Parrish Construction

Archive for the ‘Architecture’ Category

Q- Do I need to have a professional file my building permit?

Friday, July 15th, 2011 Posted in Architecture, Blueprints, Building Codes/Regulations, Building Permits, Construction Process, DIY Home Improvements, Getting Started | No Comments »

A- No. You can file a permit application yourself and you may be allowed to work on your building within certain limitations, but you may still be required to hire a licensed contractor or subcontractors. You should check with the ...

Q: We’re about to begin architectural design for a new living room addition on our home. Are there any pitfalls we should watch out for?

Wednesday, February 17th, 2010 Posted in Additions, Architecture, Construction Process, FAQ, Interior Design, Money-Saving Tips, Remodels/Additions, Space-Saving/Organization | No Comments »

A: I recommend that you create a detailed plan of furnishings and equipment in all the rooms. Otherwise you may be surprised later to find that your furniture doesn’t fit, or that the room doesn’t function the way you want ...

Q—Our contractor plans to use “Scissor trusses” to create a vaulted ceiling in our family-room addition. What is a scissor truss?

Monday, February 1st, 2010 Posted in Additions, Architecture, Blueprints, Construction Terms, Design Tips, FAQ, Remodels/Additions, Roofing/Ceilings, Structural Issues, Ventilation | No Comments »

A—You’ve probably seen more conventional roof trusses being installed on new homes under construction. They are engineered and factory-fabricated structural members designed to effectively span wide areas, often without center support. Typically with a triangular shape, they incorporate the roof ...

Q—Can you please explain the roles of the architect, general contractor, and subcontractor in the construction process? What does it mean when a construction company says they offer Design/Build services?

Wednesday, January 13th, 2010 Posted in Architecture, Construction Contract, Construction Process, Construction Terms, Design-Build, FAQ, Getting Started, Humorous Articles, Subcontractors | No Comments »

A—It might be helpful to strike an analogy between construction and orchestral music. I realize this may sound like a stretch, but if you’ll indulge me for a moment, I think I can demonstrate many similarities. Consider the homeowner. He or ...

Q: I asked an architect to adapt the design of another house in our neighborhood for our project and he declined, citing copyright infringement issues. Is the architect’s response reasonable, or does he just want to charge more for a total design? How do you find out if a certain design is copyrighted?

Sunday, January 3rd, 2010 Posted in Architecture, Blueprints, Construction Contract, Design Tips, Design-Build, FAQ, Getting Started, New Construction, Remodeling Concerns, Remodels/Additions | No Comments »

A: The architect’s concerns are justified. In 1991, U.S. copyright law was changed to cover not only the architectural drawings from which buildings are constructed, but also the building itself, and design elements of the building. If he “borrows” design ...

Q: Help! I can’t seem to understand all the construction jargon my last contractor used. Can you share some of the most common terms?

Saturday, January 2nd, 2010 Posted in Architecture, Blueprints, Construction Process, Construction Terms, Costs, Design-Build, Estimation, FAQ, Getting Started, Humorous Articles, Materials- Construction, Remodeling Concerns, Structural Issues | No Comments »

A—Jar-gon (noun) Obscure and often pretentious language marked by circumlocutions and long words (from WWWebster’s Dictionary on the internet).Construction, like many professions, has its share of jargon—obscure terms that are meaningless to the average person. Unlike the medical profession, however, ...