I Want to Design Houses for a Living
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I want to design and build homes...What should I do?
Hello,
I am currently an undergrad studying Engineering-Civil Engineering. Although I am in love with Architecture, I want to be able to design and build. One of my Engineering goals is to start my own business designing and building homes. I have taken some business courses but I would like to gain more knowledge in Architecture and Engineering. I would like to ask a few questions to help me get on my way.
Can Civil Engineers design homes?
Are there any Civil Engineers that designs homes?
Should I minor in Architecture? or Dual-Major?
What else should I know about Architecture?
Thanks!
Elijah
Mar 19, 17 12:32 am
I Want to Design Houses for a Living
Source: https://archinect.com/forum/thread/149998160/i-want-to-design-and-build-homes-what-should-i-do
Anyone can design anything. It's that pesky permit and construction phases that ruin the layman' day. Read up on your local's building rules. Maybe no arch is required.
Mar 19, 17 12:43 am ·
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anyone can design anything, but then again anyone can eat anything also, doesnt mean its a good idea, there are a lot of people in prison & mental institutions with "good ideas" and have "designed" good escape plans, need I say more or do u see my point yet?
Mar 23, 17 10:26 am ·
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Consider teaming with an architect & having a small integrated practice. And do study some architectural design if you can.
Mar 19, 17 6:54 am ·
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Thompson Custom Homes in Houston was started by a Civil Engineer. He may have architects working for him by now. His firm has won a lot of awards.
Mar 19, 17 7:45 am ·
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Depends on the state. In most states you will actually be able to do more than an architect since an architect is not required for residential but an engineer sometimes is...
Mar 19, 17 1:41 pm ·
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Legal requirments are a very very small part of it though. Most important thing is your ability to design nice homes and make a profit as a design/developer.
Mar 19, 17 1:42 pm ·
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In states where I work, you would be fine as a civil engineer. The only stamped drawing needed for a house is the foundation plan sealed by a civil engineer. Anybody can draw the other sheets.
I would suggest a few years work experience with a residential deisgn/build company would be the best training for you. A lot of the skills you are going to need are not taught in most architecture schools.
Mar 19, 17 2:04 pm ·
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Thanks for this comment! very helpful.
Mar 21, 17 6:43 pm ·
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Thank you all for your help. I really appreciate it!
Mar 21, 17 6:34 pm ·
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"Although I am in love with Architecture, I want to be able to design and build."
so architects do not know how to design or build? what do we know?
Mar 21, 17 7:09 pm ·
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Nothing was said about what architects do and do not know. You must be an architect yourself, I apologize if you feel offended by what was said.
Mar 21, 17 7:21 pm ·
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although loves architecture - wants to be able to design and build. your grammar suggests that architects are good at something, but not how to design and build. hence your desire to stay with civil engineering. is this incorrect?
Mar 21, 17 7:32 pm ·
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.
Mar 21, 17 7:32 pm ·
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Thanks
Mar 21, 17 7:35 pm ·
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I read it as, "Although I am in love with Architecture, I want to be able to build as well as design."
Mar 21, 17 8:27 pm ·
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Nice post I have dreams of doing something like this too one day. I study a lot of residential design and am in the process of sketching southwest style homes and few more New American homes. I would love to see how you grow maybe you will be a great home builder one day.
Mar 21, 17 8:17 pm ·
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Hi everyone! I am new to the forum, I am an architect in New York City and I want to build my own small house upstate. I am embarrassed to say that I have little experience in building a house from start to finish, I wonder if anyone could recommend some books to look into. I think it could be a great learning experience. I stumbled upon a series of books "from pros to pros". Are there perhaps any seminars I could attend? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much
Dec 22, 17 9:11 pm ·
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You are an architect?
Dec 22, 17 11:06 pm ·
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Yes, but I have experience in skyscrapers. Working for a large firm, I feel like a cog in the wheel, not being able to see the building as a whole.. this is very embarrassing to admit to myself that I don't know how to build a house ground up..
Dec 23, 17 10:28 am ·
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Merry Christmas
Dec 23, 17 10:29 am ·
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I am not an architect, I'm a mechanical designer/drafter. I am building an energy efficient New England style farmhouse in Massachusetts. I did a few years of research on my own before designing this house. It can be done. I am acting as architect and general contractor, with no prior experience. Listen and learn from your sub-contractors. They have many, many years of valuable first hand knowledge and experience.
The 24'x28' 2-story house sits on an ICF basement foundation with 4 inches of foam beneath the basement slab. The structure is mortise and tenon timber frame with 6 inch SIP walls and 10 inch SIP roof. Pex tubing radiant floor heating is installed on all levels including basement. The house is all electric supplied by 8kv grid-tied solar PV. Total house cost is under $250K.
Mar 28, 18 2:33 pm ·
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I think you are ideally suited to manage a design / build firm. Engineers are far superior to architects ( typically) to manage the process and deliver in a manner that would be profitable. I would encourage you to work with quality professionals though ( architects, landscape architects, interior designers ) so that the quality of work is high.... good design and bad design can cost the same to build except that bad design can cost you a lot more and good design will always rise to the surface and be more highly sought out. Design is an important part of the process but only a part the rest is having the ability to execute it in the field effectively to make money at it.
Short answers;
- go to school to become an architect
- get licensed
- work for others to gain experience and get to know clients
- open your own practice
- go for it
Jul 25, 20 10:36 am ·
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Short Answer... design and build homes
Oct 13, 20 9:25 pm ·
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Apart from the technical side of things. If you are designing custom homes learn a lot of social skills to deal with your clients!!
WUT.
Goddamned bots everywhere these days
Oct 30, 20 8:38 am ·
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"Almosthip
Architects don't design single family homes...."
You are on the wrong forum apparently.
we're not, but perhaps you are? Anyways, this is a spam necro thread.