How Architects and Builders Work Together
Our Austin Architects Explain How We Work with Builders to Design and Construct Your Dream Home
Teamwork makes the dream (home) work. Whether renovating or building new, it takes a large team of design professionals to turn your dream-home vision into reality. Two key players on your design team are your architect and builder. Be careful who you choose because you will spend a lot of time with these two home experts during your project. To help you get a better idea of how architects and builders work together, our Austin architects review the two roles, their differences, and how to hire the right builder for your home.
To start, let’s look at how architects and builders are different…
What Does an Architect Do?
Architects work within the architectural design process to understand a client’s style, needs, and wants. To get the most out of working with your architect, you need to choose someone you feel comfortable communicating with so they can properly assess your lifestyle and design accordingly. From there, an architect will develop site plans, floor plans, and exterior elevations. Once the client approves these, the architect will create construction documents for the builder. This set of documents includes the design development plans with additional specifications the contractor needs to complete the build effectively. The complete construction set will consist of:
Site Plan
Demolition Plans (if applicable)
Floor Plans
Roof Plan
Exterior Elevations
Cabinet Elevations
Required Building Sections and Details
Power and Lighting Plans
Finish Materials and Coordination of Finish Schedule
Performance Specifications
The architect’s main job is to interpret a client’s design style and lifestyle, creating a plan to accommodate both in their new home.
What Does a Residential Builder Do?
Builders work closely with architects to construct homes according to construction documents and local building codes. The construction phase is one of the longest aspects of home-design projects So, it is crucial to choose a builder who can collaborate with both the client and the architect. Builders manage all aspects of construction, including:
Buying Materials
Hiring Subcontractors
Managing Subcontractor Schedules
Completing Subcontractor Payments
Scheduling Deliveries
Overseeing Construction
Coordinating City and County Inspections
While the architect designs the plan, the builder’s job is to carry out the project with accuracy and craftsmanship.
Architect vs. Builder: What's the Difference?
So, what is the difference between architects and builders? Architects are planners. They focus on understanding the client’s needs, designing a home plan that offers functionality and beauty, and providing construction documents to a builder. Builders are executors. They focus on carrying out design plans, hiring subcontractors, ordering materials, and coordinating city inspections. Together, they make dream homes a reality.
Do You Need an Architect and a Contractor to Build or Renovate Your Dream Home?
So, do you need an architect and a builder for your new build or home renovation project? Yes, you do! Architects and builders are two critical members of your residential design team. Without an architect, a builder won’t have a plan to follow. Likewise, without a builder, there will be no one to carry out an architect’s design. Ultimately, architects are trained to think about spaces three-dimensionally — translating designs into drawings the builder can construct and bring to life.
The Top 3 Things to Look for in a Residential Home Builder
When choosing a residential builder, quality should be the base standard. At this phase in the project, you’ve invested a lot of time and money into design plans and finishes, and your home deserves quality craftsmanship. Quality indicators include beautiful project portfolios, well-crafted detail work, and clean job sites. Investing in a quality home builder will save you money down the line. Once the quality level is established, our DK Studio architects like to work with builders who exemplify these three traits:
1. Communication
Chances are you will spend more time with your builder than any other design team member, so choosing someone with good communication skills is crucial. In addition, builders must communicate with architects, interior designers, subcontractors, and material stores.
2. Paperwork Follow Through
Building a home requires lots of paperwork. Builders must communicate with banks to draw financing and pay for supplies and labor. Find a builder with an easy system to understand where your money is going. You want a builder who keeps you up-to-date on any payments through the entire process, ensuring you can see how closely the project is sticking to the original estimate.
3. Cool, Calm, and Collected Demeanor
Finally, building a home can be stressful at times. Deliveries get postponed, problems come up, and timelines get delayed. As a team leader, your builder should be calm under pressure and collaborative. Find someone with a solution-oriented approach that can look for alternatives and manage anything that comes their way.
How Architects and Builders Work Together on Projects
An architect’s role doesn’t end at the planning stage. Architects and builders work together through construction to ensure everything goes to plan. At DK Studio, our Austin architects offer construction administration services to oversee construction, ensuring it aligns with the construction documents. This process includes meetings with the contractor to solve problems and check-ins with the homeowners to make sure everything looks as expected. Our team helps answer questions that come up through the build and review window orders, cabinet drawings, and other shop drawings.
Ensure Timely Project Completion
There’s a myth out there that builders stretch construction timelines to make more money. That’s false! Builders actually make less when a project runs behind. Builders and architects work together to address problems on-site and find alternatives to ensure timely completion. The builder always wants to finish as fast as they can so you can enjoy your dream home!
Manage Expectations
Construction is emotional. It can be exhilarating, draining, upsetting, and fun in the same week. Therefore, builders and architects must have good working relationships to manage expectations and ensure a positive experience for clients.
Problem Solve Together
Architects and builders work together to present solutions – not problems. Problem-solving prevents stressful situations for the client because they know their design team has the resolution to move forward. This is one of the most important ways architects and builders collaborate.
Hiring the Right Professionals for Your Residential Design Project
Hiring the right design professionals for your project makes all the difference. Know who to include on your design team to hire the right experts. Remember that quality work should be your base standard, and pick a team that listens to your needs and communicates well with each other. If you need assistance starting your design journey, our Austin architects can help!