Architects, Draftspeople or Builders - who's best for your job?
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Planning an extension or building a new home, adding a pergola or car port and need planning permission - Which trade can help you most?
Architects deliver the architectural design of a building and can also manage the construction process. Usually, they'll specialise in either domestic or commercial work, and then specialise again in types of buildings - period homes, green buildings, extensions, conversions etc. They are highly qualified and need to study for at least 5 years to a Masters degree level to become a qualified Architect. Afterwards, they also participate in ongoing professional development and gain experience from working for and with other architects.
What's the difference between an architect and a draftsperson?
Because of the high levels of education, architects are separated from less qualified building designers like draftspeople. Often, an architect will employ a draftsperson to work on the finer drawings, leaving the architect to design the bigger picture and concentrate on making the building work functionally and from a design perspective. For smaller jobs, like building a car port or front wall, you won't need the services of an architect as you only need plans to submit to the council for planning permission.
What do architects do?
Architects also offer more extensive services than simply providing plans, but businesses will vary. Some will help you with a realistic budget, apply for town planning permits for you, source quotes for the work (sometimes even using Service Central) and often manage external consultants like surveyors to ensure that the plans suit the terrain and services locations. Some architects also offer building audits for peace of mind before you buy a house, or can prepare a report of which areas to focus on in your DIY plans.
Because the services that architects offer are so diverse, it's worth posting your job to say what you want done and let the architects that offer that service come straight to you. If you want a complete solution from start to finish you may also be interested in finding a builder that you like, because often builders have architects that they prefer to work with. Beware to always include your requirements for plans in these jobs to make sure you do get a builder that offers full service including architecture and planning permission.
In summary:
- If your job is a small job without many design elements (eg building a car port) it's best to start with a DRAFTSPERSON.
- If you want plans drawn up and want to start with the design and plans before committing to a building project, it's best to start with an ARCHITECT.
- If you want a full solution from start to finish you can choose between an ARCHITECT and a BUILDER but remember to be specific that you want both design and building from the same company when you list your job.
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