Make each adviser’s scope explicit
Record who draws existing and proposed conditions and who designs the load-bearing elements. Discuss responsibility for supplier coordination, permit applications and building details as well. A job title alone does not establish what an offer includes. Request a list of each party’s deliverables and identify who checks their coordination before they are used.
Discuss interfaces early in design
A wide opening, low ceiling or large rooflight may affect both spatial design and the structure. Communicate these wishes early so advisers can identify fixed requirements and remaining design options. Structural decisions can also affect services and finishes. Avoid letting each discipline independently use the remaining space without coordinating its interfaces with the others.
Use an agreed process for changes
Agree who receives changes, which advisers assess their effects and how revisions are distributed. Name a contact for contractor queries. If the building proposal is not final, identify provisional documents and the design work that can sensibly proceed. A clear programme describes both delivery dates and the information that must be available before those deliverables can be completed.
Practical checklist
- Compare the deliverables in each appointment
- Identify the interface coordinator
- Share design requirements early
- Record the change process
An architectural drawing does not replace structural justification, and structural calculations do not form a complete architectural design.
Preparing your own project
Would you like this assessed for your home? See our information about houses. It explains which information is relevant to that brief. The project check helps you prepare your enquiry.
Unsure about a term? The structural glossary provides plain-language explanations and technical context. To understand how the documents are organised, explore our fictional example project .
Background and sources
Sources checked on 3 October 2026. This guide is not a project-specific assessment.
Editorial guide • updated 3 October 2026. General information; not a project-specific assessment.