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To avoid confusion about the roles and responsibilities - for both DLD and the homeowner - during the design and construction process, it's good to have a clear understanding of project structure. |
Roles During the Design Process
Team Structure
The most common team structure consists of three primary entities - the homeowner, designer, and builder.
In this structure, the designer is responsible for all aspects related to the design of your project, the builder is responsible for all aspects related to the construction of your project, while the homeowner assembles the team and sets the budget and scope parameters of the project, maintaining separate contracts with the designer and builder.
If you are working with a design/build company, where the builder and designer are part of the same company, a single contract is signed with the design/build company.
Homeowner's Role
Let’s begin with the key player in this entire process – the homeowner.
> Project Scope & Budget
The homeowner has two key responsibilities in any project during the design process - setting project scope and the budget [with some assistance, of course]. Often homeowners get nervous when asked about their project budget, concerned that the unstated goal is to spend every nickel.
Not so.
The most common team structure consists of three primary entities - the homeowner, designer, and builder.
In this structure, the designer is responsible for all aspects related to the design of your project, the builder is responsible for all aspects related to the construction of your project, while the homeowner assembles the team and sets the budget and scope parameters of the project, maintaining separate contracts with the designer and builder.
If you are working with a design/build company, where the builder and designer are part of the same company, a single contract is signed with the design/build company.
Homeowner's Role
Let’s begin with the key player in this entire process – the homeowner.
> Project Scope & Budget
The homeowner has two key responsibilities in any project during the design process - setting project scope and the budget [with some assistance, of course]. Often homeowners get nervous when asked about their project budget, concerned that the unstated goal is to spend every nickel.
Not so.
PROJECT SCOPE AND BUDGET Setting the limits of work and finance is a key homeowner role in every project. It's the role and responsibility of the designer to respect and work within these limits.
Project budget needs to be addressed openly and honestly to verify it's a reasonable, real-world amount aligned with project scope. There’s not a faster track toward a project’s demise than an owner hoping something will cost less than a professional has advised them it will cost.
Working with a realistic budget early on is much more cost effective than marching through an expensive series of design phases only to realize the cost of the building as designed won't match the funds available.
Knowing the budget also informs design decisions and direction.
Working with a realistic budget early on is much more cost effective than marching through an expensive series of design phases only to realize the cost of the building as designed won't match the funds available.
Knowing the budget also informs design decisions and direction.
OLD BY NEW People often forget that plywood and exterior sheathing was not widely available in the 1940's and 50's. Instead, houses were clad with individual wood boards, which introduced joints and seams that allowed not only moisture and air to infiltrate but also offered less structural and shear support. Today, exterior sheathing measuring only 7/16" thick provides a continuous and stable sub surface.
> Design Feedback
Homeowners are also responsible for offering feedback during the design process.
Designers thrive on honest, critical feedback. We always encourage homeowners to be candid about their likes and dislikes about a particular design. It helps move the process to resolution more efficiently and it clarifies the design goals for the project.
There is always room for good ideas.
Homeowners are also responsible for offering feedback during the design process.
Designers thrive on honest, critical feedback. We always encourage homeowners to be candid about their likes and dislikes about a particular design. It helps move the process to resolution more efficiently and it clarifies the design goals for the project.
There is always room for good ideas.
PROJECT PRIORITIES A key homeowner responsibility during design process is to establish clear project priorities and attributes. Here, a priority was placed on maximizing natural light and view.
DLD's Role
Primarily, DLD is responsible for orchestrating the interests of all of the disparate parties and project priorities into a single coherent vision. This means we must correctly frame the problem, analyze the site or existing structure, and propose suitable design solutions that address the homeowner’s directives – ideally in a creative way.
The end product of this process is the Construction Document set which consists of the drawings, schedules and specifications required to permit, bid, and build your project.
It's important to note that although DLD possess a broad base of general knowledge in all aspects of design and construction – we are primarily generalists. As such, certain project types, conditions, or details may require at least one outside consultant to complete specialized tasks. If necessary to safely and accurately complete the project, DLD will hire and coordinate consultants, engineers, or specialists.
Primarily, DLD is responsible for orchestrating the interests of all of the disparate parties and project priorities into a single coherent vision. This means we must correctly frame the problem, analyze the site or existing structure, and propose suitable design solutions that address the homeowner’s directives – ideally in a creative way.
The end product of this process is the Construction Document set which consists of the drawings, schedules and specifications required to permit, bid, and build your project.
It's important to note that although DLD possess a broad base of general knowledge in all aspects of design and construction – we are primarily generalists. As such, certain project types, conditions, or details may require at least one outside consultant to complete specialized tasks. If necessary to safely and accurately complete the project, DLD will hire and coordinate consultants, engineers, or specialists.
P R O B L E M S O L V I N G
Construction Process
Homeowner's Role
During construction the homeowner’s role is minimal from an input standpoint. Assuming most of the decisions were made during design process, the homeowner will be responsible for paying the invoices as they’re submitted and attending site meetings.
Occasionally, however, there are modifications to be made or design opportunities presented that the builder, homeowner, or DLD may not have anticipated. Homeowner input during these moments is crucial.
A good example is when the building is framed, the owner should visit the project to ensure that the spaces feel appropriately scaled. Moving studs before the plumbing and electrical rough-ins have occur is much easier and less costly than afterwards.
During construction the homeowner’s role is minimal from an input standpoint. Assuming most of the decisions were made during design process, the homeowner will be responsible for paying the invoices as they’re submitted and attending site meetings.
Occasionally, however, there are modifications to be made or design opportunities presented that the builder, homeowner, or DLD may not have anticipated. Homeowner input during these moments is crucial.
A good example is when the building is framed, the owner should visit the project to ensure that the spaces feel appropriately scaled. Moving studs before the plumbing and electrical rough-ins have occur is much easier and less costly than afterwards.
MASTER JUGGLERS AND EXECUTORS Builders are skilled at delivering a project, executing the tasks and responsibilities necessary to move a project efficiently and quickly along the construction sequence. There are a lot of moving parts and often multiple projects to juggle.
Contractor's Role
The Contractor is responsible for carrying out the design intent of the drawings as well as all means and methods of construction. They determine the construction schedule, the sequencing, and who to hire to perform the work. The builder hires the necessary subcontractors, not DLD or the homeowner. This isn’t to say that the contractor calls all of the shots once hammers start flying, but the builder leads the construction process and the execution and scheduling of the work.
The Contractor is responsible for carrying out the design intent of the drawings as well as all means and methods of construction. They determine the construction schedule, the sequencing, and who to hire to perform the work. The builder hires the necessary subcontractors, not DLD or the homeowner. This isn’t to say that the contractor calls all of the shots once hammers start flying, but the builder leads the construction process and the execution and scheduling of the work.
CLEAR THE DECKS A key responsibility of the builder during construction is to provide adequate time in the proper sequence to the dozens of tradesmen that roll through most every project. Keeping the site clean and accessible for work to proceed uninterrupted is a primary builder responsibility.
DLD'S Role
Even though DLD doesn’t sign the construction contract, we play a key role during the construction process.
DLD’s role during construction is to observe. Our role isn’t to tell the contractor what to do, how to do it, what schedule to use, who to hire or when they should start. We are there to review conformance with the design intent of the drawings.
Even though DLD doesn’t sign the construction contract, we play a key role during the construction process.
DLD’s role during construction is to observe. Our role isn’t to tell the contractor what to do, how to do it, what schedule to use, who to hire or when they should start. We are there to review conformance with the design intent of the drawings.
FINAL PUSH The end of any project has dozens of details to wrap up, from paint and stain touchups to minor repairs from dropped tools. This last 5% of the project can be like pulling teeth to complete, but a good builder will be with you to the end.
Often DLD acts like a mediator in disputes – an advisor and a diplomat. Construction is messy and there’s no possible way to draw, design or anticipate every condition that exists in a building. It would be far too expensive to do and even then, something would still be overlooked.
Having DLD on site to observe and facilitate makes good economic sense and ensures that the ideas, thought, and care that were put into crafting your project are executed properly and as intended.
Ideally the construction phase is as much of a collaboration as is the design phase with each party contributing expert knowledge to make the project stronger. Having everyone invested in a collaborative process, each fulfilling their roles from the outset, makes for a better end product.
Having DLD on site to observe and facilitate makes good economic sense and ensures that the ideas, thought, and care that were put into crafting your project are executed properly and as intended.
Ideally the construction phase is as much of a collaboration as is the design phase with each party contributing expert knowledge to make the project stronger. Having everyone invested in a collaborative process, each fulfilling their roles from the outset, makes for a better end product.