How to use technical drawingsfor a successful property development project.
Working on a big property development project involves balancing a number of moving parts that need to work smoothly together if you want to make the project a success.
You need to make sure that every person working on the project is on the same page; including the builders, decorators, and any other contractors you’ll be bringing in to help you complete the works.
The easiest way to communicate your property’s interior design to your builder, and ensure they know exactly what you want, is by having a set of technical documentation to hand to them at the start of a project.
In this article, we’ll be discussing the importance of technical drawings and why they are essential to a successful property development project.
What are the benefits of having good technical drawings?
Loft Suite Lighting Plan @ Marphillip
Technical drawings are an essential part of any project and can bring a number of benefits to your team, including:
The ability to refer back to initial plans at any point during the project
All your contractors will be on the same page and know what they need to do to execute your design
Your project manager can easily program all refurbishment stages and liaise more efficiently with builders to know when everyone will start and finish
You can minimise the chance of costly mistakes getting in your way
You’ll have all the information you need in one place when it comes to license approval
Having a complete set of drawings will make the tender process of your property so much easier and more accurate.
This will allow you to adjust your budget accordingly before everyone gets to work and avoid stress and unexpected costs before it’s too late.
If the tender comes back over budget after your first set of technical drawings, you will have the opportunity to readjust then design, or come up with value engineering solutions to decrease the cost without compromising on the aesthetics of the property.
Loft Suite Setting Out Plan @ Marphillip
The key information your technical drawings will need
In order for your technical drawings to be relevant and useful for your contractors, they should always include the following:
#Floor layout plan
This plan will determine the overall internal space planning, circulation, and flow of your property.
#Setting out plan
Your plan will provide internal partition dimensions, and door and entry structural dimensions. These figures will be extremely important to builders when they come to add the studs to the walls that will eventually determine the layout of the whole space.
#Furniture and decorative plan
The next layer of detail for your project will involve working on each piece of furniture and decoration that will be added to each of your rooms.
The plan should include details of the correct measurements so that nothing is missed and that you’re selecting the right furniture for each size – taking into consideration things like circulation and flow throughout the rooms.
Loft Suite Lighting Plan @ Marphillip
#Lighting plan
This plan will give the location of lighting for each room and determine the type of lighting that will be used (e.g. downlights, uplights, pendants, chandeliers…).
Your lighting should work together with the furniture plan so you should always check that there are no areas without lights, and ensure lighting is the optimal space to show off your furniture picks.
Loft Suite Finishes & Materials Plan @ Marphillip
#Electrical plan
Your electrical plan will provide your builder with the locations of all power sockets, switches, and radiators.
You should double-check this with your furniture plan to ensure that no electrical sockets are being blocked and that all the sockets are accessible.
#Finishes and materials plan
Your decorator will definitely be very pleased when you provide this plan as it will outline all the different materials you expect to use.
With this information, your decorator can quickly calculate how much material they need, how much it will cost, and have directions to follow when they are on site.
#Internal elevations
Finally, you have your internal elevations which will translate your design concept ideas into all the walls of your property.
For example, if you have feature half walls, where you will place TV points, and how the sockets will be laid out against the wall.
Finishes & Materials Schedule @ Marphillip
Improve your technical drawings with Mardesign
Having a strong set of technical drawings not only helps your builder but also helps to give you accurate refurbishment costs, ensures quicker refurbishment timeframes, and aids you in getting tenants into your property easily.
At Mardesign, we recommend that all our clients invest cleverly in design as it can bring them significant returns, and help them feel more confident in their properties.
If this feels a bit overwhelming but you still want to up your design game and provide the right information to your builder, we can help you out.
Check out what investors say.
“Working with Raquel was invaluable, I would highly recommend working with Mardesign for some great design fundamentals & tips.”
— Jess Leader. Next Level Living
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