Anyone have any tips or resources for finding an architect? I’m looking for one to draw up plans for a screened porch addition. Problem is it seems like all the “firms” in the area are pretty high end and want to charge an arm and leg.
Any ideas? FWIW, I live in northern Va.
Thanks-
Kevin
Replies
I would think you could find a good GC who could design build this.
I would also say a good GC could fix you up, especially, if you could view a recent screened porch the GC built, and you liked his (or hers) style of building.
If you want a one off, one of a kind porch w imported etc etc, hire the arch', and get out your cheque book.
Harry
Find an archy student, or an archy who works for someone else (maybe draftsman for a construction company) and does stuff like this in his spare time.
Of course, it may be that what you really need is an engineer anyway. Around here any project with a roof now needs an engineer's stamp.
I think you need a designer - not an architect. Granted, you may have to get the plans stamped by and engineer - but that should only be a few to several hundred bucks. Using an architect to draw plans for a standard screen porch is like using a sledge hammer to drive a 4p finish nail.
It varies by location though. We have had this discussion here at BT before. Where I live, architects are very rarely used for residential stuff except maybe the $2mil and up type houses - excluding mail order mass produced plans. Plans are drawn by designers and then stamped by an engineer. OTOH Framer, I think it was, told us that all the plans in his state (NJ I think) are drawn by an architect.
Edited 3/22/2007 6:53 am ET by Matt
We had our deck designed by an archy, but it was my (then) BIL, and he was just starting out in private practice -- needed the project for his portfolio.
So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin
What kind of designer.... there's interior designers, landscape, etc... Does it matter?
You're probably right. The things I need help with are more about aesthetics than joist spacing and footing placement. Incidently this neck of the woods does require an engineers stamp before plans are reviewed/approved.
Thanks-
Kevin
Kevin,
I believe that Matt is referring to more of a Caddsmen/Drafter, i.e. "house designer" rather than a full blown architect. And typically most of these guys can hook you up with an engineer to get it stamped, which will show footings, joist spacing, etc. for a nominal fee.
In the yellow pages for our relatively small city there are about 30 under "Designers-Residential" and about 10 under "Home Designing & Planning Service".