Architectural service - what is common when?

Actually, one reason for commissioning the architect was so that we wouldn’t have to do it ourselves. (Not so easy due to spatial distance, as well as private and professional situation.) This can certainly only be done with the involvement of the architect, because we lack the technical experience or detailed knowledge of the trades to do our own bidding.

No, you’re not supposed to do anything yourselves. You misunderstood me there. In service phase 5 the architect prepares the tenders. For example, 20 pages for the shell construction, 8 for the windows, 5 for the interior plaster, 3 for the screed, 15 for the roof truss including roofing, etc. Since you’re doing a lot on the existing building, the shell construction might not apply, but for all other tasks I would ask for the specific tender documents NOW. You pay a lot of money for that – and you can also have the completed tender documents submitted. Don’t hesitate to criticize the architect. They show in intricate detail which qualities in which quantities and which specific tasks are to be carried out. And with these tender documents you can gladly contact 138 additional companies – that’s what it means. Every company asked is requested for absolutely identical services. And if you know additional companies at or near the construction site or acquaintances know trustworthy companies, just include them in the inquiries. Such a tender can look like this, for example (of course there are more positions, such as expansion joints, edging insulation strips, checking readiness for flooring, or optional specialist hourly rates for unforeseens):

Screed: €5,000 => €9,000

Screed = pure screed or with additional services? I would have guessed around +/- €20/sqm for a pure cement screed without additional services at 6 cm thickness. €9,000 is either a huge building, with additional services, or just expensive.

Your tips are worth gold! I would have expected that such tender documents should actually exist. But I have never seen them, and honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if they don't exist. So far, we have paid 80% of phase 5, so you can expect that he has created the majority.

Screed = plain screed or with additional services. I would have guessed around +/- €20/sqm for a plain cement screed without additional services at 6cm thickness. €9,000 is either a huge place, with additional services, or simply expensive.

In the construction plan we have, it only says "Screed 70mm". As mentioned, we do not have a quantity list or similar. What exactly is meant by the item "Screed" in the cost calculation is not clear to me either. I assume material and labor costs?

Here is an excerpt from the cost calculation. Is this (in my opinion quite unspecific) breakdown usual in phase 3? Formally, compared to the cost estimate from phase 2, hardly anything has changed, mainly the values.

Here is an excerpt from the cost calculation.

If there is sense and understanding behind it and all items have been recorded, it is ok. Of course, it can be broken down further.

For correction: Quantity determination and tendering, preparation of bills of quantities, etc. are services of Lph 6. A tender includes a neutral bill of quantities for each trade, which then provides the companies with a uniform and comparable basis for their offers. In this bill of quantities, the "quantities" of the requested services must of course be indicated in m/m2/m3 or as unit counts. The bill of quantities also includes a clear technical and material description of the service with reference to the relevant DIN standards and technical regulations. The scope for interpretation by the bidder should ideally be "zero."

Lph 5 is the design and detailed planning, without which the subsequent Lph 6 cannot be processed. So if you have already paid 80% of Lph 5, your architect should be able to provide you with the corresponding construction drawings.

These are, for example, 1:50/1:25 drawings for demolition/structural work/carpenter/roofer, etc., up to 1:10/1:5 drawings for certain intricate details such as screed/floor constructions, sealing work, metal construction, drywall, interior finishing.

So if you have already paid 80% of Lph 5, your architect should be able to present you with the corresponding work planning drawings.

I requested the documents from him. Yesterday a new set of plans arrived, containing the following:

[*]Façade/perimeter insulation (marked on the floor plan)
[*]Demolition work (on the floor plan)
[*]Masonry (on the floor plan)
[*]Drywall partitions (on the floor plan)
[*]Window positions and measurements (in the elevations)
[*]Sanitary pipes / connections (in the sanitary plan)
[*]Insulation of the top floor ceiling
[*]Changes to the roof structure

As a layperson, I cannot judge whether the level of detail is sufficient. But the drywall installer would have to improvise with these plans, since for example the constructions under the stairs do not appear from the floor plans.

At first glance, heating and electrical planning are still missing. Is it correct that with this I have 80% of the plans from Lph 5?

Regarding the electrical planning, he says that we are supposed to mark where we want sockets etc. Is it usual procedure in electrical planning that the client first has to do preliminary work? I would have rather expected the "expert" to make proposals to which we can suggest changes.

The expert does not know how you want to furnish, where you want to place lamps, electrical devices, etc. He can certainly plan that for you as well, but of course, that costs money again.