The Rules of Residential Drafting

When starting any renovation project, it can be easy to get lost in the process if you haven’t had experience with a residential drafting service and understand the common rules and standards. Understanding how residential drafting works can help in the design and research of your dream home and how you can plan to ensure each stage of the project is easy and hassle-free. So here are a few simple rules to follow in the residential drafting process.

Plan your Supply Sources

The first step in a residential building project is to have an idea that can guide your draftsman and designers towards a detailed design brief. The first design changes usually involve the sizing and dimension of rooms, but it’s important to consider how those elements can affect your supply sources and create drafting problems. Your draftsman will have this in mind as they need to determine supply sources such as water, electricity, gas and stormwater systems and can help guide your design. Changing sewerage connections, for example, can become a difficult and costly process. Having your supply sources planned in advance, such as where to place electricity and water fixtures can save you time in the ideas phase in consultation with your draftsman and residential designer.

Drafting Media and Symbols

After the ideas phase, your draftsman will create a detailed floorplan which is essential in guiding your building contractors and obtaining building permits from local councils. Depending on which residential drafting services you use, your plans will be visually represented on drafting vallum or digitally using CAD or other drafting software. These are created to specific building standards and include floor plans, construction information and elevation with different lines and abbreviations to communicate the intended building design. An example is the use of solid lines to show visible objects in the design space, while a broken line indicates hidden elements like a cupboard or the movement of objects like a swinging door. If you’re uncertain, your residential draftsman should be able to guide you through the floorplan and give you a detailed description to help communicate your idea for building approval or to hire building contractors.

Ask a Professional

Understanding the residential drafting process can save time and energy in the planning of your project, but sometimes it’s best to consult a professional for their expertise. A professional draftsman can guide you not only on the blueprints of your home but in the approval process which can take months for a Development Application to receive approval from the local council. They can also recommend builders and designers best suited to the development of your project.

At Go Design Solutions, we’re committed to simplifying residential drafting with our five-step process to ensure you love your dream home, with our draftsmen assisting in the design, approval and management of your project. To enquire about our residential drafting services in Penshurst, contact our professional drafting team here or call us on (02) 8091 0588.