Q: Why Hire a Professional Building Designer?
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in a printable PDF format.
Q. What 10 Things should we look for when hiring a design professional?
A: Click here for answer in a printable PDF format.
Q: How can we learn more about the Don Gore Design Studio before committing to a Contract?
A. Prospective Clients are always encouraged to set-up a free design consultation. We will be happy to discuss all aspects of the Building Design process and provide you with further information pertaining to our firm.
Q: What should we bring and how should we prepare for the design consultation meeting?
A: Please come prepared to discuss your design requirements such as size and budget. Site requirements will be discussed and bringing a survey of your lot or property will be very helpful. Put together a small file of design ideas from home magazines and other sources. Have a written list of rooms, be able to identify what functions you will require of these spaces and how they might relate to each other.
Q: Why should we hire the Don Gore Design Studio?
A: Hiring a Design Professional can be a daunting task. But, it doesn’t have to be. Just like any major decision, do a little research. Donald M. Gore is a Certified Professional Building Designer with the National Council of Building Designer Certification and a professional member of the American Institute of Building Design. He has over 30 years of experience and has designed hundreds of homes and light commercial buildings in south Louisiana.
Q: What is the difference between an Architect and a Certified Professional Building Designer?
A: First and foremost a Certified Professional Building Designer is a residential design expert and specializes in the design of custom homes. The Architect’s primary focus in the design profession is, principally, commercial. NCBDC certified Building designers have been tested in all aspects of the building design profession including building codes, structural design and architectural history. Architects are regulated by the various state licensing laws. Regardless of whether you are interviewing an architect or a building designer, always ask about their experience, professional affiliation and request examples of their work and former client referrals.
Q: Are Certified Professional Building Designers required to continue their education?
A: NCBDC certified building designers are required to maintain their certification by obtaining a minimum of 8 CEU’s (continuing education units) per year.
Q: What about engineering?
A: As Building Designers we are not licensed to perform engineering. We consult and contract with our professional consulting engineers for these services. We coordinate their work with ours so that the various engineering solutions do not compromise the functional or aesthetic characteristics of the design.
Q: How does the Don Gore Design Studio work with a builder?
A: As the Design Professional on a Project, we may assist the Client with the selection of a builder, administer the bidding process and perform Project observation to verify compliance with the Construction Documents. Our experience with this ‘hands-on’ approach has proven that this method assures the Project will be a success.
Q: What is the AIBD?
A: The American Institute of Building Design is a nationally recognized association with members in 47 states, Canada, Europe, Asia and Australia. Since 1950, the AIBD has provided it’s members with educational resources and developed nationwide design standards for the residential design profession.
Q: What is the NCBDC?
A: The National Council of Building Designer Certification Accreditation Program certifies the competency of professional building designers in ethics, procedures, architectural styling, structural engineering, building codes, construction principles, processes, materials and methods. NCBDC Certification assures consumers and industry professionals the the designer has met the critical requirements of a Certified Professional Designer.
Q: How do you charge for your services?
A: Our fees are determined by design complexity, scope of the work and our involvement in the construction process. As a general rule, we require an hourly fee for the preliminary design phase of the work and base our fee for Construction Documents on a square footage basis. We have found this method to be quite effective in keeping our fees very fair and competitive. Fees for Renovations and Additions are handled on a hourly basis with Full Design Services based on a percentage of the construction contract amount.