Distinctive Custom Home Design

For the vast majority of projects, the answer is yes. With increases in regulation and liability, a building permit ensures the structure is designed and built adequately and correctly inspected. Without a building permit, how will the city or insurance companies know the Building Code was followed? The safest and most secure way to go about your project is to obtain necessary building permits.

The plans are one part of the package submitted to the city. Once the building permit application has been accepted, the package is distributed to several different departments for viewing. The departments will either make comments and requests for additional items, or they will pass the plans. Once the building permit application is approved, you are able to start construction.

Construction documents are the final product that the client is ordering. When the client is happy with the design, it is finalized and all the technical data for the project is added. Construction documents are what the city requires for building permit application, builders require for accurate estimates, engineers require for stamping, and all the other professionals require to perform their jobs accurately.

Architects are coordinating professionals. Not only do they design the vast majority of non-house buildings, they are essentially the manager of the several different professionals required for the construction of the building. In residential buildings, an architect is needed when the building is more than 4 dwelling units, is over 3 stories in height, or is larger than a certain footprint on the property.

Structural engineers specify and lay out the structure of the building. They take on any and all liability in regard to the structural integrity of the building. A good building designer will ensure the structural elements affecting the design are laid out so they doesn’t disturb the intent of the design. However, the structural engineer is the person ensuring the structural members and seismic bracings are adequate.

Surveyors survey the property and provide a drawing that accurately plots the lot, any buildings on the lot, the street, services, curbs, utility poles, etc. They also provide specific heights of the land, an important item for determining the height of the building. Land surveyors ensure the house is built where it is supposed to be built at time of construction and make sure heights are followed during construction.