Architect, Designer or Drafter?
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We work with the top architects, designers
and drafters in Northeast Florida. We can recommend a
number of professionals to collaborate with you on your
project.
Depending on your project, an architect, designer,
or drafter might be the best choice for capturing your ideas
and rendering them in drawings that can be used by builders.
The following table describes the basic skill set of each
discipline and when it may be best used.
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Who
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What they do
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Experience and Scope of
Responsibility
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Best use
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Architect
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The architect is a licensed professional who understands how a
building should be built.
Architects have knowledge about the structural requirements
necessary to prevent your home from toppling over. They
understand all issues related to safety spelled out by the
building codes in which their design for your home needs to
conform.
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Licensed professional, often with an advanced
degree, who has undergone an internship and rigorous testing to
meet strict licensing standards.
Legally responsible for all work.
Depending on specialty, may have experience in a variety of
areas from historical preservation to structural engineering.
Continuing education is required by many states to maintain
licensing.
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Hire an architect for all work that requires
building permits and inspections. Often, city and county
building codes require an architect´s approval. Check with your
building department to verify.
Some homeowner´s associations may require that additions and
remodeling projects be signed off by a registered architect. The
homeowner´s association architectural committee can provide
specific guidelines for working within association covenants.
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Designer
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Captures your vision and renders your design.
Think of home designers as visual artists.
They understand all space and functional issues you may bring up
about your current and future home. They also can draft
plans and elevations to describe layouts and form. Home
designers strengths lie in design, function and decoration and
the wide variety of materials that can be used in your finishes.
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Able to visualize concepts and render usable working documents.
Proficient in various design techniques such as CAD drafting,
including plans, details, sections, layouts with background in
working with architects and project managers.
Depending on education and background may have additional
construction experience as well as materials and standards
research.
Education may include formal CAD training and design coursework,
but is not necessarily required. Licensing is not required.
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A designer is trained to take your concept and
create a workable vision. They can coordinate materials and
color to best effect, as well as define space usage.
They can create elevations and floor plans that embody
functional and aesthetic goals.
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Drafter
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Provides working technical drawings for craftsmen
and contractors. |
Proficient at architectural drawings of buildings
and details using CAD applications. May specialize by type of
structure and material used.
Knowledgeable of materials and design standards.
May have formal training or coursework. Licensing is not
required. |
A draftsman can create the kinds of technical
drawings required by a custom cabinet maker, for example.
For small or medium projects, where drawings are needed that
provide technical detail, but don´t require a lot of design or
engineering, a draftsman can provide contractors with a clear
set of working instructions. |
Why hire one instead of another?
If you have a small project that requires clear drawings for us to
build, a draftsman can render a plan that works well and communicates
effectively for a relatively modest investment. If you are planning a
bathroom or kitchen remodel, you might hire either a drafter to draw up
your ideas for us or hire a designer to help you define what you want.
The result of their work with you is a set of working drawings for us to
follow.
If you are at a conceptual stage and want someone to create a
rendering of your ideas, an architectural designer is an excellent
resource. They can take your desire for a "casually elegant abode" and
create drawings that incorporate your ideas into a cohesive design. A
designer is additionally equipped to make recommendations about
materials, finishes, and color.
For any project that requires complex requirements and/or structural
modification, it´s usually wise to get the advice of a licensed
architect. By hiring an architect, you ensure that your project will be
built to current codes and problems will be avoided. When you hire an
architect, you hire a committed professional. While the cost is
certainly higher than a designer or drafter, you are assured that the
end product will be structurally sound. An architect is capable of doing
the design work or taking the work of a designer, and then creating all
the working drawings.
Hiring
Regardless of your project and the scope of work, ask each candidate
for the project to provide references and proof of all required
licensing and insurance. Ask to see a portfolio of work and examine the
work carefully. Depending on the discipline, cost and complexity, a
contract may be used. If so, make sure that the scope of work is clearly
defined, with all payment terms and warranties stipulated.
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