When your first drawing set arrives, it can be a lot to take in. Pages of lines, numbers and symbols, and you're being asked whether you're happy with it. Knowing what each sheet is for makes it much easier to review the design properly and give feedback that moves the project forward.
The sheets in a typical set
Site plan
A bird's-eye view of the whole block. It shows the boundaries, where the building sits, setbacks to each boundary, driveways, fences, trees and often the stormwater layout. Check: is the house where you expected, and is there room for the garden, the clothesline, the bins?
Floor plans
One for each level, showing walls, doors, windows, room names and dimensions. Check: walk through it in your head. Where do you put the shopping down? Can you see the kids' play area from the kitchen? Does the bed fit with bedside tables on both sides?
Elevations
Each side of the building viewed straight on: north, south, east and west. They show heights, window sizes, roof shape and external materials. Check: do you like the look from the street? Are the windows where you want the light and the view?
Sections
An imaginary slice through the building, showing floor-to-ceiling heights, the roof structure and how the house sits on the ground. Check: ceiling heights and any steps between levels.
Roof plan
The roof from above, with pitches, gutters and downpipes. Useful for solar panel positions.
Shadow diagrams
For DAs, these show the shadow the new building casts at set times in winter. They're mainly for council and the neighbours, but worth understanding if your design is close to the limits.
Your drawing set, sheet by sheet
| Sheet | Shows | Ask yourself |
|---|---|---|
| Site plan | Block, building position, setbacks | Is there enough yard? |
| Floor plans | Rooms, walls, doors, windows | Does daily life flow? |
| Elevations | Outside of each side, materials | Do I like how it looks? |
| Sections | Heights and levels inside | Are ceilings and steps right? |
| Roof plan | Roof shape and drainage | Where will solar go? |
| Shadow diagrams | Winter shadows on neighbours | Any impact concerns? |
How to give feedback that keeps things moving
Better feedback, faster revisions
- Review everythingLook at every sheet before replying.
- One listSend all changes together, not one at a time.
- Mark it upA photo of a printed plan with notes is perfect.
- Agree as a householdSettle differences before sending.
- ConfirmSay clearly when the design is approved to proceed.
Piecemeal changes are the biggest cause of drafting delays. Each change can ripple through the floor plans, elevations, sections, BASIX and calculations. A single, complete list of changes is faster for everyone.
How our turnaround works
Once the design is confirmed, our standard turnaround for each drawing round is 48–72 hours from design confirmation, and many clients get their DA or CDC drawings back in as little as 24 hours. If we miss the agreed turnaround, that round is free. Clear, consolidated feedback is what lets us keep that promise.
The takeaway
You don't need to be a builder to review your plans well. Understand what each sheet is for, picture yourself living in the home, and send one clear list of changes. If anything on a sheet doesn't make sense, ask. A good drafter will happily walk you through it.
Talk to Sam, our Marketing & Operations ManagerStart with your address
Send us your address and what you'd like to do. We'll check the zone, the lot and your council's controls, and come back with the likely approval path and a fee proposal. Every project is quoted on its own.