Tardif Drafting & Design
email: andytardif@gmail.com
email: andytardif@gmail.com
Tardif Drafting & Design, 548 E. Washington Ave., Orange, CA. 92866
Phone: 714-412-0371  Fax: 714-639-0947
Why are plans needed?
     First, a well prepared set of plans will tell your contractor what he needs to build. Seems obvious I know but let's say you are
going to get three quotes from contractors to build your project. A well documented set of plans provided to contractors will leave
no room for possible design intent errors. They will all be bidding from the same plan and you can then compare pricing
"apples to apples".
    Besides design intent a good set of plans will have structural designs with details so the contractor (or even yourself if you want
to build it) will know just how the project will go together and what materials or special tooling will be needed.
A General Contractor or his sub-contractors can do accurate take-offs of materials from which to produce a good accurate quote.
Also a good set of plans will inform the local Building Officials of the type aof construction going on and that it will meet certain
standards of construction for that local.
What can I expect to see on a set of plans?
At the very minimum for any addition of living space you will need to have:

A Site Plan; Showing the property lines, required set backs from the property lines and outlines of all structures on the property,
all easements (utilities, access, streets etc. Many different notes such as who prepared the plans, the type of construction,
pertinent codes etc. plus a description of the work to be performed.

Floor Plan; Showing dimensioned exterior and interior walls, doors, windows, room usages and sizes, natural light and ventilation,
stairs, hallways, bathrooms with plumbing fixture locations, etc.

Roof Plan: Showing ridges, valleys, hips, slopes and over-hangs and attic vent locations and calculations for venting.

Building elevations; Showing all exterior doors, windows, materials roof lope and roof materials, etc.

Building Cross Sections; Showing framing construction, plate heights, exterior and interior finishes and materials, etc.

Foundation Plan; Showing sizes and widths, thicknesses and re-enforcing materials and any special anchoring, etc.

Framing Plans; This is very often done by a licensed engineer if required or I can do and have done "prescriptive" framing
design and details as prescribed by the California Residential Code if the project warrants.

Structural Connection Framing Details; Showing connections of walls to roofs, foundations and floor to floor.

California Energy Compliance Requirements; This will include the CF-1R, MF-1R, Ws-5R and Ws-4R forms where required.