If you are building a new home or doing renovations that require a building permit, your plans will probably have to be made by a drafter, architect or building designer to obtain council approval. 

Read on for more information, including:

• What does a drafter do?
• What affects the cost of a draftsman?
• How much does drafting cost?
• How much does it cost to draw up house plans?
• How to hire a concrete sealer
• Does my drafter need to be licensed?
• How to hire a draftsman
• Getting quotes for drafters

What does a drafter do?

A drafter, draftsman or architectural drafter is a specialist who draws plans and specifications for building projects. Drafters create scale drawings of everything from house plans to extensions and granny flats. They often work behind the scenes for architects, working out the details of architects' plans. 

It’s not uncommon for a drafter to work for themselves, and they’ll often do the preliminary and final drawings for private clients and builders.

What affects the cost of a draftsman? 

Generally, drafters will be hired to make the plans for a building project, whether that’s a new house, renovation or commercial project. When they approach a new job, they consider several things. Including:

• The location of your property 
• Size of the house
• Their expertise and experience 
• Preliminary plans will cost less than detailed plans
• There will be additional charges if the plans need to be altered
• If you need help with submitting your plans to the council, completing a development application and/or other services outside the scope of drafting alone, these will cost extra.
• In some cases, you will need to hire a structural engineer for some aspects of the plans

How much does drafting cost?

So how much can you expect to pay? Drafters are usually private contractors and set their own fees.

Depending on their location, level of experience, workload and other factors, draftsmen base their fees on hourly rates ranging from $80 to $200 per hour or more. Typically, homeowners report paying anywhere between $800 to $2,700 for a draft. 

However, while some professionals may charge by the hour, others may charge by the square metre or even on a percentage basis. 

For example:

• Hourly rates can vary from $80–$200 per hour
• Square metre rates can range from $18–$30 per m2
• House plans can cost between $2,500 and $6,000

In Brisbane, Tim Lowe Building Design fees start from either 1% of project costs or $10 per square metre plus GST.

How much does it cost to draw up renovation plans?

In many cases, the quote you receive will be a fixed price, often expressed as a percentage of the cost of the total project. For a ballpark idea of costs for some typical renovation projects, expect to be charged:

• $2,800 for plans of a small/medium single-room extension
• $3,200 for plans of a medium/large extension, adding two rooms
• $5,000 - $10,000 for plans of a full custom redesign/renovation of a large house 

Your drafter will be able to work with architects and other building professionals to ensure the design meets safety standards and regulations. This can help streamline the communication process between the different professionals involved, ensuring everyone is on the same page and working towards your vision.

Does my drafter need to be licensed?

Whether or not your drafter needs to be licensed depends on where you live. Currently, only Victoria and Queensland require drafters to be licensed.

In Victoria, there are three classes of registration: 

• Working drawings for the construction of domestic buildings
• Designs and working drawings for interior fit-outs
• Working drawings for services such as water, sewerage, hydraulics, lighting and fire protection systems

Most drafters will have completed a tertiary course, such as a Diploma in Building Design or an equivalent, but it always pays to check a drafter's qualifications before committing to one. It is also worth checking to see if your drafter is a member of an industry association, as they are more likely to keep up to date with developments in their sector.

Drafters are less expensive than architects and can be better suited to smaller, simpler jobs.

How do I hire a drafter?

Hiring the right drafter can make the whole process go smoothly and it’s a good idea to ask them a couple of questions to make sure you get the right person for the job. Some of these questions include:

• How much experience do you have?
• Are you licensed?
• What are your qualifications?
• Are you insured to work in my home?
• Can you provide a written quote?
• Do you have references I can follow up on?

Don’t be afraid to ask questions about anything you’re unsure about. You can always ask about the quotes and get an itemised list of what you are paying for. 

Getting quotes from a draftsman

At hipages, we always recommend getting at least three quotes before hiring a tradie. The cheapest option may not always be the best one and you may find that there are additional costs down the line that can add up. 

Your drafter will likely have some questions for you about the project. These can include: 

• What is the scope of your project?
• Do you have an idea of how you want your project to look?
• Do you have a concept design for me to work from?
• Can you provide a written quote detailing what’s included?