Plans That Work
Renovation Drawings & Home Addition Design
Make the Home You Have Work Better
Maybe the kitchen is too small. The main floor feels chopped up. You need another bedroom. Or the house simply no longer fits the way you live.
Drafting Smith helps homeowners, renovators and contractors work through those problems and turn the solution into clear existing and proposed drawings.
Send us some photos and tell us what is not working. We will respond within 24 hours.
Start With the Existing Home
Renovations Do Not Start With a Blank Page
That is what makes them interesting – and sometimes difficult.
The home already has walls, stairs, windows, plumbing, structure, rooflines and mechanical systems. Some can move. Some should not. Others may be hidden behind finished walls until construction begins.
A good renovation starts by understanding the house that is already there, then deciding which changes will genuinely improve it.
Our role is the design and drawings: what stays, what changes and how the proposed work fits into the existing home. Your contractor carries out the construction.
Better Use of Space
Do You Actually Need an Addition?
Not always.
Sometimes more square footage is the right answer. Sometimes the house already has enough space, but it is arranged poorly.
Before adding onto the home, it can be worth testing whether the problem can be solved by:
- opening up a kitchen and living area
- moving or resizing rooms
- improving the entrance or mudroom
- adding an ensuite
- creating a better home office
- improving stairs and circulation
- making better use of underused space
If the existing footprint solves the problem, that is worth knowing before committing to an addition. If it does not, we can look at where new space makes the most sense.
When You Need More Space
Add Space That Feels Like It Belongs
A good addition should feel connected to the original home, both inside and outside.
Drafting Smith can design additions such as:
Main-Floor Additions
Expand kitchens, family rooms, dining spaces, bedrooms or other living areas while improving the connection between the existing house and the new space.
Second-Storey Additions
Add living space above an existing home while working through stairs, floor levels, exterior proportions and the structural implications of another storey.
Garage Additions
Develop living space that works logically with an existing or proposed garage.
Old + New
The New Part Has to Work With the Existing House
An addition creates questions that do not exist when designing a new home from scratch.
Property Limits
Setbacks, lot size, site coverage and development rules can affect where and how far the house can expand.
Floor Levels
The new floor has to connect to the existing home without creating awkward transitions.
Rooflines & Exterior Proportions
Roof forms, windows, materials and massing need to come together in a way that works technically and looks intentional.
Structure & Foundation
An addition needs an appropriate foundation. Second-storey additions and structural changes may require engineering to determine how the existing house can support the proposed work.
These questions are much easier to solve during design than after construction begins.
The Reality of Renovations
Good Renovation Drawings Start With Good Existing Information
A drawing can only be as accurate as the information available about the existing home.
Measurements & Existing Plans
Depending on the project, we may work from original house plans, real estate floor plans, contractor measurements, client-provided measurements, photos, surveys or other documentation. We review what is available and determine what still needs to be confirmed.
Old Drawings Are Helpful - Not Automatically Accurate
Homes change over time. Walls move, windows are replaced and previous renovations may not appear on the original plans. Existing drawings are a starting point, not a substitute for confirming the conditions that matter to the new design.
Load-Bearing Walls & Structural Changes
Opening up a floor plan can involve more than removing drywall. Walls, beams, posts and foundations may be carrying structural loads. When engineering is required, Drafting Smith can coordinate with the engineer and incorporate the applicable information into the drawings.
Hidden Conditions
Demolition can reveal ductwork, plumbing, framing or previous work that could not reasonably be seen beforehand. If actual conditions differ from what was documented, the design or construction approach may need to be adjusted. That is a normal reality of renovating an existing building.
Before Construction
Design First, Contractor First - Either Can Work
Some homeowners contact Drafting Smith before choosing a contractor. Others already have a renovator or builder involved.
Both approaches can work.
If a contractor is already part of the project, we can communicate with them while the design develops. If not, the completed drawings can be taken to the contractor of your choice or used to obtain pricing from more than one company.
Drafting Smith does not estimate construction cost. Your contractor does.
But design decisions can have a major effect on cost. Removing a structural wall, moving plumbing, changing a roofline or building a new foundation is very different from rearranging non-structural interior space.
If budget is a major constraint, contractor input before the design is completely finalized can be useful.
For renovators and contractors, clear drawings can help define scope, support pricing, coordinate trades and engineers, communicate proposed changes to the homeowner and reduce assumptions once work begins.
Permit Drawings
If the Renovation Requires Municipal Review
Some renovations require permits and others do not. Additions, structural changes and larger residential alterations commonly involve municipal review, and some projects may also require development or zoning approval.
Drafting Smith can prepare the applicable existing and proposed drawings and coordinate engineering information where required. The homeowner or contractor submits the permit application and the municipality makes the approval decision.
How It Works
Existing Home → New Design → Detailed Drawings
01
Document What Is There
Send photos, existing plans and the problem you want to solve. We determine what measurements or conditions still need to be confirmed.
02
Develop the Proposed Design
We work through how the existing home can be reorganized, expanded or both. You review the proposed layout and provide feedback before detailed drawings are completed.
03
Prepare the Drawings
Once the direction is approved, Drafting Smith prepares the applicable renovation or addition drawings for the project’s next stage – permit submission, contractor pricing and construction, where applicable.
Selected Work
See How Existing Homes Changed
Steeves Renovation
Calgary – House Extension
The client was looking to enlarge the home’s common living areas by adding a family room at the back of the house, resulting in an additional 180 sq. ft. of living space.
Existing
Proposed
Red Deer Homeowner
Our friends recommended Drafting Smith so we already had some expectations. We added a mother-in-law suite on the back of our home so my aging mother could be close. The suite turned out better than expected.
Sharon F. – Home Addition
Renovation FAQs
Questions About Renovation & Addition Design
Do I need drawings for a home renovation?
Not for every renovation. Cosmetic work may not require detailed plans. Projects involving layout changes, structural work, additions or permit applications are much more likely to benefit from – or require – proper drawings.
Should we renovate the existing footprint or build an addition?
That depends on what you need and what the existing home gives us to work with. Sometimes reorganizing the current layout solves the problem. Other times there simply is not enough space. The design process can help determine which approach makes more sense before you commit to either one.
How do you get measurements of the existing home if I do not have plans?
It is handled case by case. Existing drawings, photos, client or contractor measurements, surveys and other project information may all be useful. We review what you have and determine what still needs to be confirmed.
What if demolition reveals something that was not shown on the drawings?
Existing homes can hide surprises. Opening walls may reveal plumbing, ductwork, framing or previous work that could not be seen beforehand. If actual conditions differ from the information used during design, the drawings or construction approach may need to be adjusted.
Will I need a structural engineer?
Sometimes. Removing or altering load-bearing walls, creating foundation openings, adding beams or posts and some additions can require structural engineering. Second-storey additions may also require an engineer to assess the existing structure.
Can I build an addition anywhere on the property?
Not necessarily. Setbacks, site coverage, zoning and development requirements can affect the size and location of an addition. Those constraints need to be considered during planning.
Do you prepare building permit drawings for renovations and additions?
Yes. Drafting Smith can prepare the applicable existing and proposed drawings for residential permit applications. The homeowner or contractor submits the application.
How much do renovation drawings cost?
Pricing depends on the scope, complexity, amount of existing-condition documentation and the drawings required. Estimates are free once we have enough information to understand the project.
Planning a Renovation or Addition?
Start With What Is Not Working
You do not need to know the solution yet.
Tell us what you want to change and send whatever information you already have – photos, existing plans, real estate floor plans, rough sketches or property information for an addition.
We will review the project and help determine the best next step.
Estimate requests are reviewed within 24 hours.