Brown Residence, Week 4
One of the main objectives for Liz and Mark Brown’s renovation and addition to their current home is to ensure the new construction blends in seamlessly with the old. And a well conceived home renovation project hinges on the precision planning and accurate measurements of a quality set of as-built plans.
These valuable drawings will be used to show what’s existing, what’s to be demolished, what’s remaining and the proposed new construction. Due to the size and scope of this particular project, we are required by our local building and safety department to submit a comprehensive set of as-built plans (Site Plan, Floor Plan, Exterior Elevations and Roof Plan) attached to the construction document set.
Unfortunately the only plans Liz was able to provide were partial plans of their home, from a past project that never happened. So I called upon my draftsman to meet at the site where we rolled up our sleeves and got to work measuring the exterior of the building – all doors, windows, roof pitches and soffit details. He then returned the following day with a plan of the building’s shell in hand, and over the next several hours measured the interior from top to bottom. All interior walls, cabinets, doors and windows, fixtures, appliances – the list goes on. It should take a week or two before we get them back. In the meantime there are plenty of other details to work on.
If
your project involves a renovation or addition of any kind – before you even begin – take a trip down to your local building and safety office and tell them of your plans. They’ll be more than happy to guide you down the right path. Ask them for a
Residential Plan Check List which will educate you on what you’ll need to provide the office for permitting and who you’ll need to hire to help get you there. A little research up front will save you time and money in the end.
I encourage you leave questions or comments below this post, and fill out the form on the right hand side of this page to receive your free copy of my special report:
“How to Avoid the 15 Most Common Decorating Mistakes”
Article by Lori Gilder, Architectural Interior Designer, Los Angeles, Ca.
© 2009 Lori Gilder. Interior Makeovers Inc
