Construction draftsperson and drafting firm: what they do, what they cost, and how to choose

Every construction project starts on paper. Before a contractor can begin, before the municipality can assess an application, and before you as the client have a realistic picture of what will be built, accurate technical drawings are needed. Those drawings come from a construction draftsperson or a construction drafting firm.

But what exactly do they do? How does a construction draftsperson differ from a structural engineer or a building engineer? And what should you look for when choosing a firm? This article gives a complete, honest picture. No marketing language, no unnecessary technical depth.

What does a construction draftsperson do?

A construction draftsperson translates building plans into technical documents. That sounds straightforward, but behind every drawing lies a combination of spatial insight, knowledge of building regulations, and an eye for practical execution.

The core task involves producing:

• Floor plans of all building levels, with exact dimensions and the position of walls, doors, windows, and installations.
• Elevation views, at least four: front, rear, and both sides.
• Sections showing the vertical composition, including floor and roof build-up.
• Detail drawings for complex junctions, such as a roof edge detail or a window connection.
• Site drawings on a cadastral base, required for permit applications.

All these drawings must be at the correct scale (site plan 1:500, floor plans and elevations 1:100, details 1:20 or 1:10), comply with NEN standards, and meet the specific requirements of the relevant municipality. Drawings that fall short lead to delays or requests for additional information.

Modern construction draftspersons work digitally, using software such as AutoCAD, Revit, or ArchiCAD. Increasingly, 3D models are produced via BIM (Building Information Modeling). BIM models contain not only geometry but also information about materials, dimensions, and construction, which makes collaboration between the draftsperson, structural engineer, and contractor smoother.

What does a construction drafting firm do?

A construction drafting firm is an organisation that delivers construction drafting as a service. It can be a sole trader or a team of multiple draftspersons. The firm takes the entire drawing process off your hands: from intake and site survey through to final drawings and, if required, submission of the permit application via the Omgevingsloket.

For homeowners, a drafting firm is often the simplest route. You do not need knowledge of drawing software or regulations. You describe your plans, and the firm translates them into complete, permit-ready documents.

For contractors and project developers, a drafting firm provides capacity support: extra drawing capacity during peak periods, specialist knowledge of specific project types, or fast turnaround times.

Construction draftsperson, structural engineer, building engineer: what is the difference?

These three roles are regularly confused. They work together, but each has a clearly defined area of expertise.

The construction draftsperson produces the construction drawings: layout, elevations, sections, and dimensions. Their responsibility is to ensure the plan is drawn up correctly from a technical standpoint and complies with building regulations.

The structural engineer calculates the load-bearing structure. They determine which beams, columns, and foundation elements are needed to make the structure safe. The structural engineer delivers structural drawings and calculations, which the construction draftsperson then integrates into the drawing package. For a planning permit for an extension or roof addition, structural calculations are generally required. You can read more on the page about structural calculations.

The building engineer has a broader training background (bachelor's or master's level) and often works at the intersection of design, calculation, and project management. For complex building assignments, the building engineer coordinates the entire technical process. For smaller projects such as a dormer or extension, a building engineer is rarely needed.

For most residential renovations, the combination of a construction drafting firm for the drawings and a structural engineer for the calculations is sufficient.

Which drawings are required for a planning permit?

This depends on the type of project and the municipality, but the baseline is comparable everywhere. For a standard permit application, the municipality typically expects:

1. A site drawing on a cadastral base (scale 1:500 or 1:1000)
2. Floor plans of all building levels, existing and new (scale 1:100)
3. At least four elevation views (scale 1:100)
4. At least two sections (scale 1:100)
5. Detail drawings where the municipality requires them (scale 1:20 or 1:10)
6. Material and colour specifications
7. Floor area and volume calculations

For a dormer the checklist may be shorter. For a new-build home or a large extension, additional documents are required, such as energy performance calculations (BENG) and ventilation requirements. A professional drafting firm knows the local customs and checks with the municipality before submission if anything is unclear.

More on permit application requirements can be found on the page construction drawing for the planning permit.

How do you choose a good construction drafting firm?

The market is large and quality differences are significant. These criteria help you make the right choice.

Experience with your project type. A drafting firm that draws dormers every day knows exactly what municipalities look for in dormer applications. Ask whether the firm has handled comparable projects and whether they can show examples.

Knowledge of current regulations. The Building Decree, the Environment and Planning Act, and NEN standards change over time. A firm that stays up to date prevents you from having to commission adjustments after the fact.

Transparency about price and scope. Ask for an itemised quote. What is included? How many revision rounds? What constitutes additional work? A clear proposal prevents disagreements later.

Availability and turnaround time. Construction projects have deadlines. Responding quickly to questions from the municipality or the contractor is sometimes critical. Ask how the firm can be reached during the project.

Reviews from previous clients. The experiences of others give a realistic picture of how the firm works. Look for recurring patterns in feedback, both positive and critical.

A clear schedule. A good draftsperson states when the first version will be ready and how much time is available for feedback. Vagueness about planning is an early warning sign.

What does construction drafting cost?

There is no single answer, but the following factors determine the cost:

• The scale of the project (dormer versus new-build home)
• The number of drawings required and the level of detail
• Whether structural calculations are included
• Whether the firm also submits the permit application
• Urgency

Firms work with fixed packages per project type or with hourly rates. Fixed packages give certainty about the total price. Hourly rates are more flexible but harder to compare. When dealing with an hourly rate, always ask for an estimate of the total number of hours.

A professional drawing that passes the municipal assessment on the first attempt saves time and frustration. Cheap drafting work that requires multiple rounds of corrections is ultimately more expensive.

Working with SKT: what to expect

SK Tekenwerk is a construction drafting firm specialising in permit-ready drafting for homeowners and businesses. We produce construction drawings for extensions, dormers, ridge raises, rear additions, renovations, and new builds. When a project requires structural calculations, we bring in a certified structural engineer.

Our approach is practical: you describe your plans via the quote page, we discuss the situation, and you receive a clear price proposal before anything is drawn. Once agreed, we work out the full drawing package and guide you through submission to the municipality.

More about our services can be found on the construction drawing services page.

Frequently asked questions about the construction draftsperson

Below are the questions we receive most often. Have more questions? Feel free to get in touch or request a quote directly.

An overview of related topics in the knowledge base is available via the construction drawing knowledge base.