Home renovation is a thrilling experience, be it a small-scale project of renovation of a room or a major project of renovation. Plans of the renovation should be detailed and accurate as one of the most important parts of the process. These plans will help in ensuring that the project is properly planned, it is according to building codes and also according to your vision. But who exactly is responsible for drawing these plans? This article will look at the people involved in the preparation of the house renovation plans and what they can do to ensure that your renovation is successful.
Understanding the Importance of Renovation Plans
It is important to look at the need of the plans before getting into the professionals who draw house renovation plans.
Renovation plans serve several key purposes:
Seeing the Project: Plans enable you to visualize the design as it will appear in the renovated space, seeing what the renovation will be before it is built.
Code Compliance: The plans of the renovation should meet local building codes and zoning regulations to make the project legal and safe.
Driving Contractors: Detailed plans serve as a guide to the contractors as they know what to do and how to do it.
Budgeting and Time Management: You will be able to estimate the cost of materials and labor more accurately with the help of proper plans, which will keep the project on time and within the budget.
Since we understand the importance of having renovation plans, it is time to see who usually prepares them.
Professionals Who Draw Plans for House Renovations
A number of professionals are capable of developing renovation plans, and they differ in terms of the level of expertise and service provision.
The chief people in the drawing of the plans of home renovations are the following:
Architects
Architects are certified individuals that deal with designing and planning of construction and renovation of buildings. They are professionals in making elaborate structural plans that are code compliant and regulations. An architect is usually the right person to hire when you are undertaking a major redesign, restructuring, or remodeling of the home.
Role: Architects offer the most detailed plans, which include floor layouts, elevations and technical drawings. They also consider factors like safety, sustainability, and functionality.
When to Hire: You need to hire an architect when you have a large-scale renovation in mind, i.e. adding another floor, the rearrangement of the house or the alteration of structural components.
Advantages: Architects are experts and creative in nature and thus will ensure that the renovation is in line with your aesthetic standards and is within the building codes.
Designers (Interior Designers and Home Designers)
Home designers and interior designers are more concerned with the looks and functionality of the space. They might not necessarily possess the engineering experience that architects possess, but they can come up with renovation plans particularly in cases where the project is mainly cosmetic or functional.
Role: The designers are involved in the layout, the finishes, color schemes, lighting, and arrangement of furniture. They develop schemes that improve the movement and look of the space.
When to Hire: A designer would be a good hire when your renovation project is interior based, e.g., an upgrade of a kitchen, bathroom or living room. Designers come in handy in projects that require any aesthetic improvement or functional improvement.
Advantages: Designers have a new view and they are concerned with the livability and style of the space. They are good at adapting to the available spaces and they can even consult architects and contractors in order to make their designs viable.
Draftsmen or Drafters
Drafters (also called draftsmen) are skilled workers who prepare technical drawings and plans of construction projects. They do not necessarily possess high level qualifications of architects but they are good at interpreting design concepts into detailed blueprints.
Role: Drafters create the technical drawings which are used to carry out the construction. They collaborate with architects or designers to finish the details of the plan and make sure that everything is in scale and is up to the standards.
Hiring Time: In case your renovation is fairly easy, or you are dealing with a designer who has a specific vision, a drafter can do the job. They are generally employed where the renovations are not very complicated or the design is already determined.
Advantages: Drafters are cheaper to use to create technical plans and can assist in transforming designs into working documents by contractors.
When Should You Hire a Professional to Draw Plans?
The situation is not always the case where a home renovation would require the services of an architect or a designer. The depth and the size of the renovation are important factors that will determine whether you require the services of a professional or not.
This is a tip on when you need to think about employing a professional:
Complex Renovations or Structural Changes
When you are going to make a major change to the structure or layout of the house then you must surely take the services of an architect or designer to draw up detailed plans.
Examples of complex renovations include:
- Removing or adding walls
- Changing the layout of the home
- Building an addition
- Adding or modifying plumbing, electrical, or HVAC systems.
Such kind of projects need expert knowledge of building codes, integrity of structures, and safety.
Cosmetic or Smaller Renovations
However, you might not require professional plans when you want a cosmetic upgrade or minor remodeling, like painting walls, new flooring, or new fixtures. Nevertheless, having a vision and plan of such changes is still important in order to prevent expensive errors.
Consultation with a Professional
It may be worth talking to a designer or an architect even without full plans, though, before you begin your renovation. They are able to give you ideas on how to maximize your space, recommend changes to the design and prevent you making errors.
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