Top 5 Money-Saving Strategies for Smart Home Design and Drafting

When embarking on new home construction, or adding to your current residence, make smart savings so that you can invest where you want.

With some strategic planning during the drafting phase, you can make the most of your construction budget, this will ensure that you can afford those extra touches, like that beautiful tile you've been eyeing.

Let's explore five ways to save significantly on your build during the drafting stage, while still creating the home of your dreams.

Tip #1 - Don't Waste a Square Foot

Optimize space with a smart design that minimizes hallways and unused areas. A well-thought-out floor plan can be a financial game-changer when it comes time to build.

Tip #2 - Stacking Walls for Efficiency

Stacking walls, or aligning structural members of upper and lower floors, is a clever way to save on construction costs and even improve energy efficiency. This technique enhances insulation performance and simplifies construction, reducing your labour and material expenses.

"The best way to predict the future is to create it." - Peter Drucker

Tip #3 - Thoughtful Window Placement

I'll admit it, I am a sucker for natural light, my ceiling would be glass if it were possible. However, windows DO play a significant role in your home's design and energy efficiency. Place windows strategically to maximize natural light. Well-placed windows can reduce the need for artificial lighting during the day, leading to long-term energy savings.

The counterpart is, that windows have an extremely low insulation value, opt for triple pane. It may sound excessive but triple pane is quickly becoming the new norm.

Tip #4 - Smart Exterior

Exterior siding offers numerous opportunities to save. That stone siding you picked out is expensive, that's okay, pretty things usually are.

Try the "quarter wrap" technique, where you use the preferred siding on the front face of your home and wrap the material around just a quarter of your home on either side, seamlessly integrating it with other materials.

If your house looks a bit..boxy, try the "dimension adder," which adds character to a simple boxy building through two-tone siding.

There are many strategies that can give a low-cost home exterior an attractive appearance.

Tip #5 - Optimize Roof Pitch & Truss Design

To save those dollar bills, keep the ceilings high and the truss' low.

Higher ceilings can create a grand and spacious feeling in your home without breaking the bank. For instance, nine-foot ceilings are a worthwhile investment, requiring only an additional foot of drywall/exterior sheeting and a slight adjustment to your staircase if you have a two-story home. Whereas, a steep pitch design requires more roof structure (as in roofing materials) and labour.

Increase roof overhangs on sun-facing walls to reduce solar gain (heat coming through the windows from the sun).

Extra, Extra!

Well jeez, you read this far. Here is one more to say thanks for sticking around. When planning your kitchen, bathroom, pantry, and closets, consider designing them to standard cabinet sizes. This thoughtful approach will provide you with the flexibility to choose between collaborating with a skilled cabinet maker or purchasing off-the-shelf cabinet options (like IKEA).

Do you boo-boo,

I believe in magic. Spend your money on the bits that bring you joy, and know where to pull back in order to save. We would be happy to help you with that.

Now, let's get drafty.

Contact Papa Draftsman