Standard of Care of a Home Designer
Standard of Care of a Home Designer
(OP)
I have found that there's a whole industry out there of Home Designers. These are folks who are not licensed architects or engineers, but put together comprehensive design drawings for contractors to utilize. They seem to get around the professional license requirements by the disclaimer that the design is per the IRC.
My question is, does anyone here know the standard of care of such Home Designers and who is ultimately taking responsibility for their "design"? Specifically, are they required to see a design through the construction phase? Coordinate with GC? If an important detail is erroneous or omitted, do they have any liability?
My question is, does anyone here know the standard of care of such Home Designers and who is ultimately taking responsibility for their "design"? Specifically, are they required to see a design through the construction phase? Coordinate with GC? If an important detail is erroneous or omitted, do they have any liability?






RE: Standard of Care of a Home Designer
For example, in one nearby state they allow any house less than 10,000 s.f. (including basement but excluding garages) to not require a professional license seal.
As far as standard of care, or accountability, they would be legally liable for anything that goes wrong just like anyone else. They could be sued, say, if a floor caved in.
The home builder usually has insurance (liability) and sometimes provides structural warranties (sort of an insurance policy) to homeowners to "warrant" or "guarantee" the structure at the time of buying - perhaps for 10 years or so.
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RE: Standard of Care of a Home Designer
When a designer is involved, is the GC basically on his own to interpret the plans and/or modify them as he deems necessary?
RE: Standard of Care of a Home Designer
Are the inspections intensive and thorough? Sometimes probably not.
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RE: Standard of Care of a Home Designer
RE: Standard of Care of a Home Designer
In my (not so humble) opinion, I think all individuals who design for the public, in any form, should be licensed and held to appropriate standards. Unfortunately, the prescriptive code entities tend to take the view that residential construction, in the prescriptive sense, is over-designed and does not need the overview of any profession. This wrongly assumes that the only "damage" done to the public is if something falls down or someone gets electrocuted or a fire results from the sometimes poorly conceived designs. Damage is any loss to the owner such as.....any lessening of the expected useful life, any creation of inordinate maintenance, or any structural deficiency. Because there is often a disconnect between the "designer" and the construction process (you pay X for the plans and the "designer" is done), details are often left to the labor pool guy in the field. Not good.
Ok...I'll get off my soapbox before I really get wound up.....
RE: Standard of Care of a Home Designer
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RE: Standard of Care of a Home Designer
Come back down and I'll buy the beer!
RE: Standard of Care of a Home Designer
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RE: Standard of Care of a Home Designer
I found around here that in '06 and '07 there were a lot of "designer" houses being built, that the inspection depts didn't have time to properly inspect. 10 years later, I'm getting a lot of calls about these houses. Whoopsies.
Please remember: we're not all guys!
RE: Standard of Care of a Home Designer
RE: Standard of Care of a Home Designer
Please remember: we're not all guys!
RE: Standard of Care of a Home Designer
Opportunities....as we discussed yesterday!!
RE: Standard of Care of a Home Designer
Interesting sidetopic: I read an article that the reason all these building designers exist is because the architectural licensure process is such a long, grueling process with multiple exams. Apparently many candidates just don't feel it's worth the time & effort.
RE: Standard of Care of a Home Designer
He did finally become an RA just before the AIA tightened the education requirements so that he could be grandfathered in.
Homebuilders and Owners want everything on the cheap. Professionals cost more. That's it in a nutshell. The failures are few and far between so the law never bothers (or needs) to catch up.
RE: Standard of Care of a Home Designer