Architectural Permit Drawings Toronto

The first step in the architectural drawings process is conducting in-depth research into the zoning requirements where your custom home will be built. These requirements will tell us the maximum home size permitted within that zone, the maximum square footage for every floor, the height limits for the structure (taking the roof shape into account), and the setback requirements.

The reason it is essential to carry out this research step before we begin coming up with your floor plan is to save you time and money during the design process. Knowing the zoning requirements in advance will allow us to create a layout that is within all zoning requirements the first time, eliminating the need for unnecessary revisions.

We complete the zoning research phase within about 2 weeks. After we have finished the zoning research, we will proceed with the next step in the architectural drawings process.

Next, we work with you to create a wish list for the features and layout of your new home. You will be able to tell us what you want in terms of:

• The size of your home.
• The number of bedrooms.
• The number of bathrooms.
• The number of floors.
• The overall layout of the home.
• Additional rooms and features.
• Style and appearance of the home.

This is also a great time to share inspiration with us in the form of other homes you like.

If your wish list includes elements that do not fit within the zoning constraints, we can go through the Committee of Adjustment to see what can be accommodated.

Otherwise, we will work with you to find a way to alter your plans so that you can still achieve your goals within the zoning requirements. There are many ways to configure a home so that it supports your desired lifestyle, expresses your personality, and looks and feels like the home of your dreams.

Next, we need to get the lay of the land. This step involves sending out our survey engineers to the building site. With the help of laser technology, they will create a precise and accurate map of your lot.

The survey team will also reference city documentation for additional details, going as far back as the records allow.

The resulting map will include exact measurements of the terrain as well as any structures, plants and obstacles at the building site.

Once we have this data, we will be able to come up with a floor plan (see below) that will make the best possible use of the existing site, in keeping with the principles of organic architecture. We will know what obstacles we need to build around, if any modifications to the site are needed, and how we can maximize natural light, views, energy efficiency and privacy.

Now comes one of the most exciting steps in the process—creating your floor plan. The plan we design for you will be fully personalized to your wishes and needs as well as the requirements of the building site.

If you already have a pretty clear idea as to what you want, we will tailor the floor plan to match your vision as closely as possible. If there are aspects that might work better in a different configuration, or if your preferences do not fit with the site or zoning regulations, we will offer alternatives and collaborate with you to design a suitable layout.

If you have no idea what you want your floor plan to look like, we will ask you questions to gauge your needs and consult with your wish list to create a floor plan that will accommodate your preferences.

Once the floor plan is finalized, we finish designing the home. During this stage, we create the drawings that you will need to submit to the city to apply for your building permit.

Your floor plan shows the configuration of the rooms in your home when viewed from overhead. To show what the building will look like when seen from the front, we will create another drawing called an “elevation.” With the floor plan and elevation combined, you will have drawings for both the horizontal and vertical views of the house. We guarantee the drawings we create will be sufficient to pass for your permit application.

Part of this process involves writing down the measurements for the overall structure, the individual rooms, the roof, the doors and the windows.

As we work on the design and elevation for your home, our architects will also be collaborating with you to fine-tune the exterior style and materials.

At this point, you will have all the drawings you need to turn in with your permit application. But on their own, they may not be enough for you to visualize your future home.

That is why our next step is to create beautiful 3D renderings of your home that show you exactly what it will look like. You can test out different colour options and see how the house will look with different lighting.

You will be able to move from room to room to get a feel for the layout and the flow of space. At a minimum, we will create a 3D rendering for the main living spaces, but we can render the entire home at your request.

At this stage, if you want to make changes, you still can, and we will modify the other drawings as needed. Otherwise, if you feel ready to proceed, we can take the last step in the architectural drawing process.

When you submit your drawings with your building permit application, you might be told that you need to submit some additional documents.

Examples of additional documents include, but are not limited to, arborist reports, forestry permits, protected area documents and environmental reports. Whether or not these documents are needed depends on the geographical location of your lot as well as its features.

On your own, you might have no idea which documents to submit, but we can usually anticipate everything required before the city even asks for it. By providing a comprehensive set of documents when we first turn in the application, we move the process along for rapid approval.

If the city requests any further documentation along the way, we will submit it immediately so we can begin building your home according to your timeline. In case we require further information or documents from you, we will contact you without delay.