Working with Your Architect

Architects as Project Managers
An architect will help you choose materials, color and design schemes, and builders and tradespeople that can bring your design to life. An architect can help you choose materials and finishes that are durable as well as beautiful, saving on frequent maintenance and replacement costs, according to the AIA. New building materials come out surprisingly often, and architects have knowledge of their quality and effectiveness. In the Masher home, innovative new materials were used in the kitchen countertop, on the deck, and under the deck.

If there is one element of building that the average do-it-yourselfer will have trouble with, it is the permitting process. “The architect assists the homeowner in filing documents required for review and approval by local building, zoning, landmark and/or historic commissions, and obtaining proposals and awarding the contract for construction,” Colling says. Building codes and zoning laws can get complicated—having an architect at your side will ensure they are filed properly, keeping your project on schedule.

While bringing the drawings to life using the materials specified is the job of the builder, a good architect will act as your agent in working with the contractor. As the contractors set to work assembling the architect’s vision, there are often obstacles. Having good chemistry between the architect and builder can turn a potential problem into a solution. In the Masher home, an unused chimney became a ready-made channel for pipes and wiring.

The architect administers the contract between the owner and contractor, including meeting with the contractor and vendors to answer any questions, review contractor submittals, address any field changes, reject nonconforming work, and review and certify payments. In other words, your architect makes certain the project goes according to plan, on budget, and on time. If a problem with a contractor does occur, most notably in the quality of the work, the architect will be your greatest ally.