We are in the process of expanding and renovating our house and since April this year we have been working on a few different projects (bathroom, changing the layout, etc.) and are now about to start a more substantial project where we will expand the house among other things.
I myself know quite little about house construction and renovation and obviously take the help of professionals such as builders, plumbers, electricians, and now even an architect. One observation is that when you're about to request quotes, quite a few technical building questions come up from the craftsmen. I obviously have a full understanding of how we want the final result to be, but I see the path there as something I shouldn't necessarily decide.
Is it common that the customer (me in this case) should provide feedback during the quotation stage regarding the choice of foundation, how fixings should be handled, and how deep to dig? Or is this where the engineer comes in? Or should the architect answer this?
I come from IT and the digital side, but even there it's about some sort of delivery and I never discuss the technical solutions with our customers. Why is this more relevant when it comes to houses?
I myself know quite little about house construction and renovation and obviously take the help of professionals such as builders, plumbers, electricians, and now even an architect. One observation is that when you're about to request quotes, quite a few technical building questions come up from the craftsmen. I obviously have a full understanding of how we want the final result to be, but I see the path there as something I shouldn't necessarily decide.
Is it common that the customer (me in this case) should provide feedback during the quotation stage regarding the choice of foundation, how fixings should be handled, and how deep to dig? Or is this where the engineer comes in? Or should the architect answer this?
I come from IT and the digital side, but even there it's about some sort of delivery and I never discuss the technical solutions with our customers. Why is this more relevant when it comes to houses?
You have to live with the consequences of your choices. Some choices are more expensive but better. You have to choose what you prefer.
When you build, you optimize between price, quality, durability/lifespan, practical and aesthetic aspects, etc. The customer must be able to meet with the builder and present their wishes or at least discuss the pros and cons of different solutions.
I wonder why your IT customers don't place demands on your work; we always do when procuring IT services...
Sure, you can have a designer and an architect, but you should have some knowledge yourself, after all, it's one of the biggest transactions of your life?
When you build, you optimize between price, quality, durability/lifespan, practical and aesthetic aspects, etc. The customer must be able to meet with the builder and present their wishes or at least discuss the pros and cons of different solutions.
I wonder why your IT customers don't place demands on your work; we always do when procuring IT services...
Sure, you can have a designer and an architect, but you should have some knowledge yourself, after all, it's one of the biggest transactions of your life?
Discussing price, quality, longevity, aesthetics, etc., and then making a decision is not a problem for me at all. But if I want an extension and the builder asks me how the interface to the existing building should be, I don't think it's my job to research and make a correct decision without getting more information from the builder.
I see it as if I have to live with the consequences, then I shouldn't make decisions about construction techniques from any perspective other than price, quality, longevity, aesthetics, etc.
I think it's about where you draw the line regarding customer requirements. I am happy to choose and place windows, but I don't care about the technique used to install them.
And to be clear with the IT comparison, asking me about construction techniques without giving me alternatives is like if I were to ask my customers if they want us to build in JavaScript/Open Source or .Net. Or if they want to use TypeScript or untyped JavaScript. Which is completely unreasonable and uninteresting for all my customers.
I see it as if I have to live with the consequences, then I shouldn't make decisions about construction techniques from any perspective other than price, quality, longevity, aesthetics, etc.
I think it's about where you draw the line regarding customer requirements. I am happy to choose and place windows, but I don't care about the technique used to install them.
And to be clear with the IT comparison, asking me about construction techniques without giving me alternatives is like if I were to ask my customers if they want us to build in JavaScript/Open Source or .Net. Or if they want to use TypeScript or untyped JavaScript. Which is completely unreasonable and uninteresting for all my customers.
In the context of construction, technology probably has a more physical meaning than in the IT world. When it comes to new constructions, we are talking about lifespans of 100 years. For a project as significant as an extension, I think it's reasonable for you as a client to have been able to consider any important decisions. It is also the responsibility of the engineer and architect to describe them to you.