I’ve been planning a 2nd story addition (master bedrm and office) for some time now with much guidance from you folks. I’ve identified a couple potential builders and one in particular that was highly recommended, provided a reasonable initial ballpark and suggested working with an architect he likes to move toward final plans.
So, I’m having the initial meeting with the archy and builder next week. I have prepared our must-haves and our wish list.
I’m wondering if you folks have any suggestions for making this meeting as mutually productive as possible for all three parties? Questions to ask, etc??
Any past threads I should look at?
(This is a “free” initial consultation with the intent of going to a design/build agreement if we are comfortable with the arch..)
As always, many thanks.
Replies
Know your budget really well. One of my frustrations is people who go fishing, but haven't thought a lot about their bait. OK, that sounds stupid. I design. When I ask people what budget they'd like the building designed to, and they say "I don't know" in one of its various forms, then I don't know how to execute their design. About all I can do is ramble on about typical or average costs and look for the "yeah, that's ok" or "oh shoot, didn't plan on that much" look in their eyes.
You can spare that sorta exchange by knowing your limits and communicating that clearly.
Lol, that's exactly what I do, Cloud! When you see that look you start throwing out other ideas.
I would reinforce the idea of going in with a FIRM budget. Know what exactly you are willing to spend comfortably.
The more information you can give your builder and architect on materials and finishes the better idea they will have to begin with where this thing is going. These items drive the budget more than anything else.
Be prepared to be shocked by the preliminary budget. Even with a good architect/builder at your side, it's hard to keep up with prices these days. Try and keep a little money in reserve, not just a contingency fee. If you have 150k to spend try to put the budget at 125k. Shoot low, aim high. It always costs more than you think.
Photos and floorplans (if available) of the existing house and a concise description of exactly what you are trying to accomplish by adding on. Even a rough sketch of the room layout will be a very useful tool if no plans are available. Even if the meeting takes place in your living room the plans still give a very helpful bird's eye view of the situation that will allow you to discuss the project more effectively.
State the problems you are currently having with your existing living space and how you hope the addition will resolve them. The architect's primary goal is to help you solve those problems within your budget so the clearer you communicate both the easier his job will be.
Describe the space you are envisioning with atmosphere terms such as cozy or lofty rather than style terms like eclectic or Victorian. The architect may have a very different interpretation of those styles than you do.
Kevin Halliburton
"I believe that architecture is a pragmatic art. To become art it must be built on a foundation of necessity." - I.M. Pei -
Whereas "cozy" and "lofty" are completely unambiguous! :) Just goofing around, Kev. How's tricks? What's your latest project? Personally, I thing terms like "curvy" and "concrete" are the best to use, but whadda I know?!
I could definitely go with curvy and concrete but I would probably be working in a much smaller scale with that mix than you typically do. Nothing like structural Playdo to get the old creative juices flowing. What have you got in the works right now?
My firm is working on a couple of pretty cool "manufacturing facility" and bank projects now but the majority of the projects that have most of my working hours tied up right now are schools. I'm doing a few conceptual plans on a renovation for a buddy's house on the side and then of course there is the all consuming personal home under construction.
I always enjoy your renderings and under construction posts. Hope you'll keep 'em coming.Kevin Halliburton
"I believe that architecture is a pragmatic art. To become art it must be built on a foundation of necessity." - I.M. Pei -
>my working hours tied up right now are schools
Kevin, I can make a reeeeeeeally strong case for the economy of you know what as ideal structures for schools, gymnasiums, auditoriums. Plus, they'll double as community emergency shelters. Have great economies-of-scale at that size, plus clear spans, plus energy savings. Just something to keep in the back of your craw for the right moment...
Hey, wait a minute now... I'm still trying to get SIPs established as the ideal commercial building curtain wall for meeting the new energy code requirements and I only have enough rhythm to beat one drum at a time. :-)>
I do think you've got a winner with the concrete dome from an economic and long term durability standpoint for a lot of the buildings we design. It's just these clients of ours... you know, they'll let us get away with curvy walls everywhere but they rarely give us permission to go over the top with them. Kevin Halliburton
"I believe that architecture is a pragmatic art. To become art it must be built on a foundation of necessity." - I.M. Pei -
Sigh. Alone on my quest again... If only people understood what they could save the taxpayers. Though I know one builder playing in that arena/school field who claims that thin-shells often don't go over be/c they're too inexpensive...maybe half of conventional at that size. He claims that the people championing the building often have ego involved and wanna build something bigger than the one next door. Ego isn't satisfied by saying they built a $15M school, when the next district spent $30M. Don't know the veracity of that...just what he's concluded.
Say, does anyone make curved sips? We often have conventional walls behind cutouts, and a curved sip could be mighty interesting there. The way that's proving best thus far is to "roll our own" and shotcrete against rigid foam sheets. The builder I know doing that says it's going up for just a few bucks a sf, labor and materials.
Not all suppliers make curved panels but several do. They can be pretty expensive if you only want a few because each specified radius requires a new jig to make the panels. Check http://www.sipweb.com to find your nearest SIP dealer or do a search on http://www.Dogpile.com for "North Carolina structural insulated panels."
Here are a couple of links to projects where curved SIPs were used:
http://www.kisscathcart.com/twohouses.html
http://www.insulspan.com/smuckers.htmlKevin Halliburton
"I believe that architecture is a pragmatic art. To become art it must be built on a foundation of necessity." - I.M. Pei -
Seems like one thing is on tract
One you are using a builder you are happy with and he wants to use an architect he knows or has used in the past. Lots of pluses there
2nd I agree with the other posts, if you have an idea on your budget, understate it a little. But at this stage let everyone know "budget" up front. There will be change orders or upgrades. Last kitchen we did had over 10k in appliance upgrades after "wife" went to a homeshow and fell in love with some of the latest stuff. Just finished a house wher the onwers had studied the plans for two years. After the walls and trusses were up exactly as on plans, owner met us monday morning to have us move one wall, two windows and ask about changing a roof line ( all were done at $$$), So plan on some extra costs.
3rd, I also agree with other posts, have a good idea of what you want or would like,pictures, sketches, how you use space now, what space to you is useless that you have now, big windows, littel windows, skylights, vaults
Now the experienced architect and builder should be able to sit down with you and say yes its possible, or while laughing under their breath, say we need to scale this back a little
I have spent a lot of time with people with grand ideas that pay big dollars for plans, only not to be able to build it when multiple builders bids came around.
What I love to see are photos of things that you like but more importantly things that you don't like. You should have clippings from books or magazines that show both.