Communication with architects?

Hello,

I wanted to ask what is usual. The following situation: We would like to hire an architect for our house. We like him and he has already done some work in advance without having an assignment. Now of course he would like to have a contract and brought us the contract last Monday. I had a few questions about it, which I sent to him before the weekend, and over the weekend the newly adjusted floor plans. Unfortunately, no feedback so far again.

What is normal in the industry? I would like to build with him, but always getting no answer is a bit frustrating ..

Roger

On Monday he brought you the contract, shortly before the weekend, so 4.5 business days later you sent him a response,.. and today, after 2 working days, you are frustrated that no answer has come?

Personally, I would always give the professional at least twice as much time as I need myself, since he simply has more projects on his plate than you :)

Hello,

I have to dig up this old thread again:

Current status:

Construction planning is underway, building application created, building application submitted, building application partially approved. What was not approved is a long roof of a carport built on the boundary line – the architect’s idea. It could really look good, but it just doesn’t quite comply with the regulations. (Visible area >25sqm)

Ok, anyway, now we are at the point where the architect has sent out a tender for the shell construction. I also received a copy of it. Unfortunately, I find some ?mistakes? in it again. For example, I am building KfW 75, but the tender states KfW 40, which is not achievable with the bricks specified. He decided to make the foundation slab a so-called Swedish slab – or maybe not, since the underfloor heating is not included, which is normally usual for a Swedish slab, at least according to my research. Whether I want this at all or not was not discussed. The tender states I am building in a flood zone and need a watertight concrete slab. Umm ..? I am building on a slope and only 2 of my 4 basement walls are concrete, there are windows on the other sides.. if there is a flood here, the whole valley is already underwater. The hill above me is still 2–3 meters high, the rest is all below me.

Many things have already happened in advance that give me a bad feeling whether everything is really right. After the tender, I’m really unsure now.

How do I recognize a competent architect, and how do I recognize when I should look for another architect?

By the way, an additional question: We submitted the building application with a floor plan using 36.5 cm deep bricks (T8). He certainly sees the option to still build the house with 42 cm bricks and simply make the floor plan 12 cm larger in each direction. I wanted to have the price difference clarified beforehand; he deferred me to the tender phase. Can one approach it the way he does or not?

Regards
Roger

Have the [Ausschreibungen] shown to you before providing them. Then you can discuss such things with your architect beforehand and not only when it's too late. I cannot judge whether what the architect does is correct in terms of content.

Hello,

... - architect's idea. It can really look good, but it just doesn't quite comply with the regulations...

Then that's on his "cap."

... For example, I build to KfW 75, the tender states KfW 40, ...

KfW 75 is not available for applying for funding! If KfW 70 is not achieved, it is an Energy Saving Ordinance standard building with primary energy results between the Energy Saving Ordinance standard requirements and KfW70.
A higher primary energy standard of the building, e.g. KfW 40, is associated with significantly higher costs and a completely different system technology. The architect cannot simply change things at his own discretion.
Whether a "Schwedenplatte" is the "real deal" is highly debatable!

...How do I recognize a competent architect and how do I know when I should look for another architect?..

For example, by communication. The successful completion of a construction project is based on the trust relationship between the client (AG) and the architect (AN).
If this is recognized as disturbed, one should change before bigger problems arise, which is not entirely easy (existing contract).
The area of heating, domestic hot water preparation, and possibly ventilation should be viewed very critically. Here there is usually a lack of solid basic investigation as well as exact planning and dimensioning. Often this problem is passed on to the contractor with the motto "just build a heating system."
The client usually ends up with the short end of the stick later in the form of excessive consumption and/or investment costs. Retrospective corrections can then usually hardly be made with reasonable effort.

...He certainly sees the option to still build the house with 42cm stones and just make the floor plan 12cm larger in each direction....

This option always exists as long as the foundation work has not yet begun. However, the building application must be changed as the external dimensions will probably change. Statics, fire protection, and sound insulation may also change.

...I wanted to have the price difference clarified beforehand, he put me off until the tendering phase. Can you approach it the way he does or not?..

You can, but an experienced architect should be able to give a prior estimate.
Best regards,
NB:
All agreements should be documented in writing and countersigned! Nowadays, communication is often done quickly via mobile phone. Much is forgotten and later nothing can be proven!