Architectural supervision of house construction in Batumi: the architect on site

Architectural supervision of house construction: why an architect on site

Architectural supervision of house construction is needed so the house turns out the way it was drawn. Even a good design meets questions on site: a column is in the way of a window, the stair does not clear the headroom, the supplier delivered a different facade tile. If there is no architect on site, the site manager settles such questions in whatever way suits them. The architect comes at key stages, answers the crew, makes decisions on the spot and records them so changes are not lost.

What the architect does on site

• checks the setting out, storey heights and openings against the design;
• answers the crew's questions about the drawings;
• decides on the spot when the build departs from the design;
• checks the facade, windows, roof and visible details;
• approves substitutions of materials and equipment;
• issues change sheets and updates the drawings.

The architect does not replace the supervising engineer: they do not accept rebar or check concrete, but make sure the house matches the intent. How the roles differ is described on the technical supervision page.

How many visits are needed

For a private house, visits are usually enough at the setting out, at each floor of the frame before the pour, at masonry with openings, at the roof, at the windows and at the facade. Between visits the architect stays in touch: the crew sends photos and questions, and answers come the same day. The number of planned visits goes into the contract, and unplanned ones are paid separately so you can see what each decision costs.

Changes during construction

There are always changes: the owner decided to add a window, the supplier did not bring the right stone, a pipe turned up on the plot. The architect records each change on a change sheet and, if it affects load-bearing structures, agrees it with the structural engineer. Verbal agreements on site get forgotten, and a year later nobody remembers why a wall is not where it should be. Sometimes on site you have to choose how best to resolve a facade detail; more on the facade design page.

The architect and the interior designer

If an interior designer also works on the house, each has their own area: the architect is responsible for the house, facade and layout, the designer for finishes, lighting and furniture. It matters that they agree before the finishes start on where pipes, ventilation and sockets will run. How a designer handles supervision is on the designer supervision page, and how to split their tasks is on the interior designer vs architect page.

As-built drawings

At the end of the build the architect gathers all the change sheets into a set of drawings of the house as it was actually built. Years later this set shows where the pipes run and which walls are load-bearing, helps plan a renovation or an extra storey, and can be shown to a buyer. Without it, the owner knows less about their house than the crew that built it.

How much architectural supervision costs

The architect's supervision of a house build costs from 1 200 ₾ a month, a one-off architect's visit to site from 300 ₾. A design change during construction with a change sheet agreed with the structural engineer from 480 ₾. An engineer's technical supervision of a house from 1 320 ₾ a month, a house design with a full set of sections from 100 ₾ per m². The final cost is set after reviewing the design and agreeing the number of visits.