Whilst this may seem like a pretty silly question to ask on the surface, there are actually a lot of people around who believe that both these jobs are fairly similar, hence why they will contact an architect to do a builders job and vice versa. There are, however, lots of differences between what a house builder does and what an architect does, including:
- An architect designs the floor plan and façade of the house whilst a builder is in charge of the actual construction itself.
- An architect has completed a formal education where they received a degree in architecture or drafting, whilst a house builder has generally completed an apprenticeship.
- An architect is concerned with codes and regulations surrounding safe homes (such as fire resistance and natural lighting requirements), whilst a builder is concerned with codes and regulations surrounding safe construction (such as support beams and building on a slant).
- An architect is responsible for putting the blueprints through checks that will ensure the safety of the building, whilst the house builder is responsible for ensuring that the final construction matches the blueprints.
- An architect has a vision about how the finished product will look, whilst the builder chooses the materials that best reflect this vision.
Whilst there are many differences between an architect and house builders, the two go hand in hand when it comes to building a home. A builder, however, can complete a project without the help of an architect, but an architect will never be able to work with a builder. By understanding the difference between the two, you will ensure that you approach the right person for your project.
