Who Does What? A Simple Guide to Home Renovations in Arizona

Planning a home renovation in Arizona comes with its own unique challenges — desert heat, older block homes, shifting soil, and strict city permitting rules. Because of that, it’s important to understand who you need on your renovation team and when to bring them in.

Whether you’re in Phoenix, Mesa, Gilbert, Glendale, Queen Creek, or anywhere in the Valley, here’s a simple breakdown of the pros who make a remodel possible.

Architects: The Designers Who Plan the Layout

If your renovation changes the structure or layout of your home, you may need an architect. Many Arizona cities — like Phoenix, Tempe, Scottsdale, Chandler, Gilbert, and Mesa — require architectural drawings before issuing permits.

In Arizona, architects help with:

✔️ Designing additions (Arizona rooms, expanded kitchens, new bedrooms)

✔️ Planning layout changes in older block or brick homes

✔️ Creating open-concept designs (especially common in older Valley homes)

✔️ Making sure the design meets Arizona building codes

✔️ Providing drawings required for permits and city approval

Architects focus on how your home will look and function after the renovation.

Engineers: The Safety Experts Who Approve Structural Changes

Arizona homes have structural features that often require engineering approval — like load-bearing block walls, truss roofs, and slab foundations. If you’re moving a wall or making any structural changes, a structural engineer ensures everything is safe.

Arizona engineers help with:

✔️ Determining which walls are load-bearing

✔️ Designing beams for open-concept spaces

✔️ Approving changes to roof structures

✔️ Reviewing foundation considerations (important in areas with shifting soil)

✔️ Making sure structural plans meet city code

So if your renovation involves any structural modifications, an engineer is a must — and often required for permits.

General Contractors: The Builders Who Bring the Plans to Life

Once plans are created, the general contractor (GC) handles the actual construction and manages the entire project. In Arizona’s desert climate, your GC also ensures materials and methods are suitable for extreme heat, sun exposure, and monsoon weather.

An Arizona GC handles:

✔️ Pulling permits and scheduling inspections

✔️ Managing plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and specialty trades

✔️ Ordering heat-resistant and Arizona-friendly materials

✔️ Working with architects and engineers

✔️ Supervising construction from start to finish

✔️ Making sure everything meets city and state building codes

Your GC is the project manager, builder, and main point of contact throughout the renovation.

How These Pros Work Together in an Arizona Renovation

Here’s the simple version:

Architect → Designs the project

Creates the layout, drawings, and visual plan.

Engineer → Approves the structure

Ensures safety and signs off on any structural changes.

General Contractor → Builds it

Handles construction, trades, permits, and inspections.

All three communicate with one another so the project is completed correctly and up to code.

How Our Team Helps Arizona Homeowners

At It Starts Here, we guide homeowners through the entire process so you don’t have to guess what your project needs.

We:

✔️ Tell you whether your project requires an architect or engineer

✔️ Recommend trusted professionals we regularly work with

✔️ Manage communication between all parties

✔️ Pull necessary permits

✔️ Build the renovation correctly for Arizona conditions

✔️ Keep everything organized and efficient

Renovations are a lot easier when you have a team that knows the Arizona building environment inside and out.