Designing my own plans for an extension?

MoneySavingMole

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?

Gloomendoom

I did mine on paper with a pen.

LandyAndy

MoneySavingMole wrote: »

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

Do you know the building regs and planning policies for your area?!

Owain_Moneysaver

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.

beaker141

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

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...

jamesperrett

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

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

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

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!