Frequently Asked Questions:
What is the design process?
Once the quote is accepted, we have four design stages:
1 – Concept Design: We will do a measure up and provide two concept designs. We will only move on to the next stage once you are satisfied and give approval to proceed.
2 – Preliminary Design: We will prepare the technical plans, elevations and sections. This set of plans is commonly used for pricing.
3 – Detailed Design: We will draw up the specific construction details relevant to your project.
4 – Building consent issue: We will complete the building consent application, including the architectural specifications and all the relevant documentation such as H1 calculations and certificate of design work.
You are free to stop at the end of any design stage.
Is it possible to just have a quote for a concept?
Yes it is possible, just let us know and we can prepare a quote for a concept only.
We know what we want, can you draw up some plans and prepare the building consent?
Of course we can, we are always keen to work from a client’s sketch. We can also help you to fully resolve the layout and suggest how to improve the design and save on cost.
Do you charge for the first visit?
If you are located near Christchurch, the first visit is free of charge. Either Nico or Ira will meet you on site and have a discussion about your design ideas. We will then prepare a free quote detailing our fees.
How do you price?
We charge on an hourly basis. We estimate how many hours will be required to design your project, based on the specifics of your brief, and we apply our hourly rate.
Architectural design: $135/hour
Architectural drafting: $90/hour
What is the difference between drafting and designing?
If our scope of work involves the preparation of a building consent (or a discretionary exemption), it will include a certificate of design work. All work involving a certificate of design is priced at the Architectural design rate.
If our services do not include a certificate of design work, such as drafting on behalf of another designer, it will be priced at the Architectural drafting rate.
Can you recommend a structural engineer or a contractor?
We have a network of consultants that we can recommend depending of the scale of the project. We can also project manage the entire team for an additional fee.
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