Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Are You Registered with the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs?
A: Yes, both the owner/operator and L.A.C Design as a firm are registered through the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affair and hold current BCIN's ( Building Code Identification Number) in the House Category.
Q: What do I do first?
A: Over many years of providing drafting and design service to hundreds of clients, we have found that the best place to start is with a Preliminary or Design Plan. This gives you the opportunity to review the layout of your new home and make any changes you may feel are required. When preparing these drawings we may make small modifications in order to meet code requirements or as suggestions. At this stage you are also given the option of a Base Preliminary ( Layout only) or a Premium Preliminary (Includes: Layout, Interior and Exterior 3D renderings).
Q: I've got a sketch I have come up with or a layout I have found on line or in a book. Can you work from that?
A: Yes, we can work from your sketches to create the needed Construction Drawings. However if you are using a layout from a book or website, it can only be used as a basic guide line due to copy right laws and we would suggest that we go through the Preliminary plan process to refine the layout to suite your needs.
Q: What is a "Schedule One Form"?
A: The "Schedule One Form" is a form which is part of the building permit application. This form is required to be filled out by a Registered Designer and without this form the construction drawings are not qualified to be used for the purpose of obtaining a building permit.
Q: How long will the whole process take until I have Working Drawings?
A: There are a number of factors that play part in how long the process will take. At every stage of the process we do make every effort to get drawings to the client in a timely manor,
without sacrificing the quality and integrity of our work. Scheduling is provided to each client based on the order in which we are retained to provide services.
Q: Do you guarantee I will be able to get a Building Permit?
A: Yes, we do guarantee that our work will pass the Permit Process. However there are also other factors beyond our control that may delay this process and for those items we are not responsible. Items that we do not take responsibility for include but are not limited to: Truss Design, HVAC Design, Plot Plan, Surveying, Engineering, Septic System Design and any Trade License Letters the City, Town or Municipality may require.
Q: Do you require a Retainer?
A: Yes, there is a retainer required. Upon completion of the Preliminary Drawings payment of that portion of the work and 25% of the Construction Drawing fees required prior to continuing. Payment in full is required upon completion and prior to issuing the "Schedule One Form".
Q: What should I bring to our first meeting?
A: For our initial meet you should bring along any Sketches, Magazines, Pictures and Books you have gotten ideas from for you dream home. Any printed material you bring will be given back to you when the Preliminary Plans are completed. At this point it is a good time to bring a lot plan showing grade elevations if you have one.
Q: What do I do next?
A: Once we have delivered the completed Construction Drawings to you, you will need to get copies of the plans to the Truss Manufacture and HVAC Contractor you plan to use so that they can prepare their designs. This is also a good time to start taking copies of the plans to Material Suppliers and Trade Contractors for pricing. When you have your Truss and HVAC designs back add them to the Building Permit Application along with the balance of the required documents and submit it to the authorities for review. At this point you are now on your way to building your Dream.
Some other places to look for answers
Just click on the links below to go directly to their websites:
Loyalist Township - Zoning Bylaws
City of Kingston - Zoning Bylaws
We hope these FAQ's and the provided links have helped answer your questions. Thank you for visiting L.A.C Design and don't forget to bookmark this page so that you can easily fine us again.