Architect, Surveyor, or Engineer?

It sounds like the beginning of a joke. “An architect, surveyor, and engineer walk into a bar.” But it is no joke determining which one can do what for your actual project. None of them are going to be cheap. You don’t want to waste your time or money by meeting with the wrong person. All three might actually be needed for your construction needs in the end. Plan ahead and go step by step. Let’s take a look and figure out the technical aspects for what they all do.

An architect is focusing on the appearance and functionality of the structure. They can be approached to design a structure even before the land that it will be on has been finalized. Think back in the past about how the architect used to take their pencil and sit at their drawing table. Their artistic skills were quite extraordinary. They would literally draw houses and buildings that were works of art. As a kid, I was always interested in Mike Brady from the television show The Brady Bunch because he was an architect. He was always in his little study working on his drawings and blueprints. Nowadays, it is mostly all completed with technology. There are programs available that can assist the architect so very little actual drawing is now needed.

You might have noticed surveyors at construction sites when the project is just beginning. They are the ones with the tripods all set up and using equipment such as 3D scanners, GPS, theodolite, and tape measures. They are checking on a few things usually before the project starts. They are the first ones that are on the construction site in the beginning because nothing else can happen until the land is surveyed. Surveyors are checking boundary lines for the project because nothing would be worse than accidentally building a million dollar structure on someone else’s land. They are mainly compounding data to determine the shape and contour of the land’s surface.

There are several types of engineers divided into their specialty groups. Each of them have in common that they use science and mathematics to solve problems. There are structural, electrical, mechanical, chemical, and civil engineers just to name a few. If you are worried about the strength and stability of a structure, then certainly contact an engineer. Safety is nothing to skimp on (again, Mike Brady in a Very Brady Christmas getting caught in a collapsing building because of the lack of supports). Be positive that the engineering terminology can be followed on site for the project. Have the best professional technical services for crucial engineering projects available. It is better to be safe than sorry!

There are some construction companies that have all three of these career professionals on staff. Having a full service company can save on a few headaches down the road. That can be quite handy when planning out your project. Make sure you research and read reviews on what people have to say about the company. Actually go visit some of the structures that they have built in the past and ask around if there has been any problems or concerns with it.

Hiring a surveyor, architect, and engineer all from different businesses could be your bet as long as all three professionals work well together. You can always price different companies out and figure out the best deal, but when planning something like a home or a building that is so expensive, it is in your best interest to not cut corners. Hiring the right people is a lifetime investment that will pay off year after year.

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