If your home improvement includes structural elements such as building on additional rooms, moving or removing walls or other tasks that impact the foundation or structural integrity of your property, you should consider hiring an architect. An architect can provide a range of services related to their background in engineering, design and project management. Of course, you will pay more for this level of expertise, so it is important to understand your choices from a local remodeling contractor in Portland.

When to Use an Architect

Having an architect manage your project from start to end means having one person to deal with through developing the original drawings and creating a code-compliant design to managing the workforce needed to finish the project. An architect provides leadership and creates a buffer to make the process smooth and less painful for you. However, this is going to cost a lot more than dealing directly with the contractors once you have the design drawings. Based on economies of scale, it is probably worth it to hire an architect to manage large projects. It will likely cost you 5 or 10 percent more to let them deal with getting bids and managing the contractors performing the work.

When to Hire an Architect

You probably want to hire the architect even before you have a contractor on hook. Architects create and present detailed plans used in the bidding process, and he plans to include the exterior of the home and building details, such as walls, floor plans, roof and foundation. After you have the completed plans, it is a good idea to put the whole project out to be bid on by available remodeling contractors in Portland.

Benefits of Architects are Project Managers

Hiring an architect to oversee a project is the highest service you can get and you really just have to sign and approve checks. If you would rather not know the particulars about the project until it is done and like putting your trust in the professionals, this could be a good solution for you. The architecture makes day-to-day decisions and deals with the contractors as well as keeping the project with the budget and time constraints agreed upon.