If you have thought about building a house or renovating your existing home, you likely have some ideas for how you want the end product to look. The magic happens when professionals translate your verbal instructions into actual, visual plans that can then be used to build or upgrade your house.
This is where a draftsperson comes into the picture. Drafting house plans for renovations, extensions or homes is an essential part of the process that will culminate in a beautifully completed home. Finding an experienced drafting professional familiar with Australian building codes is an excellent way to ensure you kick off a quality build and limit mistakes in the long run.
The Difference Between A Draftsperson & An Architect
Although it does depend from person to person or firm to firm, architects are typically involved in the entire process and help to plan, design, budget, and supervise the construction process. A typical draftsperson is usually able to plan and design your build or renovation but rarely gets involved in the process beyond this point. Draftspeople tend to focus on their specialty of conceptualising sketches, discussing them with you as the client, and then refining the plans through computer-aided design.
Architects have a three-year bachelor’s degree, a Masters in Architecture and about two years of practice in the field before registering as an architect with their state or territory’s Architects Registration Board. Draftspeople tend to complete courses that specialise in the design, planning and drafting stages and typically focus on training to use computer-aided design software.
Architects also charge higher fees for their full-suite services, which usually lands at between 8% and 15% of the total build cost. Draftspeople are much more affordable, with their cost-effective fees generally being between 1% and 3% of the total build.
What Does A Draftsperson Do?
A draftsperson focuses on the technical drawings you need to begin with in order to add that extension to your home, renovate your living quarters or build a new residence from scratch. Draftspeople focus on using computer-aided design (CAD) principles to bring your visions to life.
Some draftspeople will work with you from start to finish and assist you with your sketches and plan before helping you estimate budgets and timelines. Other parts of the project that they can oversee include assisting you in sourcing construction companies, overseeing engineering, supervising regulatory compliance and conducting tests on soil and materials.
All draftspeople and firms will differ, but at Alldraft, we can assist you with all of the elements of your build, from drafting design and house plans for your renovation or new building, lodging applications with the relevant councils, arranging site inspections and soil reports to connecting you with registered, reputable builders.
If you’re looking for a professional draftsperson to take care of your house plan drafting needs for your renovation, extension or new house build, reach out to us today and let’s discuss how we can work together to bring your dream to life.