Architect Issues

9 years ago

Hi, I need some advise as how an architect actually works and bills you. We have employed an architect 16 weeks ago to do a renovation and deck extension to our home. The brief was to give the out side a modern twist and to rearranged the interior moving the kitchen to the back and adding a bedroom and ensuite and giving us an internal stairway to the garage which is under the main floor.I had done some rough floor plans one of which he adopted as our plan. Over all he came up with a plan, not that inspired, but ticked nearly all of our boxes. The floor plans were approved by early January and from there things have moved so slowly .As we are just adding a deck we are doing a comply and development rather than a DA with council,the plans have only just gone to the certifier.This time frame to us seams very long winded. We also have not seen any notes on details that outer house is finished with for example, balustrades, pergola no awning details, privacy screen details and even ceiling and door heights and the need for new support beams. We are having a new ceiling in the back part of the house which I have requested to be vaulted with exposed beams all in white and haven't seen the detail for this.
Every time we ask about these details we are side lined and have been given vague answers about when or if these are given. Is this normal.From the outset we were clear that we wanted him to take us to be ready for this to be handed to a builder and that we would mange the project but it seams that the information that is being held back now may cost us extra to obtain. As the final bill to be paid to him is going to come in at around $12,000 I would of thought that all details would be included.
We are frustrated that it all seams like smoke and mirrors and are feeling that we are being taken for a ride. Can anyone tell me if this normal practise and what you actually get if you employ an architect to get you to the above stage.
Thanks

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design addict
Original Author

9 years ago

Thanks so much for the information and advise, what i think is frustrating is that I would like a time frame even if it is the worst case scenario as then you know what to expect,and I have asked for this on a number of occasions but unfortunately the architect has not given it. As I needed to find out I put the question to the Houzz community so I could get some other perspectives which we can have really put things into a clearer light.

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Comments (11)

bigreader
9 years ago
Did you have a scope in writing?
User
9 years ago
Price and timeframe seems reasonable thus far given you have a completed DA, depends where you are building though, how many other consultants involved (town planners, engineers, heritage??), how much time they spent on getting your DA through council (meetings, email to-and-fro)....

Could it be that he has started putting everything together for your Construction Certificate? this can be very time consuming.

If you have requested full set of construction plans for your builder, I understand that this takes several months (we skipped this bit not having much detail or complexity)...they look nothing like the very basic DA plans! If he was up to this point he would of engaged an engineer, has this happened?

When we last shopped around, most architects were packaging their prices into 3-steps: 1. DA, 2. CC set + tender, 3. project management. They were pricing each stage separately. Is this what your guy has done? We paid roughly what you have for stage 1. only- mind you we had a small army of consultants!!
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PRO
MB Design & Drafting
9 years ago
They may have been preparing construction drawing's perhaps, waiting for engineering detail, soil test....?

Are they still to provide the remaining drawing's? If the internal changes didn't go through the CDC then you could've already had the plans to pass to the builder and only needed to wait for the deck approval?

My plan's are completed ready for an application (DA/CC,CDC), as well as being able to go to the builder for estimating and to the engineer for their input with all changes and detail's shown on plan's. This includes the internal changes not just external. That means that the council has up to date plan's for your dwelling. This is from a building design and draftsman point not an architect.

The real value you get from an architect is when you engage them to take your project from start to completion. This is where an architect's work really shine's. To use them for design and plans only (and applications) is underusing their skill set.
siriuskey
9 years ago
What did you get in writing, time frame sounds normal, you appear to have made a whole list of not small changes which will take whatever time it takes to do the job. You get what you actually paid for.

Go back and talk to the Architect they are usually nice people, it appears that there's been a misunderstanding of what you expected to what was agreed.

Keep the door open, good luck
design addict
Original Author
9 years ago
The trouble is that all the above questions you have asked whether I have asked him we have and unfortunately get ne response, we have asked him to clarify what a contraction certificate entails,ect and no response, as we haven't ever gone through and architect before, but have fully renovated 2 homes before we feel we are in the dark about the procedures. We Di get everything in writing and things broken up into stages of concept design,development application and construction certificate ect but we are not sure what each stage consists of and when we ask don't get a response.
We are just becoming frustrated as we thought by now
(And we were told by the architect) that we would be ready to tender and get sorted to start the build and this now seams months off
siriuskey
9 years ago
Sorry you seem to be having a difficult time with your Architect , building can be a very stressful time without this, it's always best to try and resolve any dispute between the parties but if you feel you are unable to do this contact the following good luck

http://www.complaintline.com.au/architect.html
PRO
MB Design & Drafting
9 years ago
Using an Architect should be easy and painless. That's what they're for, to make your life easier! They do all the prickly bit's like council's, engineering, etc....

Did you use a designer on previous renovation project's?
User
9 years ago
Honestly, your time frame is pretty damn good. 16wks from initial concept to an approved DA is very impressive. Ours was 16wk tweaking concept plans and another +6mth in council. We had an approval that wasn't worth building nearly 12mth later. Don't ask. Nightmare council. Another 6mth to Land and Environment Court. Hell your 16wk is looking like a fantasy to me!

Construction Plans and Construction Certificate may take longer, really depends how many conditions are attached to your DA. Our last DA- I nearly died when the certifier gave the the 'things to do list' with 30 odd reports, assessments and amendments! We managed this bit ourselves to save some cash (thanks to legal fees chewing up our budget), but boy it cost me in time! It took me 3-4mth to get it all done- delapidation reports, council assets bond deposits, waste management reports, soil tests...it was endless! It might just be that your architect is up to his neck in this right now. IF he is not, you need to 1. discuss costing for him to do this and then 2. instruct him whether or not to progress.

Siriuskey's advice is gold. "Keep the door open" The reality is the architect owns the plan and if you sack them- you will need them to sign over the copyright of the plan to a new draftsman, designer or architect. No other architect will touch it till this happens.

Try be patient. I don't think there is much info out there to inform people about realistic time frames. It does take time, and due to all the other people involved- engineers, soil testers, surveyors...list goes on. It is out of the architects hands.
PRO
MB Design & Drafting
9 years ago
Mel N, you make a very good point re: time frame's.

Majority of people don't realise the time needed. Not due to anything but they've probably never done this before..... once in a lifetime for said majority!

Also the requirement's from one council to another can be significantly different as can be the assessment officer requesting information another may not want.

A good designer will try to design around potential problem's but again time is required. Communication is key but so is having faith in a chosen professional to allow them to work on your project without being harassed and pressured.
siriuskey
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Think it might be time for "tea & biccies ", I did suggest the complaints dept for Architects just as a tool for Design Addict to perhaps have a discussion with them re her concerns so that they could help confirm what needs to be done etc.

Then the T&B's with her Architect, invite a friend to sit in on this ( introducing a third party is very helpful in discusions, itcan make you see things differently it's a bit like going to the doctor and getting bad news, the patient can't remember what just happened, trust me I've been there. Architects/ Drafters are generally decent people, have faith. cheers

Architect Issues

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