Here are some common questions that many home builders ask. Please check them over to see if there is something that pertains to your situation. If your question still remains unanswered do not hesitate to contact us.
Q. Is it helpful for me to sketch out a floor plan of what I want?
A. Although it is good to know the layout that you want, we prefer to begin fresh. Many of the sketches we see do not allow for wall thicknesses, minimum or maximum dimensions, building code, regulations, or ease of construction. We will allow for all of these issues along with your wants, needs, likes and dislikes. From there we will work with you to obtain a final design that is right for you.
Q. I found a plan in a home design book. Can you redraw it for me?
A. All plans in plan books and magazines are protected by copyright. We can use the plan as a starting point for inspiration, but we would need to make a significant number of changes to the plan so that it is not a straight copy. In most cases you would probably want some changes made anyway just to customize it for your own needs and lifestyle.
Q. What is the difference between preliminary drawings and working drawings?
A. Preliminary drawings include floor plans and elevations only. This is the basic information needed to determine if the layout and look of the house are right for you. Working drawings contain the details and information that the contractor will need to build your home. They include the floor framing plan(s), roof plan, site plan, electrical plan(s), foundation plan, building sections, dimensions and specific notes as required by your builder and local building authority.
Q. Why can’t I make changes at the working drawing stage?
A. A full set of working drawings contains a number of drawings, many of which reference each other. If a change is made on one drawing it often affects multiple drawings. This increases both the possibility of error as well as the time and cost involved in making the change. It is in your best interest as well as ours to be sure that the preliminary design is exactly what you want before authorizing working drawings. Don’t proceed to working drawings until all the uncertainties have been addressed.
Q. Do I need to have my drawings stamped by an engineer?
A. The City of Regina Building Dept. requires all foundation plans to be stamped by an architect or engineer. Regulations elsewhere vary depending on the local authority but it is best to have a local structural engineer design a foundation that suit the soil conditions on your site.
Q. Do I need a geo-technical report?
A. A geo-technical report is most important when you are building in a rural area or on a site that you may suspect to have unstable soil. Most well established areas have soil conditions and faults that are familiar to local engineers and builders.
Q. Do I need a site survey and/or grading plan?
A. Most permit applications require a site plan showing the dimensions of the land and the location of the proposed building on it. We will need a legal survey of your site to complete this drawing. A grading plan is necessary for walkout lots and lots where changes in elevation will greatly affect the building site. This will help us to design a house that suits the changing grades on your land.
Q. My preliminary drawings show a much larger square footage than what I asked for. Why is that and why should I have to pay for the time involved when it wasn’t what I asked for?
A. Often the room sizes and other requests that we are given are impossible to create in the square footage instructed. We create the initial design to reflect all that you have asked for, trying our best to keep within the square footage allowance. Because it is a process, the designer doesn’t know until he is finished what the total square footage will be. Sometimes he can make minor adjustments to keep within the square footage request. Other times it cannot be done unless a particular room(s) is adjusted or eliminated. Rather than guessing at what your preference might be it is more efficient to show you the outcome and let you decide where you want to make the adjustments. It is all part of the design process which takes considerable time and is not to be perceived as an error on the designer’s part.
Q. Can you tell me how much my house will cost to build?
A. It is best to speak with any contractors that you have in mind to get an accurate estimate of what your home will cost to build. Any builder should be able to give you a rough estimate based on preliminary drawings but a large part of the cost is determined by the level of finishes and upgrades that you choose. Your most accurate estimate will come once the working drawings are completed.
Q. Will my drawings be prepared in metric?
A. Only if you specifically request metric. The residential building industry continues to use imperial sized building materials. Most building jurisdictions accept working drawings prepared in imperial. Site plans are prepared in imperial with metric equivalents.
Q. What scale will the working drawings be provided in?
A. Typically working drawings are prepared at a scale of ¼”=1’. Often we are asked to reduce sets to1/8” scale. On occasion we provide drawings of 3/16”=1” if the paper size of drawings becomes overly large.
Q. How long will it take to get my drawings?
A. Waiting times vary depending on the time of year. Spring and summer are generally busy times with work tapering off in the late fall. The greatest factor affecting the design process is how quickly you make decisions and get back to us. It also depends on how many times the drawings need to be changed before they are approved for working drawings.
Q. Will you re-use my design for another client?
A. No. We have custom-designed your house for you. Your payment to us ensures that you are the owner of the plans and thus hold the copyright for them.
