Plan house

The floor plan of a house is the basis from which an architect works. The floor plan shows clearly where all the rooms of the house are (going to be) located and gives a good idea of the spatial conditions in the house. These drawings make it easier to picture the end result of your building project, whether you go for a floor plan of the shell of your house or of a whole new house.

Plat plan house: the cost

The cost of making a floor plan depends a lot on the project. For instance, there is a big difference in price between making a floor plan of the inside of your (existing) house and making a floor plan for a new house. This makes sense, considering how much time and work goes into it. Take a look below at an overview of architect costs for different projects.

When do you have a floor plan of your house drawn?

It is possible to draw the floor plan of your house yourself, for example with a free drawing programme, but this is always a lot less accurate than an architect’s drawing. It is good to get an idea of what your house will look like after the renovation, but you should not use a self-designed floor plan when a drawing is mandatory for a permit application. A drawing of your house is also mandatory when:

• Awell-being approval is required in your municipality
• Your house is listed as a monument on the World Heritage List
• There is asbestos somewhere in your house
• You are changing the construction of your house
• You are planning to change the roof or facade
• You are planning to build a house on an empty plot
• Always check with your municipality whether you meet all the requirements, as it can vary greatly from one municipality and province to another

The difference between a floor plan and a building plan

Many people confuse a floor plan and a building plan, because people do not know what exactly the terms mean. This is because the two are very similar but used for different purposes. A floor plan is an overhead view of the rooms and areas in a house. So it shows an overall picture of the house. A floor plan alone is not enough to give to a construction company, they need blueprints or building plans to really get started. A floor plan is basically a simplified representation of the layout and possibly layout of the house. If you want to use the floor plan as a communication tool in construction, it should contain enough information to act as a construction drawing.

The contents of a floor plan

The floor plan of a house needs certain data and guidelines, making it a clear document for the municipality. In most cases, the scale of a floor plan is 1:100 or 1:50. A floor plan should also always include a technical description. This will indicate the current situation and the new situation and the materials chosen. It is also important to indicate the location and the address of the owner.

Making a floor plan of your house: the process

Before there will be a floor plan of your house, you will first look for an architect to carry it out for you. Having your own house built is always exciting, of course, so it’s nice to know what to expect. The steps below tell you exactly what to expect from the process. Is the shell of your house already in place and are you hiring an architect for the inside? Then steps 1 to 4 apply to you.

1. Talking to the architect

In a first meeting you will see whether there is a click and mutual understanding between you and the architect. You talk about your wishes, show references and talk about your expectations regarding the house design. To get a better idea of the architect, it is useful to ask if you can see previously completed projects. If this conversation goes as you had hoped, schedule another appointment to start drawing the floor plan.

2. The architect presents a sketch plan

The first sketch of a floor plan of your house gives a clear picture of the plans made. You can now discuss what is to your liking and what is not. Because there is now a clearer picture, it is likely that the architect can also already draw up an offer. This will give you more clarity or the final cost of making a floor plan for your house.

3. The final floor plan is clear

With the first sketch as a basis, the architect elaborates the floor plan. This is often done in a 3D drawing programme. The facades and floor plans have been worked out and at this point in the process there is also more clarity about the proposed colours and materials for the outside of the house. It is now clear what the architect is still going to do for you.

4. Pre-consultation with the municipality takes place

It is important that the sketch/plan house complies with your municipality’s regulations or zoning plan. It is therefore wise to submit your sketch in advance, at which point the municipality will do a preliminary assessment. If this is positive, you have a little more certainty about whether you will eventually get a permit.

5. You make appointments with a structural engineer

You sit down with a structural engineer, who makes a sketchy structural design. He or she initiates probing and makes building-code calculations. Together with the structural engineer, you look at what permit applications you need to make and whether soil testing is required. You then submit a building application.

6. Capturing a drawn specification

A drawn specification will be made in which additional details, incorporation of architectural points, construction and the exact layout of the bathroom and kitchen are recorded.

7. The contractor gets to work

You enter into a partnership with a contractor and construction can begin. Based on the architect’s floor plan and the building supervisor’s specifications, the contractor sets a price. What’s left for the architect to do now is to approve the joints.

Saving tips for when you partner with an architect

Building a new home or renovating your current one is pricey. It is therefore nice to have the opportunity to save on small things. The tips below are things you might not immediately think of, but they will certainly help to reduce the final cost.

Discuss safety coordination

If you ask your architect to take on the tasks of safety coordination and health and safety legislation in accordance with the Working Conditions Decree, you will be cheaper than if you have to hire someone else to do this.

Choose an architect near you

The cost of designing a house and therefore the prices of different interior designers are often close to each other. Therefore, save on the little things like travel time and costs. This will save you an average of £0.25 per kilometre.

Work with straight lines as much as possible

Right lines are cheaper to implement than round or sinuous lines. In fact, you pay more for these in construction. Round windows or arches in the front door are therefore not cost-effective, and the same applies to decorative brickwork, mouldings and special dressings.