You know your opinion really doesn't matter here. clients are trying to make a decision and a better answer is what people are doing now. then the Architect if they are in tune could save that's correct we are seeing allot of people doing that.

Michael Lee .... what the heck?

SoCal Contractor, if your client is asking for your opinion, then give it. I would phrase it like "well, if this were my home, I think I would ..."

As a general contractor, I make it a priority to meet with (and hopefully develop a working relationship with) the architect/ designer. This is usually done by directing my questions and concerns DIRECTLY to them. I believe this helps to create a level of trust and a confidence between us that may help in those situations. I have found that many architects value my opinion...... provided they hear it firsthand.

Work with the architect in front of the client,in meetings. Don't wear clown shoes.

I'd give her your opinion if she aks for it. If it is in opposition to the architect's direction, try to be diplomatic about it, but be honest. I think the best results on a project happen when every one is able to share ideas.

Suggest to your clients that they call a meeting with the two of you. It's really not about stepping on toes,(although you want to cultivate a good working relationship with client and architect), it's really about giving the client the best finished product, which I'm sure you want to do.

While I never recommend being obnoxious, architects do earn enough to buy steel toed shoes. They shouldn't take offense to being asked a reasonable number of serious questions about their design and recommendations.

But, if the client is constantly second guessing the architect, I would be concerned. When a client doesn't trust the architect's competence and commitment to the project, that's a red flag waving. It's hard to read a situation from the short comments here, but I wonder if the client has specific concerns with this architect or is this the person's standard operating procedure with everyone? Is that client is asking other people "my contractor says XXX...what do you think?"

Speaking from a purely business perspective, the architect can generally provide more work for you than one client. It is the architect's design, and if the client has concerns or questions, I'd let the architect know, and provide a suggestion you think will help him/her look good, and satisfy the client at the same time. In cliche parlance, it's a win/win.

You gotta wonder if client is asking someone about YOUR recommendations! I would not care. They pay, I do my job and I do not second guess myself. If I have things I want to see different with the architecture then I happily bring it up to architect knowing full well that since we both care about a good job and happy client, that we can work our way through any issue really. I have many architect colleagues and they enjoy a rousing design discussion for the most part.

At the end of the day, it's just a building and it's just design. it's not brain cancer and life and death ... been through that once in life and I now laugh at what people think is important. I love design and I love my work but, you have to put it all in perspective!

Architects are human and may not have thought through every design decision to the nth degree. Things can get overlooked that don't become apparent until the framing's going up. Talking things through is much better then saying nothing until the issue becomes much more expensive to change. The client is king and contractors often have a slightly different perspective and experience that is extremely helpful. I view this as a collaborative process with input from everybody. I'm going through a huge remodel right now and I'm not the least bit reluctant to ask for my contractor's opinion on things I have questions about.