How to Draft Building Addition Plans

Prior to building an addition to your home there are a number of things you should do. Most importantly would be to plan what you are going to build first. Many things should be taken into consideration before you actually begin adding on to your home.

• Draw up the plans with a pad and pencil. Make it as close to scale as you can to help visualize what you are planning in detail.


• Measure the space outside your home to make sure there is space available to complete what you are adding on.


• Call your local housing authority to see what types of permits you will need or if you can do the addition to begin with. You don’t want to tear it down when completed because you couldn’t build it to begin with (that has been done!).


• Make arrangements for professionals to do any work you may not be able or want to do. Those would be electrical, masonry, plumbing, ductwork and the like. Find out what these things are going to cost prior to beginning.


• Check to see if you are going to need any actual roof or structural changes to your home to accommodate the addition. In the end this can be a very expensive endeavor and all this initial drafting will help you to understand exactly what is involved. You will have most of your materials and expenses planned out and should have a close idea on how long it will take as well.