Ground floor remodel: do I need an architect?

last year

Hello,
I’m in the process of purchasing a 25 year old house and I already know I want to remodel the ground floor. Nothing big like an extension, but rather changing the floor plan by removing some walls (between kitchen and dining room) and creating others (to create a utility room).
My question is, do I need an architect? I have a good idea of what I want, but I think I could use some advice in terms of whether my ideas make sense and what it would look like (flow, light, size of the rooms). Would the structural engineer do that? Or would that be the job of an architect? What about an architectural technician?
Thanks!

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Comments (5)

User
last year
For layout changes like the ones you described, I'd highly recommend hiring an architect. That's what I did for my home renos and it was worth every penny.

A good architect can see the potential in a house the way no one else can. They'll have creative solutions, will steer you away from bad design decisions, will help keep changes within budget (to some degree), and will ensure the changes are to code.

A structural engineer is useful too to plan how to implement the architect's designs for structural soundness. If you're removing walls, they're the ones who will tell you whether you need a steel beam or not and how to do it, for example.
Sonia
last year
That is exactly what George Clark did in his Ugly House programmes. He refigures the inside without extending at all. He is an architect so I would say yes to employing one. If you’ve never seen this series it was on Channel 4 so worth a catch up.
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Marion Sense
Original Author
last year
Thanks both! It’s exciting and daunting at the same time… I don’t even know where to start. Architect, structural engineer, builder, electrician, plumber, flooring specialist, kitchen fitter 😱
Sonia
last year
I know. However, a decent architect or builder will have trade contacts so that should help. 😊
Eileen Nixon
last year
Architect, and fixed price!

Ground floor remodel: do I need an architect?

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Ground floor remodel: do I need an architect?

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Sonia

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Eileen Nixon

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