Building a house is a long conversation with a lot of moving parts. These are the questions that I frequently get asked.
Do I need an architect?
Legally? Maybe. Under Alabama State law, architects are not required for detached single-family homes of any size. They are required for multi-family residences, buildings 2,500 sf or larger that are not single-family homes, and Assembly or Educational occupancies.
Then why should I hire you for my house? Experience. My years working in aerospace and decades designing structures of all sizes allow me to avoid expensive mistakes, help you have a smoother process, and create more comfortable, usable spaces that support the way you live.
When should I call?
Before you buy the lot, if you can. Before you fall in love with a plan that does not fit the lot, at the latest. After the foundation is in is a very expensive time to start designing. Whenever you call, it’s never too soon.
You also do other kinds of buildings. Can I still hire you for a house?
Yes. Houses are the work I put first. Other project types still come through the door. I’m experienced with multi-family residential, restaurants, commercial, dental, industrial, and more.
How long does design take?
Longer than a set of pretty pictures and shorter than construction. A thoughtful custom house or a serious renovation is measured in months of design, not weekends. Rushing the drawings is how you spend the next year fixing things in the field. I strive to move as fast as you can make decisions.
Why does every house seem to go over budget?
There are two places a project can go over budget: during design and during construction. During design, we will work together to get you a project that is as close as possible to your budget based on my prior experience and past projects. Construction overruns usually mean incomplete drawings, an incomplete bid, or a change in what the owner wants.
Size, structure, site work, and finishes all move the number. We plan early, get the details right, and I start pricing estimates as early as possible. My goal is to make the surprises smaller.
Can I change my mind once construction starts?
Yes. You will pay for it. The further in the process we go, the more expensive changes become. We will have milestone sign-offs so you understand when changes will impact costs. Changes in the VR headset are cheap. Changes after the lumber is cut are not. That is the whole point of walking the house before anyone picks up a tool.
What is the VR headset actually for?
Most houses get approved from a plan on a table. You squint at the kitchen and hope. In my office, you walk the rooms while they are still a model, stand at the sink, look down the hall, and move the window. Then I make detailed plans your contractor can use in the field.
Do I have to do Virtual Reality?
Of course not. We can do a tour on a monitor, or I can generate video walkthroughs. An immersive VR experience is important, but not mandatory.
Will you work with my builder?
Of course! Architecture and construction are different jobs. They work best when neither one is trying to do the other in secret. The earlier we work together, the better the finished product will be.
What do you do after the drawings are done?
Stay with the house. Questions come up in the field. Details get tested. Someone will want to substitute a thing that is “basically the same.” Construction is where a design either holds or gets nibbled to death. I prefer that it holds. I am your advocate during the entire process from first sketch to move-in.
We already have a house plan. Can we use it?
Maybe. Working with existing plans is often challenging because they were drawn for a different family and are often based on an older building code. I’ll work with you to define your needs, and then we can determine what’s the best solution.
Do you only work in Huntsville?
My office is here, and I work in the communities around it. West Coast work goes through my California firm, Domum.
What does it cost to hire you?
This is usually the question people ask first (I’ve put it last so you had to read everything else!) This question is hard to answer; it’s like walking into a doctor’s office and asking how much a surgery costs without having had an examination first. My first step will be to work with you to conduct a thorough examination of your needs, prescribe a process, and then we can discuss costs.
You didn’t answer my question; now what?
Not to worry, drop me a note!