The Value of a Building Designer

Read: 3 mins.

“I remember the days when I could sketch my own plan for permits on standard graph paper.”, “Do you need to put so much stuff in the plans?”, and my personal favourite “It’s just ___ so it shouldn’t take too much time to draw up.”

From time to time I meet with the odd potential client who doesn’t understand the value of a design - the amount of work that goes into a design and the value of the design itself. It’s a far cry from knowing the building will be framed with 2x6’s and that it’s just a quick drawing.

To get a better understanding of what goes into a “simple” design, I decided to follow along one of my projects and write down some of the questions that went into the design. I tried to keep it short...

1. What is the property zoned?

2. What codes apply? Note codes and references on the plan. 

3. Provide a site plan indicating setbacks, grade elevations, retaining walls, and any other site specific information.

4. What is allowed outside of setbacks? Anything?

5. Are there any riparian, natural/hazard assessment, flood management, design guidelines, and/or variances?

6. Provide a foundation plan. What type of foundation will be used?

7. How is the crawl space accessed?

8. Does radon gas need to be addressed in the new foundation?

9. How do the new foundation walls and footings tie into the existing?

10. How does the new floor structure interact/tie-in to the existing? 

11. Provide a roof plan.

12. How does the new roof structure interact/tie-in to the existing roof, soffit and exterior walls?

13. How is the new roof vented?

14. Provide gutters and downspouts locations.

15. Provide floor plans with exterior vision in mind. Is it within the budget? 

16. How can you utilize the sun exposure to your advantage; overhangs, window placements, cross-ventilation, shading, etc.?

17. What is the floor area ratio and building height?

18. Indicate smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

19. What is the heating/cooling system? Is there a backup required?

10. Is there enough headroom in the stairwell? 

21. Provide exterior elevation drawings.

22. Provide building cross-section drawings in complicated areas of construction.

23. Tie in proposed structural members to interior details and finishes. Visible or hidden?

24. Indicate flashing details to openings and roofs, provide soffit/eave details, etc.

25. What is the R-value and insulation type for the floor, walls, and ceiling? Provide specifications and locations.

So where did I lose you? If you read the whole thing, good for you! If not, I don’t blame you, although, these are just a fraction of questions and specifications required for a standard design for a new home or renovation.

The aesthetics, understanding reports, covenants, and codes and bylaws, or blending structural elements with the design hasn’t even been discussed, among other things.

Many people seem to be under the impression that drawings are cheap, and they’re right, paper is cheap. However, drawings are a product, architects and designers provide a service. What you’re paying for is the design teams’s expertise that created those drawings.

It’s the due diligence, experience, thought(s), and role of the designer that created the drawings that bring value. The questioning, addressing your needs/wishes/budget/schedule, planning, complying with local building and zoning codes, problem solving, detailing, and knowledge of the numerous moving parts in a cohesive, aesthetically pleasing, well designed house plan that is easy for the contractor to follow - which ultimately results in cost savings to the client.

Yes we draw, but it’s part of a larger process that we don’t let you worry about too much. HGTV style 😉

#HGTVtreatment