the difference between a civil engineer, architect, and contractor

[Lekgolo555]

what is the difference between civil engineer, architect, and contractor?

[insane_alien]

civil engineers get stuff that the architect designed built by using contractors.

 

i think thats how it works.

[Spyman]

I thought civil engineer was a graduation, architect is a profession of occupation, (designing buildings), and a contractor could be anyone with a deal regarding a construction.

 

Thus an architect should have a a degree in civil engineering and can be hired for designing buildings.

[Phi for All]

An architect designs a building based on many factors including cost, municipal codes, owner / developer requirements, community style, etc. A civil engineer usually consults on the structural integrity of the design, but isn't required in many instances if the architect is willing to use his own stamp of approval on the plans. Some extremely typical buildings only require the stamp of a civil engineer (instead of an architect's stamp) for permit approval. Electrical engineers and physical engineers can act as consultants for incorporating mechanical, electrical and plumbing information into the building's plans. A contractor is someone like a carpenter, plumber, HVAC installer, electrician who actually does the construction of the building under contract. A general contractor is often hired to act as overseer for the construction and to plan for scheduling of all construction (you don't want to clad a wall before the plumber puts his pipes through it, or pour cement on the same day the electrician needs to install a breaker panel in the same area).

 

I thought civil engineer was a graduation, architect is a profession of occupation, (designing buildings), and a contractor could be anyone with a deal regarding a construction.

 

Thus an architect should have a a degree in civil engineering and can be hired for designing buildings.

Most architects don't have an engineering degree but they do have to know a great deal about structural methodology. They have architectural degrees and have to be licensed (in the US) in each state they intend to design buildings for. They must maintain compliance with all applicable building codes in the various municipalities as well.

 

Civil engineers are often all that's needed when the building has a simple structural intent (such as a warehouse) and requires no elaborate design. And architects rarely design bridges unless there is an ascetic or political business driver involved. Civil engineers design the bridges and may bring in an architect as a consultant for something artistic, just as an architect often uses a civil engineer to give approval to elaborate structural designs. When both engineers and architects become licensed they are issued a stamp they can affix to drawings to signify that they are guaranteed not to fall down. They pay Errors & Omissions insurance the same way doctors pay malpractice insurance.

[Lekgolo555]

Do you need a college degree to become a contractor?

 

Who actually figures out how to actually build the thing?

[Klaynos]

Do you need a college degree to become a contractor?

 

Who actually figures out how to actually build the thing?

 

I really depends, a contractor in the building world is normally the construction company, who may include civil engineers, and maybe a project manager, or might just be a couple of men with a hammer.... Normally for bigish project and architect will design the building, then a civil engineer will work out how to build it so it wont fall down, often the engineer and architect will work closely together because one obviously affects the other greatly.

[Phi for All]

Do you need a college degree to become a contractor?

No, but it helps if you know how to read construction documents done in CAD. If you're freelance you have to get by on your credentials or your reputation to get work so even if you're a carpenter it helps to have good credentials so you can have a shot at earning a good reputation.

 

Who actually figures out how to actually build the thing?

The architect's construction documents go into extreme detail in many cases. A plan may call out a "detail" that shows how a wall is supposed to meet and attach to the flooring. Section cuts will show a cross section of the building or it's walls to show how they are put together. It's the contractors who actually build the building, but a good size chunk of an architect's fees (average 25%) goes to construction administration where the architect makes sure the contractors are reading the plans right. It's a collaborative effort but the "figuring" is done by the architects and engineers, while the actual building is done by the contractors under supervision.

[Spyman]

I thought civil engineer was a graduation' date=' architect is a profession of occupation, (designing buildings), and a contractor could be anyone with a deal regarding a construction.

 

Thus an architect should have a a degree in civil engineering and can be hired for designing buildings.[/quote']Most architects don't have an engineering degree but they do have to know a great deal about structural methodology. They have architectural degrees and have to be licensed (in the US) in each state they intend to design buildings for. They must maintain compliance with all applicable building codes in the various municipalities as well.

That's right, I should have used "could" instead of "should".

[slsprouse]

simply put a contractor builds it, an architect designs it to

code, an engineer makes sure it is structurally sound.

[michel123456]

You missed the client.

 

There is triangle around the building.

 

The triangle is;

-the Client

-the Architect

-the Contractor

 

it goes like this:

_the Client has to deal with the Architect (who designs) and with the Contractor (who builds).

_the Architect has to deal with the Client (who tells him what he wants) and with the Contractor (that he is supervising)

_The Contractor has to deal with the Architect (who tells him what to build) and with the Client (who pays)

 

If you break the triangle, for example when the Architect & the Contractor are the same individual, you get into trouble.

 

The Engineer is a collaborator of the Architect for houses and regular buildings, But there are other kind of constructions where the Engineer takes a more important role than the Architect, like for roads, railways, subways, and others. In some constructions it is very difficult to say who should be in charge (bridges) Usually it is decided by the kind of degree you own. Often, the Engineer wins.

 

And all have Majuscule.

Especially the Architect.

Edited January 25, 2013 by michel123456