and hold a current license from the State
Each state has an architecture licensing board charged with the responsibility
of writing exams or administering standard exams written by others, and
for acting as a clearing house for complaints about architects. In the State
of California, the Architects' State Licensing Board is organized under
the office of the Secretary of State, and the architect's licensing exams
are written in California. |
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| Q3. Why should I hire an architect instead of just having a contractor
build my remodeling? |
| A3. There are several advantages to having plans prepared by a licensed
architect. |
1. Having plans prepared by a licensed professional makes it possible
to bid the intended project competitively between several qualified contractors,
assuring the owner of the best value in the completed project.
2. Architects are specifically educated and trained to design all types
of buildings, and the result of a professional design is typically a
superior investment in time and money.
3. Planning and Building Departments have very specialized requirements
for project submittals and approvals. Architects are generally familiar
with the requirements, and are typically equipped to meet the standard
of the local code enforcing agencies. Often several tiers of approvals
are required, and architects are generally well versed in the approval
process. |
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| Q4. How does an architect charge for services? |
A4. Fee quotes vary from firm to firm. Some architects quote a percentage
of construction cost, ranging from about 5% to 10% or more of construction
value, depending on the size and complexity of the project. Some firms
quote a price per square foot of finished building. At Hodges & Hodges
Architects, we always prepare a task list of steps needed to complete the
project by phase, and associate a number of hours and billing rate to each
task. In that way, we are prepared to complete the design in an orderly
manner, and the client is able to see exactly what is needed to complete
the design of his or her project.
Professional fees are payable in increments during the course of the project,
ranging from several weeks to several months. We usually ask for an initial
deposit/minimum payment to cover our start-up costs on the project amounting
to about ten percent of the fee or less. |
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| Q5. What is the first step if I want to consider using an architect? |
A5. Call your firm or firms of choice and ask to speak to a manager or principal.
At Hodges & Hodges Architects, we are happy to meet with potential
clients to discuss their needs at no cost or obligation. Following an initial
meeting, we typically prepare a fee proposal within a few working days,
and mail it to the owner or client, again at no cost or obligation to the
owner.
If the proposal is acceptable, we prepare a contract for execution, using
standard AIA contracts with minor modifications. |
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| Q6. How does the title AIA differ from being an architect? |
| A6. The American Institute of Architects is a professional organization
of licensed architects. The title simply means that one is a member of
that association. It is possible to be a licensed architect without joining
the AIA, but non-licensed individuals are not permitted to join the AIA
as professional members, and use the title architect. |
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| Q7. Why not use a Design/Build firm with an in-house design team? |
| A7. Many residential projects are completed in this manner. However,
the owner ends up paying for the plans in any case, since the Design/Build
firm must pay its in-house staff. A significant disadvantage is that having
paid for the design; the owner is not a liberty to have other contractors
bid the work, being locked in to the Design/Build firm. If several Design/Build
firms propose on the project, there is no assurance that they are all bidding
on the same scope of work, and level of quality in materials and finishes. |
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| Q8. Why use Hodges & Hodges Architects instead of another firm? |
| A8. Customer service is the best short answer. |
- We give a great deal of attention to making sure that we communicate
well with the client. We listen closely to the client, and make his or
her wishes and goals for the project our own.
- Our fees are competitive.
- Our firm is small, so you always have the close attention from one
of the firm's principals, Don or Lucy Hodges.
- We have many years of experience in a variety of project types, and
can deliver sound and accurate plans and specifications.
- We have a substantial list of satisfied customers, and can offer a
referral list on request.
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| Q9. How long will it take to complete my plans and get a Building Permit,
and how long will it take to build my project? |
A9. Naturally, the time required to complete a project depends on the
complexity of the project, and on the number of specialty consultants that
need to be involved. It is also somewhat dependent on the quality of information
that the owner provides.
If a survey and geotechnical investigation is likely to be needed, the owner
is well advised to obtain those documents and reports well in advance of
the start of design, since scheduling the field work and obtaining the final
results for those disciplines can take many weeks or months.
The legal description of the property and an assessor's parcel map will
be needed to complete the plans. Often these documents are included in the
Title Report in the closing documents from the time of purchase of the property.
If these documents can be provided by the owner, it will save time and money
on the architectural fees, since the architect firm's staff will not need
visit public archives to find and copy these items.
If the project is a remodeling, it is highly desirable for the owner to
obtain existing plans if available, even at some cost of time and money.
This will save in the long run.
Preparing the design fee proposal, owner's review and negotiation of the
fee, and contract preparation and signature usually takes at least a couple
of weeks to several weeks.
The first phase of the architect's work is Research and Existing Conditions
Documentation. If plans of the existing structure do not exist, or can not
be located, field measuring and investigation, and preparation of existing
site and building plans and elevations must be completed prior to beginning
any design work. This task can take two or more weeks to complete, and naturally
there is cost involved in the effort. Building Departments always require
documentation of existing conditions as part of the permit process, so creation
of existing plans can not be avoided. Also, in this phase, the architect
researches the code constraints affecting the subject property.
Preliminary Design is highly dependent on the size and complexity of the
project. In addition to the time the architect spends on design, the owner
will need to spend some time reviewing the design to reach a level of comfort
before proceeding to the next phase. Preliminary Design and review can take
from a few weeks to a few months, but it is a vital step for following phases.
While in the Preliminary Design phase, most of the work is done by the architect
alone with only minor involvement of the other consultants. In subsequent
phases, other engineering disciplines perform their work, so the consequence
of any changes becomes far more significant (costly.) Therefore, it is vital
to complete as many design decisions as possible in the Preliminary Design
phase prior to continuing with Design Development and Construction Documents.
Projects with complex structural, mechanical, electrical, or specialty systems
such as laboratories require a Design Development Phase. In this phase,
the various consulting engineers begin their design work with the goal of
coordinating loads, placement, clearances, and other interfaces between
the building and its subsystems. During this phase, the Construction Documents
are started and brought to about 35% completion. Smaller projects and residential
remodeling do not require this phase, which can take some weeks or months
for larger projects.
Construction Documents are final plans and specifications sufficiently
detailed to obtain a Building Permit, obtain competitive bids from contractors,
and to construct the improvements. Even the smallest projects usually require
the services of a structural engineer and a California Title 24 Energy Conservation
documentation specialist. More complex projects may require the services
of a mechanical engineer, an electrical engineer, a civil engineer, a landscape
architect, or other building and site design specialists. This phase can
take from six to eight week to several months, again depending on the scope
and complexity of the project.
Building Department Permit Processing is a highly variable phase. Naturally,
it can not begin until Construction Documents are completed. The time of
processing depends on the backlog of work at the governing municipality.
Simple remodeling plans not requiring a discretionary permit usually take
six to eight weeks or so at the City of San Diego. Smaller building departments,
such as Encinitas and El Cajon are somewhat faster in reviewing plans. More
complex and larger projects currently take two to three months or more in
the City of San Diego.
The Bidding Phase can be as short as two to three weeks for small remodelings,
to four or five weeks for larger projects. In any case, it is best to not
start the bidding process until at least the first round of Building Department
plan check is completed. If the bidding process began earlier, changes due
to Building Department plan check corrections could invalidate bids, or
possibly lead to extensive change orders prior to beginning construction,
not a desirable outcome.
Construction Duration is obviously very dependent on the scope
of the project. However, very few projects are completed in less than three
months, and only the largest and most complex projects take more than nine
months to a year complete. The average project falls somewhere in the middle.
Discretionary Permits are often required even for relatively small projects.
Increasingly, municipalities are asking for Neighborhood Development Permits,
Variances, Steep Hillsides review, and other permits that require public
notice and hearings. Coastal Development Permits are sometimes required
in the coastal zone. Public noticing and hearing processes take a minimum
of three months to nine months or more. During the Research and Existing
Conditions Documentation phase, the need for any required Discretionary
Permits should surface. Although, sometimes a Discretionary Permit becomes
necessary during the Preliminary Design Phase through the owners wish to
maximize his/her use of the property despite adverse zoning requirements. |
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| Q10. If I am remodeling my home, can I continue to live in it during
construction? |
| A10. If the area to be remodeled can be readily isolated from the main
living areas of the home, the answer is usually "yes." However,
if kitchens and bathrooms or major living areas will be impacted,
the answer is typically "not advisable." Different families have
different tolerance levels for the inconvenience, dust, noise,
stored materials, parking, and other annoyances that are an
integral part of
construction.
If other living arrangements can be readily made through family,
close friends, or even a rental, it may be advisable to find
another place to
live, especially if children and/or pets are part of the family.
There is also some level of danger inherent in stored materials,
moving loads,
and partially completed construction that is good to avoid if feasible. |
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