Frequently asked questions

Do you charge for preliminary discussions?

No. A first meeting to discuss a new project is always free of charge and without obligation.

This initial meeting is where you tell us about your project, your needs and aspirations. Then we prepare a fee proposal. This proposal covers how we would work on your project, and what we would charge.

How do you charge?

Most of our work is charged on a fixed fee basis for the different stages within the project. It will all be laid out clearly in our fee proposal so you know what to expect, and when. But in a few cases, we may charge on a time cost plus disbursements basis, or on a percentage of construction cost basis. It really depends on the circumstances.

What are the stages a project goes through?

Most projects will include some or all of the following stages as appropriate:

• Initial consultation – this free meeting is when we hear all about your needs and your project
• Fee proposal – we return with costs and how we would deliver your project
• Research and analysis – if the fee proposal is agreed, we then collect information about the site, its attributes and constraints
• Sketch design – we come back to you with ideas on how we can put your thoughts into reality. These designs help you visualise the project and are reviewed and modified so that the we create a scheme that really works for you
• Budgeting – once you are happy with the design, we recommend that the project is costed to help you with your budget
• Resource Consent application – if this is necessary for your project, we do all the paperwork on your behalf, or, if required, we’ll engage a specialist consultant
• Building Consent application – we prepare all the working drawings and documentation necessary for your application, and, if required, we’ll arrange input from any specialist consultants such as structural engineers
• Tendering process and costing the project – we put the project out to tender with trusted and appropriate contractors. Detailed costings are supplied by the tenderers and we will prepare contract documents to engage the successful tenderer
• Monitoring and project management - we will then go on to monitor construction and administer the construction contract
• End of contract - at the end of the project, we thoroughly check that all work has been satisfactorily completed, negotiating the contractor’s final account and certifying the release of retention money only once any defects are sorted out

Why use a Registered Architect?

Construction is expensive work and the responsibility for design and procurement should not be trusted to unskilled or inexperienced people. To ensure quality, only Registered Architects can use the title “architect”. You can be Registered only after meeting the requirements of the New Zealand Registered Architects Board. They include formal education, practical experience and rigorous examination.

The involvement of a Registered Architect is the most important step in realising your aspirations and providing quality guidance through the consent and construction process. Your architect is both a creative and technical specialist who can communicate effectively and translate your dreams into a practical and enjoyable design.

Further information is available at the New Zealand Institute of Architects website

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I know a great handyman. Can he build from your plans?

New regulations mean it is very unlikely. From March 2012, the Restricted Building Works regulation was introduced by the Department of Building and Housing. It means that those professions working on a residential building’s structure and weathertightness must be Licensed Building Practitioners, or be working under the supervision of someone who is. This covers everyone involved from carpenters to external plasterers, bricklayers to roofers and on-site supervisors. Design is also included.

Are you a Licensed Building Practitioner?

No. That is because the qualification and on-going professional development requirements for Registered Architects and Chartered Engineers are already very robust. Both occupations are regularly assessed by their individual professional bodies, so the Government decided not to include them in the Licensed Building Practitioner regulations. However, a Registered Architect is deemed to be equivalent to the highest design level under the Licensed Building Practitioner scheme.

You can read more about the Licensed Building Practitioner scheme on the Department of Building and Housing website.

Are we insured?

Definitely. We are committed to providing our clients with the assurance that our design work and all our professional activities are covered by Professional Indemnity insurance.

Will I need any other consultants?

Modern construction and legislative requirements frequently create the need for additional consultants such as structural, civil and geotechnical engineers, or land surveyors. Commercial projects will often also need fire safety experts, and sometimes mechanical engineers. And a quantity surveyor can provide advice on construction costings.

Over the years, we have created a network of trusted experts. We will select and manage any secondary consultants so that you have just the right team for your project. And please don’t worry about hidden mark-ups. We ask all of our secondary consultants to bill our clients direct, providing total transparency.

What if I have any other questions?

If there is anything else you would like to know about working with Paul Clements and Associates, please get in touch. We are always happy to answer questions.

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