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Going to start my own business, have a question about architectural drawings

G

gotsmack

Diamond Member
Ok so I want to open a cafe. I got the location picked out (didn;t sign athe lease yet), but I want to find out how much it costs to renovate the space before I do it.

All of the reputable places want to see the architectural drawings before anything else.

only problem is that the land owner doesn't have them and it costs $3 a square foot to have them done. so thats like $8k. I don't want to sink $8k and then find out that it costs way more then I have to get the place fixed up.

It would help me if someone could explain what is in the architectural drawings for the building and would the town have a copy? or is that something I have to have done every time I want something done?

what I want done to the place.

1. New walls and insulation.
2. Install hard wood floors
3. Cut a window into a wall.
4. drop ceiling in one spot
5. knock down a room divider (kind of like a wall but it doesn't touch the ceiling, it just goes up 8 feet)

thanks in advance
 
your city's public works might have a copy of the improvement plans of your area, archit plans might be included when it was submitted.
 
Originally posted by: Maximus96
your city's public works might have a copy of the improvement plans of your area, archit plans might be included when it was submitted.
Click to expand...



I could try but the place hasn't ben renovated in atleast the last 20 years, if it ever was renovated since it was built atleast 40+ years ago
 
go there, take specific measurements yourself and draw an accurate layout in photoshop (or other graphics program)

put the project up on rentacoder.com and pay someone a couple hundred bucks to make cad drawings
 
YAY, got a call back from a smaller firm and he said he'll give me a free estimate without the drawings!
 
Originally posted by: gotsmack
YAY, got a call back from a smaller firm and he said he'll give me a free estimate without the drawings!
Click to expand...

Just make sure when he says he's licensed and insured ...

it doesn't mean he just has a driver's license and car insurance
 
Hire a contractor that will do it design build.

We do this all the time, just remember how much he helped you when you are shopping his price after he did all the leg work for you.

Good luck and be prepared for sticker price shock.
 
Originally posted by: gotsmack
Ok so I want to open a cafe. I got the location picked out (didn;t sign athe lease yet), but I want to find out how much it costs to renovate the space before I do it.

All of the reputable places want to see the architectural drawings before anything else.

only problem is that the land owner doesn't have them and it costs $3 a square foot to have them done. so thats like $8k. I don't want to sink $8k and then find out that it costs way more then I have to get the place fixed up.

It would help me if someone could explain what is in the architectural drawings for the building and would the town have a copy? or is that something I have to have done every time I want something done?

what I want done to the place.

1. New walls and insulation.
2. Install hard wood floors
3. Cut a window into a wall.
4. drop ceiling in one spot
5. knock down a room divider (kind of like a wall but it doesn't touch the ceiling, it just goes up 8 feet)

thanks in advance
Click to expand...

I have a strong feeling you are going to pay through the nose. If you can't drop $8k on renovations, wait till you see what an ice machine is going to cost you.
 
Originally posted by: PAB
Originally posted by: gotsmack
Ok so I want to open a cafe. I got the location picked out (didn;t sign athe lease yet), but I want to find out how much it costs to renovate the space before I do it.

All of the reputable places want to see the architectural drawings before anything else.

only problem is that the land owner doesn't have them and it costs $3 a square foot to have them done. so thats like $8k. I don't want to sink $8k and then find out that it costs way more then I have to get the place fixed up.

It would help me if someone could explain what is in the architectural drawings for the building and would the town have a copy? or is that something I have to have done every time I want something done?

what I want done to the place.

1. New walls and insulation.
2. Install hard wood floors
3. Cut a window into a wall.
4. drop ceiling in one spot
5. knock down a room divider (kind of like a wall but it doesn't touch the ceiling, it just goes up 8 feet)

thanks in advance
Click to expand...

I have a strong feeling you are going to pay through the nose. If you can't drop $8k on renovations, wait till you see what an ice machine is going to cost you.
Click to expand...

thats 8k on blueprints
not 8k on renovations

the OP would be more than happy to pay a measily 8k for his list of renovations
 
Originally posted by: deftron
Originally posted by: gotsmack
YAY, got a call back from a smaller firm and he said he'll give me a free estimate without the drawings!
Click to expand...

Just make sure when he says he's licensed and insured ...

it doesn't mean he just has a driver's license and car insurance
Click to expand...

Like my contractor? :laugh:...

Oh btw.
My parents paid $46.5k for the rennovation to our yard.
Contractor bonded $12k..
He never paid for concrete...

WOO.
 
Originally posted by: deftron
Originally posted by: gotsmack
YAY, got a call back from a smaller firm and he said he'll give me a free estimate without the drawings!
Click to expand...

Just make sure when he says he's licensed and insured ...

it doesn't mean he just has a driver's license and car insurance
Click to expand...
Ask for reference, and call the BBB if the contractor belong to it.

 
1. New walls and insulation.
2. Install hard wood floors
3. Cut a window into a wall.
4. drop ceiling in one spot
5. knock down a room divider (kind of like a wall but it doesn't touch the ceiling, it just goes up 8 feet)
Click to expand...

Usually flooring wouldn't require a permit.

A drop ceiling may if you need to also bring down auto sprinklers with it. (sure hope the original pipe is big enough or you are talking about bringing water from somewhere else...I used to install automatic sprinklers years ago)

Window should be easy as long as it's not too large, just need to spread the load and make sure no major utilities are behind it.

Room divider is cosmetic, if it does what you say it does. Demo cost only, not even a permit.
 
Look for a design/builder. He will take the risk of doing basic plans and figuring the costs for you. As the other guy said above though, take this into account that his price will be a little higher for providing this service, but at least you don't have to pay it upfront.

We do design/build fairly often.
 
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