Lindsey Architects Design Process:

Whether you are building a new home or renovating an existing property, let Lindsey Architects help you by designing not just your home, but also the right experience from start to finish. You may wonder how you start planning your new project.

To help you understand our process, I’ve included a 5-step process to get you on your path:

Step 1. Schedule Your Pre-design Session: Understanding Your Property

Compile information and conduct a feasibility/pre-design analysis.  It is very important to do this before designing your home to avoid redesign and integrity of your home. If you need help in this step, your architect is the person to call. We will help you every step of the way.  For renovation or addition project, we measure the existing home and create an as-built drawing set during this phase.

We often require property survey prior to designing your home.

Step 2. Enter the Design Phase

Based on all the information and requirements gathered during the pre-design step, your architect will prepare the initial design of your home. This is a collaborative effort between you and your architect to create a realistic design reflecting your lifestyle and the functional needs of the home.   Once the design is approved, we prepare the permit/construction documents.

Schematic Design Phase will look like this..

Step 3. Construction Documents Phase

The Construction Documentation phase completes in detail the requirements for permitting and construction of the project. Floor plans, enlarged plans, wall sections, ceiling plans, power/lighting plans, finish schedules, window and door schedules, elevations, details, and written specification notes are added and refined to further establish the types of materials and systems required for the project.

Construction Documents (Permit Documents) are Architectural Technical Drawings

Step 4. Bidding Phase.  Assist you in choosing the right contractor.

Once the permit documents phase is completed, you will need to obtain a preliminary cost estimate from different reputable builders in the area. Compare the bids to make your choice of who you will hire to build your home. Speak with your architect about any modifications that may be necessary to the design to meet your budget.

Step 5. Begin Construction

Once the entire necessary permits are issued, the construction starts.  The architect will visit the construction site in suitable intervals and answer onsite questions to ensure the quality and integrity of your new home. 

It is important to have the architect involved in the construction process because questions often rise from the builders during the construction process.  The architect should be able to answer questions in a timely fashion if he or she is involved from the start of the construction, and we can save time and maintain the quality and integrity of your home to avoid delays. 

Lindsey Architects specializes in residential and commercial design in Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. We design homes that are tailored to the needs of our clients and create custom buildings that fully reflects their lifestyle. To learn more about our services, contact Hiroko Lindsey at 207-641-9739 or hiroko@lindseyarchitects.com.