------ HOME DESIGN & DRAFTING ------- 

The Process

STEPS IN THE DESIGN PROCESS

Designing as new home or a renovation is a continuous process of decision making involving, studying design elements, investigating possibilities and reviewing options. You will be working closely with the designer to assist you through this process which may involve, but not be limited to some or all of the steps outlined below.

1.      Initial interview meeting (free of charge):

·    Meet at the clients home, office or at the project site if it is a renovation or addition, to discuss the scope of the project, objectives, functionality, aesthetics, space planning, budget and timeline.

·    Extensive notes will be taken by the designer of all things discussed at this meeting that will determine or affect the final design concepts.

·    Information gathered at this meeting will be used to prepare a Letter of Agreement for your project. Once we receive your signed Letter of Agreement and the retainer fee, we will begin the first phase of the design project.

·    This step usually takes around 1-2 hours depending on the scope of the project.

 

2.      Programming Phase:

·    Bring to the meeting any ideas and pictures you may have that reflect the style/look that you want for your new home.

·    Also bring a copy of your lot survey and/or plot plan, any deed restriction and a soils report, if available.

·    We will be discussing your needs, desires, goals, wants, space requirements, use of spaces, budgetary goals, etc.

·    A report will be provided reviewing the notes from this meeting as it defines the goals for the design.

 

3.      Document Existing Conditions (New or Existing Home Site):

·    This should be done before any time is spent drawing preliminary plans.

·    The site will be evaluated for overall lay or slope of the land, the location and direction of the best views and objectionable views, potential home location, direction of the sun’s path across the property, sunny/shady/windy areas, trees to be saved, any special natural features noted and the logical entrance to property for the driveway.

·    Determine whether a well and septic tank system will be used or the availability of water, sewer and gas line hook-ups.

·    Renovations and additions will require a complete review of all existing conditions, dimension measurements, structural investigation if required, pictures and review of any existing drawings. This information needs to be accurate as it will be the basis of future renovation/addition.

·    Setback lines, easements, zoning laws, and restrictive covenants will also be discussed.

·    Client involvement in other aspects of the design process such as engineering and interior design selections.

·    This meeting will last from 1 to 3 hours.

 

4.      Schematic Design Phase (Concepts):

·    Concept drawings will be completed based on programming report and existing site conditions. Options may be provided for various parts of the project.

·    Initial concepts for the proposed home or remodel/addition. This will generally consist of floor plan(s) and one or two exterior elevations, if applicable.

·    Once the sketches are prepared and copies made, a review meeting will be set for the designer to present the ideas to the client for discussion.

·    Additional overlay sketches may be drawn during this meeting as additional ideas and changes are discussed.

·    A copy of all drawings will be given to the client to take home to digest and discuss the information further.  This step should be a minimum of a week, since it sometimes will take at least that much time for the client to think of all the possibilities they would like to discuss at the next meeting.

·    This first design review meeting may take 2 hours or more and there may be some significant changes.

·    The next review meeting will be held to discuss the changes made to the plans, since the last meeting and the new ideas that came to mind after the meeting.

·    Again, overlays may be drawn of the potential new ideas.

·    The front elevation will also be discussed and ideas for the other elevations, as well.

·    The review meetings will generally take 1-2 hours and there should not be any major changes at this point.

·    It is very important that you are satisfied with the design at this stage. It is easier to make changes on the drawing than after construction has begun.

·    Once all the changes have been made to the floor plans and the exterior elevations, the final square footage can then be calculated.

·    There will be copies made of these drawings and the site plan drawing for your use in obtaining preliminary construction pricing.

·    This gives the client the opportunity to make sure that what they wish to build will be within their budget.  Also, the builder may have suggestions on things such as material changes that could help to keep the project within budget.

·    This pricing phase will generally take 3-5 weeks.

 

5.      Design Development Phase:

·    More detailed drawings are prepared to illustrate other design elements and constructions details.

·    The design is refined and notes are added to floor plans and elevations.

·    Clients are given opportunities to approve these refinements as needed during this phase.

·    If a Builder has been selected at this point, we will work with the Builder as much as possible to make sure we stay within budget.

·    Additional drawings are developed during this phase such as building sections, interior elevations, an electrical plan, roof view, etc.

·    If selected as part of the design contract, interior finishes and material are researched and selected and room finish schedules are  created including door and window schedules.

·    This Phase may take 2 to 4 weeks.

 

6.       Construction Documents Phase:

·    These are the detailed drawings and specifications that the Builder will use to establish an accurate final construction cost and to build the project.

·    No major changes should be made at this stage as it will add considerably to the cost to coordinate these changes through all the affected drawings.

·    The designer will then send these plans to the Structural Engineer for review.  He will add the necessary structural information to the plans and his seal.

·    All required information for the building permit will be added to the drawings.

·    These plans will become part of the Builders contract and will be used by all the building trades to supply materials and build the project. The Building Inspectors will use these plans to issue permits and perform inspections. Lenders will use these documents to provide financing. These plans will need to be complete and accurate. They will represent the accumulation of all of the design decisions made throughout the design process.

·    After all these steps have been taken, prints will be run of the complete set of plans.  A complete set of plans will be provided to the client at this time.

·    The balance of the construction drawing fee will be due to the designer at the time of delivery of the plans.  The Engineer’s fee will also be due (Unless this fee is paid directly by the client).

·    Additional sets of prints can be run, as needed, after this and will be charged according to the number of sets.

7.      Construction Adminsitration Phase:

·    Periodic observations throughout the construction process to insure conformance to the intended design.

·    Site meetings with the Client and Contractor to review any issues that may arise.

·    Generate a report from each site visit.

·    The Designer is only on site to observe and answer any questions concerning the design plans or design intent. All construction procedures, schedule and method are solely the responsibility of the Contractor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 

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