Design and build FAQ
Designing a home raises questions about architects, design stages, drawings and the approvals that follow. These answers are checked against current NSW rules and published sources, then dated so you can see when each was last reviewed.
Your questions
Building designer or architect: what's the difference?
Only registered architects can use the title in NSW, although anyone can legally design a freestanding house, so the right choice depends on the site and the brief.
Can I change my design after DA approval in NSW?
A section 4.55 modification lets you change an approved DA in NSW, as long as the development stays substantially the same. Bigger changes need a new application.
How do construction drawings differ from DA drawings?
DA drawings show council the form, siting and impact of a new home. Construction drawings add the detail a certifier checks and a builder works from.
How does the National Construction Code shape a home's design?
The National Construction Code sets the minimum standards a new home must meet and shapes its stairs, balustrades, light, energy and structure before a certifier checks it.
What are the disadvantages of design and build?
No independent check on the builder, no tendered price and an early commitment to one firm are the main trade-offs of design and build, with ways to manage each one.
What are the stages of designing a house?
Designing a house moves from the brief and site through concept design and design development to approval, then the detailed construction documents.
What is a construction certificate in NSW?
On the DA path in NSW, a construction certificate is the building approval that follows consent, issued once the detailed plans meet the consent and the Building Code.
What should a client and architect agreement include?
NSW requires a written client architect agreement, usually before work starts, setting out the services, the fee method, how changes are approved and how the agreement ends.
Which site survey do I need before designing a house?
A detail and level survey records the levels, structures, trees and services a design starts from, while a boundary survey fixes where the title boundaries sit.
