Drawing Extension Plans – What Should Be Included?

Drawing extension plans is essential to getting the go ahead to complete your house extension. They need to not only tell your builders what needs doing, but also give enough detail to fulfil the requirements of building regulations and possibly gain planning permission.

It may be tempting to consider drawing your own extension plans, but before you even think about this route you should understand the complexity of these plans. This will give you a good indication of why the services of an architect may serve you better. One of the elements that needs to be included in your house extension plans is its elevations. These show what the building looks like from each direction. These can be done as 2-dimensional drawings, or 3-dimensional models. Another aspect that needs to be included is the site plans. These are important, as they provide perspective. They show the building in relation to its surroundings, including roads, adjoining sites, and landmarks. All of this is done to scale. Cross sections of the building also need to be included. These are important to show compliance with building regulations; the number of cross sections required will depend on the complexity of the building. Existing floor plans and elevations may be included with those, showing the extension, to give an indication of the changes that are happening. The finalised plans will also need to include specification notes for the construction team. These may include aspects such as materials, joist sizes, and thickness of insulation.