Frequently Asked Questions:
Don’t I need an Architect to design my Remodel or Custom Home?
In almost all cases, no. In the state of Oregon you do not need an architect to do remodeling projects including additions. Regarding custom homes, there are some limitations for designers. In essence, I can only design homes that are a maximum of two stories tall with the hightest wall plate height of 20 feet above the foundation. I also cannot design homes over 5000 square feet. Most new homes have a 9 foot ceiling on the main floor, 1 foot tall floor system (between floors) and an 8 foot ceiling on the second floor thus this is rarely an issue. If you are wanting 10 foot ceilings on both floors or a home over 5000 square feet, you would need to hire an licensed architect. Generally speaking, Architects are significantly more expensive to retain their services.
Do I need an engineer?
This depends on the design we create. If we decide to remove walls, we’ll need to determine if they are bearing walls. If so, an engineer will likely be required and they will calculate what will be required to remove the bearing wall by moving the load of that wall to another location. I have several structural engineers I work with who can tackle this kind of project and their designs get incorporated into my drawings and submitted to the jurisdiction.
Do I need to hire a Contractor or can I do the work myself?
As a homeowner you can do the construction work yourself, assuming you have those kinds of skills. I do recommend hiring specialized tradespeople such as plumbers and electricians as those disciplines are more specialized and often require seperate permits. That said, I highly recommend having a general contractor on most projects as they do a lot of project coordination which in some ways is as big of a job as the acutal building.
Where can I find a good contractor for my project?
I have several contractors I regularly work with and would be happy to share their contact information to see if they are a good fit.
Can I live at home during my Remodel?
In most cases the answer is Yes…with the proper planning and mindeset. It is best to discuss the details of this with your contractor. Some important factors to consider are if you work from home, construction noise, project scale & length of time, children and pets. If you are having a kitchen remodel, are you ok with setting up a temporary kitchen? Remodeling a bathroom means another bathroom might become the primary bathroom for the home.