What Are Building Plans?
Building plans are a graphical representation of what a building will look like after construction. They are used by builders and contractors to construct buildings of all kinds. Building plans are also useful when it comes to estimating how much a project will cost, and preparing project budgets. The creation of a set of building plans starts when an owner or developer approaches an architect with an idea for a new building. The architect issues a proposal for his services based on the type of project and the owner’s description. The cost for building plans typically ranges from 3-5% of the total cost of the project. Once the owner signs a contract with the architect, the design phase begins. On larger projects, the design process goes through several distinct phases. It starts with a schematic phase, where the architect captures the basic information about the project and creates simple floor plans to reflect this information. After the owner reviews these drawings, the architect pro