Your Home is your Castle. It is also one of the biggest investments that a family will make. They are sort of like kids in a way; it seems they never stop costing you money!
If we want to carry on the analogy (I can’t promise that it is a good idea), then perhaps a kitchen remodeling job is like getting braces for Junior’s teeth. They may or may not be completely necessary, but if the decision is made to go ahead with the trouble and expense, more often than not everyone is pleased and amazed with the results.
Here is where the analogy breaks down- if you do decide to have the work done on Junior’s smile, there is no place for amateurs. You will hire the most qualified professional that you (or your insurance) can afford. Up to a point, it is OK to shop around for the best deal in someone to do your remodeling, or even do it yourself.
Keep in mind that you will get what you pay for. You may have enough skill and experience that you would do a better remodeling job than a bargain contractor, but it is not likely that you could do the job as well, as fast, or even as cheaply as a high-end, experienced contractor.
The high end contractor has the experience, the tools, and the know how to accomplish nearly any remodeling job you would care to give him. However, he will be the first to tell you that there are a few limitations to his knowledge base, and when that happens, it is time to call in an architect.
An architect certainly won’t be necessary for every remodel, and certainly not if the job is just a matter of swapping out fixtures, appliances, and finish elements like cabinets, counter tops, and flooring.
When is it time to call in the architect? If the job calls for changing the “footprint” of the house, you will likely need to talk to an architect. A good rule of thumb is that if you are changing the outside of the structure, altering the floor plan, or planning the spend more than 5% of the value of the home, you will want an architect to look at the project.
What can you expect from the extra money that an architect is going to cost? The architect is trained to look at the house as a whole, where its strengths and weaknesses lie, and what needs to be done to achieve the desires of his client while maintaining the structural integrity of the home. There may be instances when the alterations done during a remodeling job are affected by building codes, and in these situations, even a contractor may ask for an architects consultation
Part of an architect’s training is as a project manager. You may not need these services if you have a contractor that you are comfortable with. If an architect is hired for the planning, he will want to visit the job to ensure that everything is being accomplished to his specifications (the architect will not want a project he designed to fall down because of poor construction).
These project visits will be part of his fee, of course, but if you have trust in your contractor and you can recognize quality construction on your own, they can be kept to a minimum.
For most remodeling jobs, even those involving an architect, it is more important to have a good relationship with your contractor. Get in touch with Corvus Construction today.