Want to design your dream house, but don't know how? That's where we come in. Our drafting department can draw up the plans for your house to your specifications. Our talented and experienced draftsmen will help you get the house you've always wanted, as well as design it with cost-efficiency in mind.

Here are some of the typical questions we get asked about the design process:

"How do I begin the design process?"
Typically, we would like you to have more than just a general idea in mind when you come to see us for the first time. It is much more time consuming to try to meet our clients' needs if they are unsure as to what exactly they want, and It helps both us and you if you can bring us as much information as possible, even if it seems overkill!

Once you know what you want, give us a call, and together we'll arrange a time for you to come in and see us. We have a number of questions we need to ask you in regards to your project, which will help us to get a good idea what your vision is. From there, we will design a preliminary set of prints for you, including some 3D views, so you can see a close approximation of what it will look like upon completion.

This stage of your project is the most flexible. Any changes you would like to see usually happen at this stage. Don't feel bad if we haven't gotten it quite to your satisfaction the first time! Sometimes this takes a few rounds, and we are more than happy to spend the time with you to make this design perfect. The time to do this is now-once the construction prints have been started, we no longer accept design changes without incurring extra fees, as it becomes extremely time-consuming to do so.

"How much does this cost?"
Obviously, our fees will vary depending on your project size and type. We are very competitive in the industry, so please feel free to give us a call, or come in for a quotation at any time.

"I talked to so and so, and they said their plans are free. How come you charge for yours?"
Our policy here at Wm Dyck and Sons is to be upfront and honest with our customers from the get go. Unlike some of our competitors, we do not offer "free" plans and then hide the true cost in our materials quote or other services. We want you to know exactly what you are paying for, every step of the way. This sort of transparency makes the possiblility for misunderstandings much less likely on both our parts, which makes it easier to work together.

With that being said, we find that even with the cost of drafting services, we are usually cheaper than the large majority of our competitors who offer your their "free" plan service!

"I'm doing a renovation-can you come on site to measure up?"
No, we do not do site visits. We have several reasons for this, but chief among them is that any time we spend away from the office is time not drawing for our customers, which causes unnecessary delays. We have found, in every case, that if we are supplied with proper dimensions and a few digital pictures by either yourself or your contractor, we are more than capable of designing your renovation accurately and without problems. By helping us out in this manner, we also ensure that we can get you your prints in a timely manner. We will also give you a list of any dimensions we might need from you, so you know what to look for.

"How long does the plans process usually take?"
This really depends greatly on the season, as well as how busy we are. Typically, From prelims to final prints is a minimum 3 week process. However, during busy times, this timeline may easily double. This is why coming to us with a fairly accurate idea of what you have in mind is extremely helpful, as it makes the go-around a little less time consuming. Our customers are placed in queue on a first come, first served basis. It must be understood that we cannot make exceptions to this-this would be unfair to everyone else on our list!

It is a good idea to ask this question during our initial phone conversation or interview. If our timeline does not suit yours, we will not take offense if you decide to look elsewhere for someone who may be able to get your prints to you a little sooner!

"Do you do material quotes?"
Yes, we do! You will need to talk to our Package Sales department for this service. Unlike the drafting service, this is something we do supply for no cost. Even if we do not do your drawings, we would love to be able to quote you on your building project.

"Can you price off of a preliminary drawing?"
Yes, we can. Bear in mind that the materials price taken from a prelim will likely be off by a few percentage points, as there are some assumptions that must be made that otherwise would be clear on an actual construction set of drawings.

"Do I need an Engineer?"
This question is best answered by your municipal office. If you are located in the City of Winnipeg, the answer is a definite yes. Outside of Winnipeg, it varies.

Regardless of whether or not you are required to have an engineer's seal on your drawings, we highly recommend it. This ensures that the load calculations for the various beams and concrete required in most projects have met design criteria for the National Building Code. Although we make every effort to ensure that your drawing meets all structural requirements laid out in the building code, we are not Engineers, and as such it is possible that we may miss something.

"Are you free any evenings or weekends?"
Yes, there is somebody in the drafting office on Wednesday and Thursday evenings till 8 pm, as well as on Saturday from 8 am to 3 pm. We are also in during regular hours.