FAQ
Frequently asked.
Plain-English answers to the questions that come up most.
Common questions about working with Stoak — fees, timelines, what we do and don't do, and how the consent process actually works in New Zealand. Anything missing? Get in touch.
Fees and pricing
- How does Stoak's design fee work?
- There isn't one fee structure across every project — the workflow is genuinely different per service type, so the fee structure follows the workflow. New builds (everyday and architectural) and multi-unit projects run on a fixed concept fee + fixed developed-design fee + percentage of build cost for working drawings — see /services/new-builds, /services/architectural-new-builds and /services/multi-unit-dwellings for how each one runs. Renovations and extensions use the same three-stage structure but at a higher percentage band, because design effort per dollar of build is greater (/services/alterations-and-extensions). Re-clads and relocations skip the formal developed-design stage and run concept → cost estimate → working drawings as a percentage (/services/re-clads, /services/relocations). Minor works are quoted bespoke, typically $500–$3,000 + GST (/services/minor-works). Feasibility studies are a flat $500 + GST (/services/feasibility-studies). Every project gets a fixed-fee proposal in writing before any work starts. All figures ex GST.
- Is the fee fixed or does it move?
- The proposal you receive is fixed-fee in writing. It only changes if the brief or scope changes, and any change is agreed in writing first. The percentage-of-build component on working drawings is locked at the Contract stage once we have gone through the Concept/Developed Design process, which is also a fixed fee. — It doesn't track up if the build cost grows during construction.
- What does a feasibility study cost?
- A flat $500 + GST. It's a written report on whether a property suits the development you're considering — site analysis, planning rules, indicative concept and any obvious red flags. If the feasibility leads to a full design engagement, the $500 is credited against the first stage's fee.
- Are council fees and engineer's fees included in your fee?
- No — Stoak's fee is for design work only. Council fees, engineer's fees, surveyor's fees and any specialist consultants are billed direct to you by those parties (no margin added by Stoak). What we do handle is all the communication and engagement with the consultants on your behalf — briefing them, sending the drawings they need, chasing answers — so you don't have to manage them, you just pay the bill when it lands. At the Working Drawing Pricing stage we pull every number together into one quote so you can see the overall project cost (design + consultants + council) before committing to construction.
- When do you invoice?
- Each stage is invoiced as it's issued — concept on issue, then each subsequent phase as it's completed. The terms are spelled out in the engagement letter that comes with your proposal.
Process and timing
- How long does design + consent take?
- It varies a lot with the brief, the site, and how decisive the decisions are at concept. Typical residential timelines run several months from first meeting to consent lodgement, plus the statutory consent processing time at Council. The proposal will give you an indicative programme for your specific project.
- How many revisions do I get at concept?
- The concept stage includes the rounds of revision needed to lock direction — within the scope of the original brief. Brief changes (a new design, a different structural system, a large layout pivot) are different from revisions and are handled as a written variation.
- Will I see costs before I commit to construction?
- Yes — costing the design before sign-off is built into the process. We use quantity surveying software or a pricing estimate based on previous work (depending on the project type) at the end of the concept & developed design (and again at the end of working drawings if appropriate). This means you can understand the price all the way through design and into quotes from builders.
Service area and credentials
- Where does Stoak work?
- Based in Rotorua. In person across the wider Bay of Plenty (including Tauranga, Whakatāne, Ōhope) and the Waikato (Hamilton, Cambridge, Te Awamutu) by arrangement. For projects further afield in NZ, design work can run online with site visits at key milestones.
- Are you LBP licensed?
- Yes — Daniel Stowe holds LBP Design 2, the licence class for designing and certifying Restricted Building Work on residential and small-to-medium commercial buildings, plus a Carpentry LBP from earlier carpentry trade work. Both are verifiable on the public LBP register.
- Are you a Registered Architect?
- No — I'm an architectural designer (LBP Design 2), not a registered architect. Different training pathway: architects come through university, architectural designers come through apprenticeship-style learning on real projects from day one. For most residential briefs the consent set is the same and a designer is a more practical fit. The full breakdown — including how to compare designers honestly — is in the article on [architect vs. architectural designer vs. draftsperson](/articles/architect-vs-designer-vs-draftsperson-nz).
Consents and rules
- Do I need a Building Consent for a deck, shed or sleepout?
- Many small structures fall under Schedule 1 of the Building Act and are exempt from a Building Consent — but the work still has to comply with the Building Code, the District Plan and any covenants on your title. The article on Schedule 1 walks through the rules; for a specific project, send a description through and I'll tell you which side of the line it falls.
- Can you handle the resource consent too?
- Yes — Resource Consent applications are part of the work where they're triggered. Multi-unit infill, lake-margin work, geothermal-zone builds and house relocations commonly need one. The fee is built into the design proposal.
- What happens if council asks for changes (RFIs)?
- RFIs are part of the consent process. Council typically returns a list of clarifications during the processing window. Resolving RFIs is part of the consent stage — extra design fee only comes in if the response involves new design work outside the original brief.
What you get
- What's actually in a consent set?
- A residential consent set is typically 12–40 A4 sheets of scaled drawings depending on the complexity of the project, and it's not just a set of instructions for the builder, plumber and sparky — a big part of our job is proving your building will stand up to the elements your site will face and last the distance. A full set generally includes plans, elevations and sections; key construction details like junctions and flashings; structural and bracing diagrams to NZS 3604 (or the engineer's design where the project goes beyond it); services layouts for electrical, plumbing and drainage; specifications; my Certificate of Design Work covering any Restricted Building Work; engineer's PS1s where needed; and the Building Consent application paperwork. Every drawing is compliant with the building code and ready for the builder to price and build off.
- Will my drawings include 3D views?
- Drawings are produced from a 3D model in ArchiCAD, so 3D views are supplied on every project. Shape form renders at Concept and Photo renders at Developed Design are part of almost every design service. We can also offer a 3D walkthrough of your home.
- Who does the building?
- You choose your builder. For some projects, we work alongside named build partners — Arcadia Series Summit was designed in partnership with Dufty + Co Builders, for example. For most projects, you bring your own builder, or we can help you select one from our list of trusted builders.
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