William Hogan Architecture

This week's post discusses how to work with an architect during the construction process and avoid stress. http://www.hoganarch.com//How-to-Deal-with-Construction-Pr

This week's architecture blog post attempts to redeem the much maligned spec house building type: http://www.hoganarch.com/single-post//Why-I-Love-Spec-Homes

This Week's Blog Post: http://www.hoganarch.com//How-to-Be-an-Architectural-Genius

This week's architecture blog discusses the pros and cons of do it yourself home improvement: http://www.hoganarch.com/single-po//02/01/Redo-it-Yourself

This week's architecture blog entry discusses some ways things go wrong in the building design process: http://www.hoganarch.com///THE-7-BIGGEST-BUILDING-BLUNDERS

HOW TO GET A BUILDING PERMIT From an owner's perspective, often the most challenging aspect of a construction project is getting the building permit. Building on your property without obtaining a permit is asking for trouble. Big trouble. Anything you build without a permit can be ordered torn down by the city. It is difficult to sell your property if there are "bootleg" structures on on it. Obtaining a construction loan without a permit will be difficult or impossible. Prior...Continue reading

10 Worst Bathroom Remodeling Ideas As an Architect, I've encountered all sorts of crazy bathroom layouts. Here are some of the worst ideas anyone has ever come up with: 1) Carpet on the floors. Seriously I know of a famous architect who put carpet in the bathrooms of an Apartment. I know, because I lived there. It seems like a great idea until the toilet overflows. Bathroom floors should be waterproof, non-slip, and easily cleaned. In-floor radiant heating systems can kee...p the floor nice and toasty in the winter. Acceptable materials range from sheet vinyl at the low end to Italian marble at the high end. The floor must be treated in such a way that it offers a high level of slip resistance, even when wet. 2) Bath mats. I've even been guilty of this bathroom mistake. Bath mats are hazardous because they can slip underfoot or trip people. They also never dry out fully, breeding dangerous bacteria and mold. They are impossible to vacuum too. 3) Toilets right next to bath tubs. Bad Fung Shui. Really smelly too. 4) Toilets right behind doors. Especially if the door swings into the toilet! 5) Bathrooms without windows or ventilation fans. Moisture accumulates from bathing activities and the bathroom never dries out. Did you want a bathroom or a mushroom farm? Excess moisture is the number one cause of mold. If air isn't ventilated to the outside, mold can spread through the entire house. 6) Tubs and showers without grab bars. Slipping in the shower or tub injuries over of a million Americans each year according to the New York Times 1 7) Toilets without grab bars. Are you seeing a trend here? People over 85 suffer half of all household injuries near the toilet. 1 8) Electric radiant wall heaters directly under towel racks. A fire waiting to happen. 9) Non GFI electrical outlet next to the sink, shower, or tub. Ground Fault Interrupter (GFI) outlets cut off the power to an appliance if they sense a short circuit. Imagine someone getting out of the shower wet and picking up a faulty hair dryer or electric razor. Newer building codes require GFI outlets, but older homes often have them. 10) Shower curtains. I've never seen one that didn't allow water to exit the shower and soak the bathroom floor. This is bad for two reasons First it creates a safety hazard by making the floor slippery. Second, plolonged exposure to moisture is murder on floors and their supporting structures. It's an invitation for mold and dry rot. Tempered glass enclosures are generally worth the extra expense. So there you have it! Avoid these bad remodeling moves and your new bathroom will be much safer. It will also be a more pleasant space for you and your friends and family. Refferences: http://www.nytimes.com/20//16/health/research/16stats.html

Q: How long does it take to become an architect? A: 16,000 hours of education and on the job training - minimum. Property owners and developers sometimes wonder why they should hire an architect. What sort of education and experience are required to earn the title? What value do architects add to the building project? ... Malcolm Gladwell proposed 10,000 hours as the amount of time it takes to become world class in any field. Architects need 16,000 minimum just to begin their practice. The title "Architect" can only be used in the united states by someone that has passed a grueling licensing exam. To qualify to take the exam requires at least 8 years of education and experience. The Architects Registration Examination or "A.R.E" consists of 7 divisions. It requires over 33 hours to complete. Pass rates for each of these individual sections range between 60% and 75%. Until recently California, required a supplemental oral exam. This test had a pass rate of less than 50%. This makes the Architecture Board exam among the most difficult of any profession - including medicine and law. The American Board of Internal Medicine exam requires 33 hours of testing and has a pass rate that ranges between 80 and 90%. The California Bar Exam, which is arguably the toughest in America, and has a current pass rate of 43% - but only requires 18 hours of testing. So when hiring a licensed architect, rest assured you are hiring a highly trained and educated professional. The architecture profession centers on mastery of the building design, permitting, and construction process. Architects are experts at evaluating sites and existing buildings. They are experts at interpreting building codes and maximizing the value of building projects through careful analysis and design. They prepare construction contracts which include detailed drawings and material specifications. They help owners obtain and evaluate bids by multiple contractors. During construction they make sure that contractors provide high quality workmanship and materials. Architects answer any questions that arise during construction, and process pay requests from contractors. This insures that owners only pay for work that has been done in accordance with the drawings and specifications. Oh, and architects care about beauty. Most spend at least 5 years in college studying design and art, learning how to integrate aesthetics with structural engineering, materials science, energy efficiency and of course building codes. They do this for fees amounting to less than the profits general contractors net for coordinating the work of subcontractors. William Hogan, Architect 811 North Catalina Ave, suite 2306 Redondo Beach, CA 90227 310 658-2271 [email protected] Hoganarch.com

Mt Washington Residence, Schematic Design Model