What does a Building Designer do?

Are you considering hiring a building designer (also called drafter) instead of an architect for your construction project? Stop hesitating because a drafter can do a lot of activities that an architect does too. However, they do have differences between both; therefore, we have come up with a list of tasks that a drafter can do. That way, you can know if hiring a drafter would be the perfect solution for the project you need to develop.

Remember that any design you want to do should comply with any building and planning regulations in Australia. So, working with people having experience in the field will avoid inconveniences with the law and your local council. Also, the project will be successful. Keep reading to know more about the work that drafters can accomplish.

What are the qualifications?

Commonly, a drafter is a person who has any type of design-related background; in some cases, they have experience in architecture but are not officially registered as an architect. In most Australian states, a draftsman won’t need any qualification or credentials to do their job. On the other hand, some states will require registration or licensing. That way, they will ensure that the person is qualified to comply with the work according to the local regulations.

For instance, anyone that wants to work as a drafter in Victoria needs an Advanced Diploma in Building Design (Architectural). Along with the diploma, the person will need to prove that he/she has at least one year of professional experience in the field. Hence, you need to check if a drafter needs any type of qualification in your state to avoid any sort of confusion.

What a drafter does

1. Creates technical drafts of buildings
   
   
   As an architect, a drafter will know how to create technical drafts of buildings. This is the main job that draftsmen will do. And that’s the reason why they’re considered draftsmen. They know how to draw and understand building plans full of technical details and specifications.
   
   
   With the passing of the years, the position has developed to accommodate other parts of the construction process. Therefore, a drafter is ideal for any commercial or residential project from small to medium to complex. Projects that require complex solutions will be better suited for an architect.
   
   
2. Documentation, labour and material estimates
   
   
   To start any construction project, you’ll need to meet all your local building and planning regulations. A drafter will know how to prepare the documentation; also, he/she will ensure that your project is under the standards of the regulations. Along with this, drafters know materials and procedures; they will do an estimate of the costs and the quantity of material needed for your design.
   
   
   They can give you advice on which materials will work better for what you need. Also, they can give you cheaper options without compromising the quality if you need to reduce costs.
   
   
3. Visits and building codes
   
   
   Due to the experience that drafters have on the field, they can do visits to the site to supervise that everything is going accordingly as planned. As well, they can examine relevant building codes and requirements needed for your project. So, besides sketching and drawing, a drafter can ensure that every relevant document will be ready for you to start building.
   
   
   That will avoid any problems with the building regulations that can make you lose time and money.
   
   

How to choose the correct professional for my project?

First of all, make sure you check the portfolio of previous projects that the drafter or architect has. Having a general picture of their last designs can give you an idea of their style and specialisation. Also, take into account the complexity and size of your building project. A medium project that doesn’t need difficult design features, fittings or a complex flow that needs to be solved is perfect for a drafter.

As well, hiring a drafter would be cheaper than working with an architect. If you have a tight budget for your construction or home improvement, a draftsman would be the best solution for you. A drafter might not need certification or any paper that shows their experience in the field, but they can do their job with quality.