afo3
Member
Could you PM me and let me know who you used? We are just about an hour north of you and looking for a person like this.
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Who Has Used An Architect?
- Thread starter HPRifleman
- Start date
Could you PM me and let me know who you used? We are just about an hour north of you and looking for a person like this.
I could never get a garage done for anything close to that price ... under $50. In DC ..it's not possible either. I sold my house over 20 years ago in DC and it was not possible .... 20 years ago
goingtoarizona
Well-known member
Ack,
My commercial building was hit by a driver who mistook the gas for the brake. Caused minor, but structural damage. My POS contractor choose the architect and he charged $5000 to "design" the trusses and make the drawings. He had to re-do it as the building inspector found it lacking.
He did a great job of throwing architects in the same bad light as general contractors. I hope I never have to deal with either, ever, again.
My commercial building was hit by a driver who mistook the gas for the brake. Caused minor, but structural damage. My POS contractor choose the architect and he charged $5000 to "design" the trusses and make the drawings. He had to re-do it as the building inspector found it lacking.
He did a great job of throwing architects in the same bad light as general contractors. I hope I never have to deal with either, ever, again.
quickfarms
Well-known member
Depends
Here in CA there are standard plans available for a typical 2 car garage.
If you want anything bigger it is better to hire a civil engineer, unless you don’t know what you want or want something artistic. In California the civil engineer can do everything necessary including the structural calculations.
When I built this 24x34x12 with 12 foot lean to, I used an old civil engineer and he charged me about $1,200 but that was 18 years ago
Here in CA there are standard plans available for a typical 2 car garage.
If you want anything bigger it is better to hire a civil engineer, unless you don’t know what you want or want something artistic. In California the civil engineer can do everything necessary including the structural calculations.
When I built this 24x34x12 with 12 foot lean to, I used an old civil engineer and he charged me about $1,200 but that was 18 years ago
afo3
Member
We are in Franconia VA and already have the garage (1400 sq feet) and now wish to add on a bit more and perhaps renovate to make the attic space above it more useable (storage now) as well as potentially put up insulation along the block walls (it's ceiling and garage door insulation now only).
We were actually amazed to stumble on this neighborhood near Kingstowne, VA where a lot of houses come with >1000 sq ft garages and some folks are bigger than ours by a good bit. I would say nothing over 1600-1800 sq ft though. Although there are a few lots for sale which are big enough it might be possible.
We were actually amazed to stumble on this neighborhood near Kingstowne, VA where a lot of houses come with >1000 sq ft garages and some folks are bigger than ours by a good bit. I would say nothing over 1600-1800 sq ft though. Although there are a few lots for sale which are big enough it might be possible.
I could never get a garage done for anything close to that price ... under $50. In DC ..it's not possible either. I sold my house over 20 years ago in DC and it was not possible .... 20 years ago
If you can find plans that are close to what you want and then use an architect to revise to your wishes, it will probably be less than starting from scratch.
An architect is just like any other pro. A good one ads value and a poor one, well you know...
The good ones are happy to give references.
An architect is just like any other pro. A good one ads value and a poor one, well you know...
The good ones are happy to give references.
I'm in northern VA and have been trying to get an engineer for my 40x40 3 story garage...Its been a year since I've started my search. I have huge foundation walls and a large retaining wall which require an engineer. I think I'm close to getting one committed to my project but apparently they are super busy and all of my estimates have exceeded $5k so be prepared.
a6hux
Well-known member
.80 cents a sqft is what I paid. He knocked off $300 for cash payment.
APEowner
Well-known member
With the commercial projects I've done the architect provided the drawings and the spec. book as well as the engineer who pushed the approvals through the various governing bodies that needed to sign off on it.
He also scheduled the pre-bid meeting where the builders who were interested in bidding on the project got together with the architect to critique the plans and clarify any uncertainties. He also helped with the contract reviews.
Once the build started if there were any deviations from the plans noticed the builder was told that they either needed to fix it or get a sign off from the architect and his engineer.
If you're thinking that process is ridiculously involved and expensive for a garage you're correct. I described it because it covers all the things that need to be done and produces buildings on time and to spec. (most of the time) If you're eliminating any of the people involved in that process you need to think about who's going to do those jobs and what the checks and balances are.
There are tons of threads on this forum about projects where the contractor didn't meet the home owners expectations. Most of those issues could have been avoided with a good contract, a good set of plans and a thorough spec. book. If you don't have an architect provide those who does? I'm not saying that it has to be an architect I'm saying that someone needs to do it or you need to be willing to deal with the problems that can arise without them.
It may be that Fred the builder down the street has built a ton of garages and is inexpensive enough to risk having him build based on a handshake and a napkin sketch.
I've personally had two concrete floors pored on a handshake and a verbal description but they were both done by crews recommended by people I trust.
He also scheduled the pre-bid meeting where the builders who were interested in bidding on the project got together with the architect to critique the plans and clarify any uncertainties. He also helped with the contract reviews.
Once the build started if there were any deviations from the plans noticed the builder was told that they either needed to fix it or get a sign off from the architect and his engineer.
If you're thinking that process is ridiculously involved and expensive for a garage you're correct. I described it because it covers all the things that need to be done and produces buildings on time and to spec. (most of the time) If you're eliminating any of the people involved in that process you need to think about who's going to do those jobs and what the checks and balances are.
There are tons of threads on this forum about projects where the contractor didn't meet the home owners expectations. Most of those issues could have been avoided with a good contract, a good set of plans and a thorough spec. book. If you don't have an architect provide those who does? I'm not saying that it has to be an architect I'm saying that someone needs to do it or you need to be willing to deal with the problems that can arise without them.
It may be that Fred the builder down the street has built a ton of garages and is inexpensive enough to risk having him build based on a handshake and a napkin sketch.
I've personally had two concrete floors pored on a handshake and a verbal description but they were both done by crews recommended by people I trust.