Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1884-11-08
ARCHITECTS.
Some Facts About Those Who
Design Buildings.

Pittsburgh Dispatch.l

"HOw do we get paid for our work."
said an architect yesterday in response to
query. "There is but one established list
Of prices which rule, or rather would rule
II some did not cut the rates, through
out the entire English speaking world.
For full professional services, which in
cludes the one per cent. paid to the SUI
perintendent, we ask fiveper cent. upon the
cost of the work. This is divided as fol-
lows: For the plans and specifications
proper, two and half per cent; for
decorations, which are marked out as the
building progresses, one per cent. Suppos-
ing the building costs 100000, we get $20,-
700, and out Of that there is not very big
margin for profit. We must pay draughts-
men from - to $3.50 day, clerk hire,
expenses of all sorts, until that large sum
b almost consumed. For partial services
We get one per cent. for preliminary
tudies, two and half per cent. for that
together with the general drawings and
pecidcations, and three and half per
cent. for those things and details, which are
The decorations. Now, for stores we re-
seive three per cent. of the cost, and for
my work which costs less than 5000, or
WI AlOAuncuudl anu acCOIdtif0 WOIk dAQ
designs for furniture, a special rate in ex-
less of the other is asked. In alterations
We charge extra for a survey and the meas
Irements, and when the contract plans are
altered we receive extra remuneration.
The client is also charged for the necessary
travelling expenses and the time spent in
visiting for professional consultation. As
The work bears competition we get our
pay as each step is finished, and we draw
tn the percentage allowed for those re-
spective classes of the work. If no actual
money, but each amount is charged up to
he credit of the actual cost of the building,
and if there be any balance it is collected.
# there be material in the possession of the
pwner which did not cost him anything, its
yalue is ascertained and added to the valu-
ltion of the rest of the building, and after
that we take our commission. Drawings,
which are instruments of service, are the
architects property. I guess that covers
the ground"
"Can not buildings be put up without the
architect receiving such a large percent
lge?"
loses anything by cutting. could take a
building at one per cent. and get more
money out of it than at nine per cent"
Show can you? Didn't you say your
superintendent got thatf"
81 did; but can do it. If an owner cuts
IS and forces us to go under each other
bidding, we regard that as good invitation
TO get even. We will not lose our commits
sion, no matter what percentage of the en-
tire cost we get. The builder will put up
the structure in accordance with our in
structions, and, when the cheap work is
finished, it is poor job with good finish
to hide the bad work; but we are square.
The builder can give the architect a few hum
bred or few thousand dollars to pass the
work. The builder gets his money, the
architect has received his small amount
and something from the builder besides,
and the owner has gotten work done in ac-
cordance with his belittling principle to
make a man undertake work under cost.
If the owner is square he has the architect
on the ri ght side of him, and then he gets
q good building, and one worth every dol
lar he puts into it. | know only a few
architects in this city who will not cut the
established rates, and those men can secure
work on the merits of what they have done.
There is a big talk about Richardson
and the large percentage he will get
from the county for the new Courthouse;
but when you consider that he must hire a
resident superintendent, to be here for the
five years during the progress of the build
ing, and an army of clerks and draughts-
men, who draw their salaries with their
customary regularity, his margin dwindles
considerably. 1t costs money to superin-
tend large buildings, and then hand them
over to the owners insured"
"What does it cost for small dwelling
houses?"
"Take one that will cost 81 900 and we
charge $25. 1t will take weeks work for
our employees, and there are few dollars
only left"
"You have to look after the foundations,
too, don't your"
"Yes, and when we are to build on soggy
ground piles must be driven into the soft
earth to make it safer, as they did at the
site of the new Government building. I
suppose the most vexatious soil in this
country is in New Orleans. The large
buildings there are gradually sinking into
the spongy earth on which they are built.
tell you our profession is a hard one, and
one that takes no end of scheming as well
as planning"