Taking on a home renovation is no small feat. It requires research, planning, patience and a pile of decision-making tasks bound to trigger even the calmest minds. But fear not! Equipping yourself with the right advice can help set you on the right course to choose the right contractor. To help get you there, we connected with Luc Johnston and Nancy Chao at Lloydlondon Architects, a licensed, full-service Architectural and Interior Design office in Toronto. After working with a variety of home renovation contractors and architects over the years, Johnston and Chao know a thing or two about narrowing down your options to find the best people to work on your future dwelling.
Let’s start by breaking down the difference between these an architect and a contractor.
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Architect vs. Contractor: What’s the Difference?
Architects and contractors are two of the most critical professionals in the construction, home renovation and design industries, but their roles differ greatly. In their simplest terms, architects are responsible for the design and high-level oversight of the construction process to ensure the outcome matches the design plan. Contractors execute the building plan. They have specialized skills in material sourcing, coordinating with subcontractors, and deep knowledge of safety and building codes.
“The architect typically works with consultants, including mechanical, electrical or structural engineers. If contracted, an architect can coordinate these consultants. They will oversee the consultant design and coordinate the construction drawings package across all consultant designs. The contractor will coordinate, organize, and schedule their sub-trades accordingly as per the drawings, specifications, and their preferred construction methodology,” explains Chao.
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How Do Architects and Contractors Work Together?
Taking the proper steps to ensure everyone is on the same page is an art and usually requires collaboration between teams to bring everything to life.
“We like to use the analogy of a contractor and an architect being the two legs of the project. You need to work together and have good lines of communication to keep moving forward. Having a clear set of construction drawings showing the extent of work is the first step to a good working relationship. Sitting down early with the contractor to review the drawings and the work site helps to flush out any problems or unforeseen problems one might come across.”
Additionally, Chao and Johnston suggest that while clear, concise and timely information leads to good projects and the best results, maintaining regular construction site meetings throughout the project is essential for recognizing any potential issues or concerns that may arise during construction.
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How Can an Architect Help You Choose a Contractor?
The role of an architect when it comes to choosing a contractor is one of support and recommendations, which usually begins with a list of at least three qualified contractors for the home renovation project.
“The contractor has a separate contract with the homeowner from the architect. As architects, our services include assessing and reviewing the competency of the proposed contractors. We do that by visiting previous projects and discussing the planned construction. Our jobs are not to select the contractor; that is always the homeowner’s decision, but we are here to vet the options to ensure we are constantly comparing apples to apples amongst the candidates and voicing our opinion,” explains Chao.
Reviewing a contractor’s bid package and assessing their ability to communicate well is at the top of the list of considerations, which is why architects often have a preferred list to pull from. Johnston adds:
“Having an established relationship between contractors and architects has many benefits that can improve construction timelines and costs and reduce the amount of correspondence back-and-forth between the consultant team and contractor.”
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How To Choose the Right Contractor for Your Next Home Reno
Whether you’re working with an architect or navigating the experience alone, below are some tips to help you select the best contractor for the job.
- Interview at least three contractors so you can contrast and compare options.
- Focus on local contractors that are fully licensed.
- Secure multiple estimates and pay attention to building materials, work methods, timelines and other factors that may vary by contractor.
- Confirm that potential contractors are insured and appropriately trained in health and safety measures.
- Ask for references and conduct your own research.
While these are the most common considerations, there is also a lot of value in taking your time to make the right decision and listening to your instincts, both good and bad.
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Managing Conflict With Home Renovations
Building or renovating a new home isn’t without its set of stressors and complications. While you hope to avoid conflicts among team members, sometimes they’re unavoidable. But according to Johnston and Chao, there are ways for homeowners to manage some common disruptions.
“The worst thing for a project is delays. For architects, it means responding quickly to onsite conditions or contractor questions. For contractors, it means reviewing the drawings carefully, having a dynamic construction schedule and asking questions when you don’t know. The worst situations are when a contractor forges ahead before aligning with the design team.”
Chao says good communication is always key to avoid unnecessary conflict and disagreement.
“Setting regularly occurring meetings during construction where the homeowner, contractor, and design team are available to discuss the project’s progress is best so that everyone is aware of any questions or clarifications that may arise and there is less chance of missing information.”
“If the homeowner decides to make design changes during construction, they should always speak with the architect before making changes on-site with the contractor. Many design decisions depend on each other, and changing one thing may interfere with the overall design, or worse, it could affect something more serious, like Building Code Compliance requirements.”
You Make the Call
As the homeowner, you have the power to choose the people you want to work with. Home renovations are a long process, and it’s helpful to remember that you will constantly interact with the professionals you choose to work with, including architects, interior designers, contractors and tradespeople. So, you’ll want to select people you genuinely connect with and can enjoy working alongside.
