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Architectural drawings

Architectural drawings

From the existing situation to clear building drawings

Good architectural drawing work forms the technical basis of virtually every renovation, alteration, extension or permit application. A good building drawing shows not only what you want to build, but also what the existing situation looks like, which parts are changed and how the new design connects technically to the existing building.

ROMB provides professional architectural drawings for homes, apartments and small-scale building projects. We can handle the entire process: from measuring and digitising to building drawings for the permit, contractor and structural design.

Have your drawings made

When do you need architectural drawings?

Architectural drawings can be needed for various purposes. For example for:

The drawings needed differ per project. For a small internal renovation, a clear floor plan can be enough. For a permit application, several drawings are usually needed, such as floor plans, elevations, sections and a site plan.

What do we mean by architectural drawing work?

Architectural drawing work is the technical recording of a building or building plan. In doing so, we translate the existing situation and your wishes into clear drawings with:

The aim is that the client, contractor, structural engineer and municipality all use the same technical information.

Measuring the existing situation

When reliable existing drawings are missing, we often start with a survey. During a survey, the relevant dimensions of the building are recorded. Depending on the commission, we can measure, among other things:

On this basis we make a digital drawing of the existing situation.

Have your home surveyed

Digitising the existing situation

Many older homes only have old paper drawings or scanned archive documents. These can be used as a starting point, but are not always complete or up to date. We can digitise existing drawings and rebuild them as modern technical drawings. In doing so, we can process:

The result is a clear digital basis on which further renovation plans can be developed.

Existing and new situation

In a renovation it is important to distinguish between the existing situation and the new situation. The existing situation shows what the property looks like before the renovation. The new situation shows the design after construction. This immediately makes clear:

For permit applications, this comparison is often essential.

Floor plans

A floor plan is one of the most important architectural drawings. It shows, among other things:

In a renovation we usually make a floor plan of both the existing and the new situation.

Elevations

Elevation drawings show how the building changes from the outside. These drawings are important, for example, for an annex, rear extension, roof extension, dormer, new frames, sliding doors, a façade change or a new entrance. Depending on the project we draw the front, rear, left-side and right-side elevations. Relevant heights, material differences and frame layouts are indicated.

Architectural sections

A section shows how the building is built up vertically. It can show, among other things:

A section is especially important when the spatial or technical build-up cannot be sufficiently derived from floor plans. For a roof extension, annex or change of floor height, a section is almost always very valuable.

Architectural details

For more complex connections, a general floor plan or section can give insufficient information. We then make additional architectural details. Think for example of:

Details help to prevent technical ambiguity during construction.

Building drawings for a renovation

In a renovation the drawings must above all clearly show what changes. For example:

We tailor the drawing work to the size of the project. A simple internal change calls for a different drawing set than a complete home renovation.

Structural work in renovation

Building drawings for an annex or rear extension

For an annex or rear extension, the following are often needed:

These drawings then also form the basis for structural calculations of foundation, floor, steel structure and roof structure.

Building an annex Building a rear extension

Building drawings for a roof extension

A roof extension calls for a more extensive drawing set. Among other things, the following may be needed:

For a roof extension, the architectural and structural design must connect well. The position of load-bearing walls, staircase, large frames and steel structures has a direct influence on the design.

Building a roof extension

Permit drawings

When an environmental permit is needed, the drawings must contain enough information for the assessment of the building plan. Which drawings are needed exactly depends on the project. A permit set can, for example, consist of:

We tailor the drawing set to the type of project and the required application documents.

Construction drawings

Permit drawings and construction drawings do not always serve the same purpose. A permit drawing mainly shows what is being applied for. A construction drawing must contain enough technical information to actually build the plan. Additional drawings may therefore be needed for construction, such as:

For larger or technically more complex renovations we therefore advise determining early which level of detail the contractor needs.

Architectural drawings and structural calculations

Architectural and structural drawings are closely connected. An architectural drawing determines, for example:

The structural engineer then determines how these changes can be carried out safely. That can lead to a steel beam, steel portal frame, new foundation, reinforced joist layer, additional column or new roof structure. Because ROMB works both architecturally and structurally, both disciplines can be coordinated directly.

Load-bearing wall on a building drawing

Do you want to remove a load-bearing wall? We first draw the existing and desired situation. The structural engineer can then determine which replacement load-bearing structure is needed. The final drawings can include:

Removing a load-bearing wall

Archive drawings as a starting point

For existing homes, municipal archive drawings can be a valuable source. They sometimes show original floor plans, elevations, sections, foundation, joist layers and structural elements. However, archive drawings are not automatically equal to the current situation. A home may have been renovated over the years. We therefore check important dimensions and structural information against the actual situation where necessary.

Survey or work from existing drawings?

When reliable and up-to-date drawings are available, we can often use them as a starting point. A full survey is then not always needed. When drawings are missing, dimensions are unclear, many changes have been made or the existing situation differs, a new survey may be necessary. We assess in advance which information is reliable enough to work with.

From sketch to technical drawing

You do not always need to have a complete design already. A hand sketch with rough wishes can be enough to start the conversation. For example:

We can translate such starting points into a technically worked-out plan.

What makes a good building drawing?

A good building drawing must be clear and verifiable. We therefore pay attention to:

The aim is that the various parties involved can read the same drawing in the same way.

Drawings for contractors

A contractor uses drawings to price the work, determine quantities, order materials, plan the construction sequence and direct subcontractors. Clear drawings reduce differences in interpretation. Without good drawings, one contractor might assume a different floor build-up or structure than another. That makes quotations hard to compare and can lead to additional work later.

Drawings for the structural engineer

Structural calculations also begin with reliable architectural information. The structural engineer must know:

Incorrect dimensioning in the architectural basis can directly affect structural calculations. We therefore attach great value to a consistent drawing set.

Drawings for the municipality

In a permit application the assessor must be able to see clearly what is present now, what is changed, how large the change is, what the building will look like and how it connects to the existing situation. A clear drawing set reduces the chance of unnecessary questions caused by information not being shown or being shown unclearly.

Digitising hand-drawn or old plans

Do you only have an old PDF, scan or paper drawing? We can rework these digitally. We can rebuild the geometry, add dimensions, incorporate new changes, update floor plans and supplement elevations and sections. This creates a usable digital basis for future renovations.

Building drawings and NEN 2580

When areas must be determined officially, for example in the case of splitting, property documentation or certain project analyses, a measurement according to NEN 2580 may be needed. This is different from only a simple architectural survey for a renovation. When a project requires a formal area measurement, it must therefore be determined in advance which measurement purpose and level of detail are needed.

From first survey to complete drawing set

Our work can, depending on the commission, consist of:

  1. Collecting available information. We look at archive drawings, existing PDFs, photos, sketches and previously made drawings.
  2. Checking the existing situation. Where necessary we carry out a survey or additional check.
  3. Making the digital existing situation. We build up the existing home or property digitally.
  4. Working out the new situation. Your renovation wishes are incorporated into the drawings.
  5. Structural coordination. When load-bearing parts change, the architectural drawings are coordinated with the structural engineer.
  6. Permit drawing. When needed we make the drawing set suitable for the environmental permit.
  7. Additional construction details. Relevant details can be worked out further for the contractor.

Architectural drawing work and structure at one firm

In many renovations, drawing work and structural calculations are inseparably connected. For example when removing a load-bearing wall, or with a rear extension, annex, roof extension, stairwell, roof terrace or wall opening. When the architectural and structural design are made separately, conflicts can arise later. For example:

By combining both disciplines early, these problems can often be solved already during the design.

Which drawings do you need?

That depends on your project. For an internal renovation, for example, other drawings are needed than for a full roof extension. A simple guideline:

The final set is tailored to the actual application and building plan.

Frequently asked questions about architectural drawings

Can I have only a floor plan made?

Yes. When you only need a clear floor plan, the drawing work can be tailored to that.

Can you survey my home?

Yes. When reliable existing drawings are missing, we can record the relevant parts of the home and work them out digitally.

Can you digitise old archive drawings?

Yes. Old drawings, scans and PDFs can be used as a basis to build up a modern digital drawing.

Are building drawings always needed for a renovation?

Not for every small change. Once a renovation becomes more complex in structural, permit or construction terms, however, good drawings are very valuable.

Are your drawings suitable for a permit application?

When this is part of the commission, we make the drawing set suitable for the relevant application. Which documents are needed depends on the type of project.

Can you also make structural calculations?

Yes. ROMB provides both architectural drawings and structural calculations and drawings.

Can you work from a sketch by my contractor?

Yes. A sketch can serve as a starting point, provided the required dimensions and existing situation can be sufficiently established.

Can you adapt drawings from another architect?

That is possible when the available files and rights allow it and enough technical information is present.

What if the existing situation does not match the archive drawings?

Then the actual situation must be taken as the starting point. Where necessary we re-measure the deviations.

Do you also make construction drawings?

Yes, depending on the commission, additional technical drawings and details can be worked out for the contractor.

Can you draw only the existing situation?

Yes. Sometimes a client only needs an up-to-date digital record, for example as a basis for later plans.

Can architectural drawing work be combined with a permit application?

Yes. Drawing work, structural design and permit guidance can be combined within one project.

Need building drawings?

Do you only have old drawings, a hand sketch or no up-to-date building drawings of your home at all?

Send us the project address, available drawings, a few photos and a short description of your plans. We will assess which drawings are needed and whether a survey or additional technical work is necessary.

Request architectural drawings

For more specialist or specific professional architectural and design drawings, we work together with Aboss Bouwadvies – Architects & Structural Engineers.