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Designing my own plans for an extension?

Hello,

I'm planning a fairly simple rear extension on my property.

I currently have a 3m x 5m 'lean to' conservatory and I'm basically looking to replace it with a brick built lean-to extension of the same size.

I'm hoping to draft up the designs myself, to save £ it would cost for an architect etc. - especially with it being such a simple design!

Is there any programs available to do these plans? should I draw them in pen and pencil? should I just photoshop them? any other ideas?
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Comments

  • Gloomendoom
    Gloomendoom Posts: 16,551 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    I did mine on paper with a pen.
  • LandyAndy
    LandyAndy Posts: 26,377 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts
    Hello,

    I'm planning a fairly simple rear extension on my property.

    I currently have a 3m x 5m 'lean to' conservatory and I'm basically looking to replace it with a brick built lean-to extension of the same size.

    I'm hoping to draft up the designs myself, to save £ it would cost for an architect etc. - especially with it being such a simple design!

    Is there any programs available to do these plans? should I draw them in pen and pencil? should I just photoshop them? any other ideas?


    Are you hoping to get a builder to quote accurately for, and create, this extension from your drawing?
  • System
    System Posts: 178,256 Community Admin
    10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Do you know the building regs and planning policies for your area?!
    This is a system account and does not represent a real person. To contact the Forum Team email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com
  • Owain_Moneysaver
    Owain_Moneysaver Posts: 11,389 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Planning drawings are fairly simple but must comply with your local authority's requirements for scale, location etc. Building Regs plans are more complicated as they must demonstrate compliance with building regulations including the structure of walls, floors etc.

    In most areas there is an architectural technician or architectural draughtsman who can do simple building plans at a lot less than an architect.
    A kind word lasts a minute, a skelped erse is sair for a day.
  • beaker141
    beaker141 Posts: 509 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts
    I did my planning drawings on A2 size tracing paper pad with pencil - that way you can overlay one drawing on top of another and make sure alignment is right.

    Once I was happy with it, inked over in pen and then rubbed pencil out.

    Later on for building regs though I did end up getting them drawn up properly to include all the specification as I didnt have the time or inclination to try and find out all the detail necessary !

    Dont forget structural engineer calcs will be needed if you've any steel beams etc?
  • System
    System Posts: 178,256 Community Admin
    10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Planning drawings are fairly simple but I've seen recently on a couple of jobs I've inherited where they've had planning approvals but for things that are either impossible to build or don't comply with regs and we've had to go back to planning for non material variations...
    This is a system account and does not represent a real person. To contact the Forum Team email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com
  • jamesperrett
    jamesperrett Posts: 1,009 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I did the drawings for a block built outbuilding in Microsoft Visio but I had the help of an architectural technician for some aspects of it - like damp proofing and materials.
  • teneighty
    teneighty Posts: 1,347 Forumite
    the_r_sole wrote: »
    Planning drawings are fairly simple but I've seen recently on a couple of jobs I've inherited where they've had planning approvals but for things that are either impossible to build or don't comply with regs and we've had to go back to planning for non material variations...

    That's why I usually turn down jobs where the client has done their own planning permission or charge double. They are a PITA.

    The trouble is people do not realise a good set of drawings will probably save them money during the build not to mention get them better more competitive quotes from builders. With well intentioned DIY amateur attempts the builder is more likely to hit problems and have to make changes and thereby charge for extras.
  • Gloomendoom
    Gloomendoom Posts: 16,551 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    teneighty wrote: »
    That's why I usually turn down jobs where the client has done their own planning permission or charge double. They are a PITA.

    The trouble is people do not realise a good set of drawings will probably save them money during the build not to mention get them better more competitive quotes from builders. With well intentioned DIY amateur attempts the builder is more likely to hit problems and have to make changes and thereby charge for extras.

    This is a very good point. Although, I did my own planning drawings which sailed though planning without any problems at all. I now need professional help to get the plans to a state that they can actually be built from.
  • System
    System Posts: 178,256 Community Admin
    10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    teneighty wrote: »
    That's why I usually turn down jobs where the client has done their own planning permission or charge double. They are a PITA.

    The trouble is people do not realise a good set of drawings will probably save them money during the build not to mention get them better more competitive quotes from builders. With well intentioned DIY amateur attempts the builder is more likely to hit problems and have to make changes and thereby charge for extras.

    Yeah, we usually stay away too, unfortunately these ones are friends of the directors!
    I've come to the realisation that no one cares that your drawings are well done, apart from the rare contractor who bothers to properly study them!
    This is a system account and does not represent a real person. To contact the Forum Team email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com
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