When it comes to house design, not just anyone can do it. This is a profession that requires expertise in design from architects as well as construction specialists. Therefore, if you plan to build a house or want to create your dream home, you should gather as much information as possible about house design to understand the principles, prepare your budget, and find experts who can turn your ideal home into reality. This article compiles essential information you need to know before deciding to hire a freelance house designer that best meets your needs.

What is House Design?

First, let's understand what house design is. House design refers to the detailed construction plans of a house, including its style, size, area, and materials used. These plans must be created by an architect and require a 'signature' from the architect and structural engineer to be submitted for permits to the local authority or municipality. This ensures that the house is of quality, can be built legally, and complies with zoning regulations. Once the permit is obtained, it should be sent to the construction contractor. However, you need to find a good and quality contractor, as they play a crucial role in determining whether you will get the house you desire. When selecting a contractor, do not choose solely based on the lowest price; instead, consider those with a clear office location and a portfolio of completed projects to ensure you receive a design that meets your expectations.

House design can be divided into three main parts:

  • Architectural Drawing

This involves creating a comprehensive view of all dimensions, which architects use as a primary guideline for completing the construction. It includes various details such as floor plans, elevations, sections, proportional details, and other necessary construction elements like rooms, stairs, doors, windows, fixtures, and the materials chosen for construction. A standard house design must be certified by an architect.

  • Structural Drawing

            

This involves house design related to the structural aspects of the house, ensuring strength and compliance with engineering standards. It specifies various details such as beam designs, foundation plans, roof designs, and floor plans, which must be accurately calculated and drafted by a structural engineer.

  • Electrical Drawing

This involves house design related to electrical systems, including indoor lighting. It specifies details such as light positions, outlet locations, internal wiring, and the placement of air conditioning units or other electrical appliances. This part is generally less complex, so it does not necessarily require an electrical engineer; a structural engineer can design it.

Calculating House Design Fees

If you are starting to look for a freelancer to design your house, it is important to gather knowledge about the design fees beforehand. This will allow you to estimate costs and negotiate a price that fits your budget. Moreover, it will help you understand the architect's work better. House design requires expertise and professional skills, analyzing various factors such as area, environment, materials used, placement, weather conditions, and ensuring the space has the best living conditions.

How to Calculate House Design Fees: Suppose you want to build a single-family house with a usable area of about 100 square meters, with construction costs of approximately 20,000 THB/square meter. Therefore, the total construction cost of your house would be 2,000,000 THB. If the design fee is capped at 10 million THB, it would be 7.50% of the house price, which means the design fee would be (2,000,000 x 7.50%) = 150,000 THB.

Additionally, the service fee often includes other items such as engineering fees, structural fees, design fees, signatures, professional fees, and contractor fees, as well as the process of preparing to apply for construction permits. Thus, the house design fee is just the starting point for building a house, and many other expenses will follow. Therefore, you should always be prepared with sufficient funds.

Basic House Design Principles You Should Know

Understanding the basics of house design is essential, especially if you want to hire an architect to design your dream home. Having this knowledge will facilitate communication with the architect and help you achieve a design that meets your expectations. Initially, you need to survey the actual site and measure the area where you want to build, which will aid in the design process. You should also discuss the needs of the occupants to guide the design in the most beneficial way.

The basic principles of house design generally include:

  • Floor Plan: This involves designing the layout of the house, including the size, door and window positions, stairs, etc.
  • Elevation: This shows the side views of all four sides of the house, providing a clearer picture and detailing components, materials, and more.
  • Section: This displays a cut view showing the internal structural details clearly, used to observe levels, structure, and dimensions of different floors in case there are multiple levels.
  • Detail Drawings: These show detailed sections for easier construction and clarity of specific areas, such as bathrooms and stairs.
  • Material List: This outlines the materials used in construction for doors, windows, floors, walls, ceilings, and roofs.

Recommended Free House Design Software

  • Live Home 3D: A free program that allows you to easily design a house using various pre-made templates, such as rooms, houses, condominiums, and apartments.
  • Planner 5D: A user-friendly house design program suitable for beginners, available on both website and application, allowing for comprehensive detailing.
  • SmartDraw: A web application that lets you create floor plans and mind maps according to your preferences, with various features suitable for rough house designs before coordinating with expert architects.

If you are looking for a freelancer to design your house to meet your expectations, we recommend you explore the freelance resources for house design at Fastwork, which will help you select expert architects more effectively. You can also easily inquire about various details at fair and reasonable prices, and the work is guaranteed by reliable profiles, alleviating concerns about unfinished projects.