Home Additions and Renovations
Thinking about enlarging or updating you house? You need to speak to an architect.
Some people think that an architect only is involved in new homes or commercial buildings. That is not true, for a number of reasons. In the State of Florida, you must have an architect or engineer involved on almost any work to be done on buildings. Because of hurricanes, high winds and rain, life & safety issues and constantly changing building codes, Florida requires permits for any improvements made to your building, with the exception of “repairs”.
Some architects specialize in either residential or commercial projects. Steve Cold has over thirty years of experience in Florida and designs both residential and commercial work. He designs and “engineers” his residential projects, and when it is time to submit to the local building department, he signs and seals his work. Steve is a very practical, yet imaginative architect. It is his job to get to know you well enough to design the home or addition/ renovation that will fulfill your needs, and hopefully your dreams.
In residential design the architect must address the essentials of space planning, plumbing, economy of structural design, electrical layout and energy/ air conditioning basics. When you hire a contractor (or serve as the contractor yourself), the subcontractors including the roofer, electrician, plumber and mechanical company, still must secure their own permits under the general building permit, which double protects you, the home owner. There are licenses, insurance, workers compensation, withholding taxes and subcontractor permit fees that must all be secured and paid, in the process of constructing your house or addition/ renovation.
The experience of building a house or adding onto your home can be a tremendous endeavor and it will pay to hire a qualified and experienced professional, an architect, to guide you through the process