Architect or Structural Engineer for a one off house.

housebuild

Hi,

Has anyone gone down the route of using a structural engineer over an architect for a one off build?

Fees for architects in Dublin seem off the charts.

Calahonda52

housebuild wrote: »

Hi,

Has anyone gone down the route of using a structural engineer over an architect for a one off build?

Fees for architects in Dublin seem off the charts.

1. What do you understand as being the essential difference between these two professionals.
2. Why do you think you need either or both or neither?

housebuild

I could be wrong but a structural engineer will design the house to determine that it will stay with against the elements and provide quality and safety to the build. An architect will work with a structural engineer to achieve the same aswell as making sure there is a flow to the house and it meets the clients needs and how they live.

I would assume I need someone to create drawings for a builder.

kev1234

housebuild wrote: »

Hi,

Has anyone gone down the route of using a structural engineer over an architect for a one off build?

Fees for architects in Dublin seem off the charts.

I am using only a structural engineer for my extension but if it was a full build I think I would definitely engage an Architect also. Even with the extension I am consulting 2 friends who are architects to look over all of my work including drawings, tender etc.

housebuild

We have planning and engaged an architect for that so we have the house layout and design but just not the detailed plans which can be done by a structural engineer. We have a builder who we trust on years of dealing with him and have seen many of his completed houses and they are high spec.

Gumbo

kev1234 wrote: »

I am using only a structural engineer for my extension but if it was a full build I think I would definitely engage an Architect also. Even with the extension I am consulting 2 friends who are architects to look over all of my work including drawings, tender etc.

and boards.ie

Not saying anything is wrong with that but the op needs to understand there will be loads of questions and decisions to be made later that the engineer can’t answer.

Metric Tensor

So what you are looking for a professional to detail and inspect the build? Not design the layout?

There are Architects, Engineers and also Architectural Technicians who are excellent at that but there are also some who don't know their arse from their elbow when it comes to construction details.

I'd be as concerned with the quality of the person as the qualification in this scenario. Look for recommendations from people you trust as to how their build worked and then check the professional's qualifications after that.

kev1234

kceire wrote: »

kev1234 wrote: »

I am using only a structural engineer for my extension but if it was a full build I think I would definitely engage an Architect also. Even with the extension I am consulting 2 friends who are architects to look over all of my work including drawings, tender etc.

and boards.ie

Not saying anything is wrong with that but the op needs to understand there will be loads of questions and decisions to be made later that the engineer can’t answer.

Haha, absolutely :P  
Boards is proving very useful and great for advice on generic topics to develop an understanding but I totally agree that there will be numerous decisions that the engineer won't be able to deal with that will require an Architect. I am a Project Engineer myself with reasonable experience of tendering and producing drawings so given the 'relatively' basic nature of my proposed works I am taking on the bulk of work myself. The rest I am relying on the structural engineer and the expertise of qualified friends to review my work.