TL;DR: You bet you do. 

Alright, now for the rest of you – let’s dive in.

If you’re planning to renovate, one of the first questions you may ask yourself is whether it makes sense to hire an architect. 

Before we get into the details of your given project, let’s just get into it. If you are planning a full-scale gut renovation, the answer is yes you need an architect. If you’re planning a new construction home, the answer is yes you need an architect. If you are planning to move some walls in your existing home, the answer is yes. If you are considering re-laying out your existing bathroom space, the answer is – you guessed it – yes. 

Consulting with an architect before any home renovation project you endeavor is key. They can help you determine the feasibility of your vision within your home’s physical structure, not to mention help you structurally plan for your project while also incorporating key design elements – all while considering your budget and timeline from the get-go. 

Architects Should Provide Leadership and Oversight

Virtually any type of design project – even the smallest bathroom renovation – requires a lot more people, moving parts, and coordination than the average person thinks. Yes, a bathroom is technically just one room. But think of all the fixtures, materials, lighting, and finishes involved. Your project will also affect your home’s plumbing system. 

The point is, there’s a lot going on, and it all needs to be coordinated in a unified effort to ensure that every piece of the puzzle fits perfectly in its rightful place. 

At Debowsky Design Group, we serve as our client’s representative during the construction phase. We act as your voice and ensure the general contractor and all other vendors are following the design plans and executing your vision properly, down to the very last detail. 

All vendors on your project can function independently. They have their responsibilities, and how their work fits into the bigger picture isn’t their concern. This significantly increases the likelihood of something going awry, overlapping details getting missed, or the project taking much longer than expected.

Architects Create Your Project’s Drawings

Another essential purpose of working with an architecture firm is to have accurate and detailed architectural drawings for specific aspects of the renovation. Not sure if your project needs these drawings? Here are a few common tasks associated with renovations that require them:

• Moving windows or doors
• Moving or removing walls
• Moving structural beams
• Moving plumbing, electrical or HVAC (If walls are being moved, your remodel will likely affect at least one of these systems)

Can’t My Contractor Just Draw Up Plans?

Many homeowners have left their construction plans in the hands of contractors, especially for projects involving just one room. A contractor may have the ability to create construction plans, but contractors are not architects, nor are they designers. Their job is to focus on the buildability of a project – which is very important. But it is not the entire picture. 

Having an architect on your team who serves as your quarterback for the project, will be able to assess and resolve an issue if and when it arises in the building phase is invaluable. At DDG, our oversight can streamline the process and ensure the project is finished on-time and on-budget. 

Ready to start on your renovation project? At Debowsky Design Group, we are there for our clients from the first ideation of their project through to their first steps into their newly renovated space.  There’s a reason why all our clients will tell you, “Yes, it is undoubtedly worth it to hire an architect.” 

Give us a call and let’s get your project underway!