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As-Built Drawings
Understand What You Already Have Before Deciding What to Change
If you're thinking about renovating your home but aren't completely sure what you want to do yet, as-built drawings are one of the best places to start.
Accurate drawings of your existing house give you a clear picture of the layout, dimensions and major existing conditions of the building. From there, you can explore renovation ideas, compare different options, speak more effectively with contractors and start deciding where your budget will have the biggest impact.
You don't need to know exactly what you want to renovate before having your existing house drawn. Sometimes the existing drawings are what help you figure that out.
You May Have $300,000 Worth of Ideas and a $100,000 Budget
That is where having accurate existing house plans becomes extremely useful.
You might be considering a new kitchen, opening walls, renovating the basement, adding a bathroom, moving the laundry room, building an addition or changing several areas of the house over time.
But you probably aren't going to do everything at once.
As-built drawings allow you to look at the house from birds eye view and start deciding:
✅ What should be renovated first
✅ Which projects should be done together
✅ What can wait until later
✅ Which ideas fit your budget
✅ Which ideas may not be worth pursuing at all
Sometimes, simply seeing the existing drawings is enough to help you realize which ideas you actually want or need.
That can save a lot of mental bandwidth and money before construction ever begins.
Better Plans. Better Conversations With Contractors.
Without existing drawings, early conversations with builders can produce extremely broad construction estimates because everyone may be imagining a different scope of work.
One contractor may assume a wall stays. Another may assume it is removed. One may account for structural work while another does not.
With measured as-built house drawings, everyone has the same starting point.
Contractors can review the existing layout, dimensions, windows, doors, stairs, fixtures and other documented conditions while discussing your renovation ideas.
As-built drawings will not replace detailed renovation or permit drawings, but they can make early planning and budgeting conversations far more useful and realistic.
What is Included in As-Built Drawings?
Measured Floor Plans
Basement, main floor, upper floors, garage and other levels.
Exterior Elevations
Front, rear and side views of the existing house.
Roof Plan
Roof shape, slopes, ridges, valleys and major features.
Ceiling Heights and Interior Features
Bulkheads, level changes, stairs and other important existing conditions.
Mechanical Information
Furnace locations, supply registers, return-air grilles and general visible ductwork
Plumbing Fixtures
Existing toilets, sinks, tubs, showers, laundry and other visible plumbing fixtures.
Probable Structural Framing
Visible or reasonably determinable beams, columns, bearing walls, joist directions and other structural conditions.
3D Existing House Model
A three-dimensional model to better understand the existing building and explore future renovation ideas.
Site and Topography
Building location, exterior features, general grading and topographic information where required.
Once your existing house has been accurately documented, you have something you can actually study and use to explore different ideas against the real building. Sometimes, the best outcome is discovering what you do not need to renovate at all.
Useful Today. Useful Years From Now.
Even if you don't renovate immediately, there is value in having an accurate set of house plans.
A few years from now, you may want to renovate the basement, build an addition, change the kitchen, or discuss another project with a contractor.
It is simply useful to have a proper set of drawings of your own house that you can reference whenever a new idea comes to mind.
As-Built Drawings vs. Concept Plans vs. Technical Drawings
As-Built Drawings
Document your house as it exists today.
→
Concept Plans
Explore what the house could become
→
Technical Drawings
For permit and construction
The as-built drawings become the foundation for the next stage whenever you're ready.