A Drafting Service Can Help!
Consider using a drafting service if you are thinking about building a new home. Or even if you are just remodeling your existing home or adding a “granny unit” (also known as an Accessory Dwelling Unit or ADU).
You probably know that you will need some plans. What you may not know is that you have options for having plans drawn.
Many people think that it’s necessary to hire a licensed architect to draw your house plans for permit approval, but that’s not the case. In most instances, you can also have a drafting service create them for you.
Who Should I Choose: Draftsman Vs. Architect?
While either one of these professional can draft building plans for your residential project, there are differences to be aware of.
A draftsman can legally prepare building plans for permit approval if it is a residential structure, it consists of wood frame construction, is no more than two stories, and has no more than four units in the structure.
Unlike an architect, however, a draftsman cannot draw plans for commercial buildings unless he is working in conjunction with an Architect who must sign off on those plans.
Can I Trust a Draftsman to be Capable of Drawing My Plans?
This is a good question. While a competent drafting service can produce permit-ready plans, not all draftsmen are equally qualified. In fact, anyone can call themselves a draftsman, but not all know enough about residential construction to produce buildable plans.
So, how do you know if your draftsman is capable? Interviewing them is a good start to determine that. Some questions to ask could be:
- How long have they been doing this?
- What is their professional background and what type of training do they have?
- Can you see examples of their work?
- What specific drawings will you receive?
- Do they have references you can talk to?
Is There a Price Difference Between a Draftsman Versus an Architect?
Because architectural firms and drafting services provide different types and levels of involvement, you can expect a difference in fees. A broad estimate is that architect’s will be two to three times that of a draftsman.
Keep in mind, however, that an architect will provide more in-depth involvement in the project, such as specifying interior finishes and hardware. This additional involvement is a factor in the price difference of the cost of the project.
As compensation for these services, they will typically charge a percentage of the total cost of construction, usually between 5 to 10 percent. It’s not unusual for that fee to range in the tens of thousands of dollars.
A draftsman or drafting service, on the other hand, will only focus on what is necessary to provide what is needed for the client to obtain a building permit from the building department in your jurisdiction. This leaves you, as the customer, free to select all the materials you wish to use for the inside of your project.
Would you like to take the next step?
Reach out to learn more today!