Perhaps your architect has learned what many of her peers have learned, from some very good teachers. Ironically, the same people who insist that your architect provide plans for pipes, ducts and wiring rarely follow those plans. I won't normally do exhaustive, dimensioned layouts because when we get to the field, we just shake our heads and wonder why we spent all that time - and you'll spend all that money for an electrician, a plumber or an air-conditioning installer to ignore the plans and go off on a tangent other than what was planned for.I used to spend a lot of time looking for the best way to route the piping and ducts and designing the best location for lighting, furniture, windows and doors. But what a discouragement it was when so-called team players and professionals, who were not part of the design process, began to install the systems and just did whatever they wanted. The owner and I would select a particular boiler for its high efficiency, only to see the plumber or contractor say they only deal with a certain supplier and that the selection we made was a mistake. The electrician would approach the owner with alternative design ideas and change the owner's mind, saying the architect made a mistake. So fickle owners and headstrong, non-team playing "professionals" taught the architects not to not offer these services. I still do layouts for some clients, but only after explaining that it's no use to spend the time and the money if they don't stick to the plan.What you should do is sit down with your architect and, for an additional fee, map out - and put in writing - just what types of lights, how many, and where you want them. Sit the contractor down with the architect and go over where the ducts, lighting and plumbing will go, and agree to stick to the plan. I am not optimistic that the parties will do this, mostly because it's a rare experience to find a contractor that's willing to work on this basis. Most don't see the profit in providing this kind of service, and will simply hand plans off to their plumber, air conditioning person or electrician, to do whatever they want. You just have to pay for whatever they give you, whatever that is. If you find a good team of communicating, planning professionals, please write me back and let me know. I'd love to work with pros like that. Good luck! Readers are encouraged to send questions to: HERALD HomesP.O. Box 220, Lawrence, N.Y. 11559-0220Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.
