If you’re searching for a draftsman on the Gold Coast, you’ve probably got a project that needs proper plans — whether it’s a renovation, extension, new build, or council submission. Design Science provides professional drafting and building design services across the entire Gold Coast, led by David Steadman — a dual-licensed QBCC Builder and Building Designer with over 30 years of construction industry experience.
Unlike a typical Gold Coast draftsman who draws plans based on your instructions, we design with construction knowledge built in. Every set of plans we produce is detailed enough for builders to price accurately and for council to approve without unnecessary delays.
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A draftsman (also called a draughtsperson or drafting professional) produces technical drawings and construction plans for building projects. On the Gold Coast, draftsmen prepare floor plans, elevations, sections, site plans, and specification documents that builders and councils need before construction can begin.
Traditional drafting services focus on translating your ideas into technical drawings. The draftsman takes your brief — room sizes, layout preferences, general style — and produces a set of plans in CAD or drafting software. For straightforward projects where the design decisions are already made, a draftsman can be a cost-effective option.
However, most residential projects involve design decisions that directly affect construction cost, building compliance, and liveability. That’s where a building designer offers more value than a pure draftsman — and at Design Science, you get both drafting expertise and construction knowledge in one service.
Design Science provides complete residential drafting for Gold Coast homeowners:
Custom home plans: Full construction documentation for new homes — from site analysis and concept design through to council-ready drawings with complete dimensions, specifications, and construction details. Every project includes 3D digital modelling so you can walk through your home before construction begins.
Renovation and extension plans: Detailed plans for home renovations, extensions, second-storey additions, and internal redesigns. Our builder background means we understand existing structural systems — we know what’s behind the walls before we start drawing.
Granny flat and secondary dwelling plans: Complete documentation for granny flats, auxiliary units, and secondary dwellings compliant with Gold Coast City Council requirements. We handle setback calculations, site coverage, and private open space requirements.
Council submission drawings: Full drawing sets for building applications and development applications — site plans, floor plans, elevations, cross-sections, shadow diagrams, stormwater plans, and any specialist reports required by applicable planning overlays.
Beyond residential work, Design Science provides drafting services for small-to-medium commercial projects on the Gold Coast:
Fit-out and tenancy plans: Internal layout plans for retail, office, and hospitality fit-outs including partition layouts, services coordination, and compliance documentation.
Change of use documentation: Plans and supporting documents for change of use applications — converting residential to commercial, retail to hospitality, or reconfiguring existing commercial spaces.
As-built and measured drawings: Accurate as-built documentation of existing buildings using professional measurement and, where required, 3D laser scanning through our scanning service Design Science Spatial.
The Gold Coast has plenty of draftsmen and drafting services. Here’s why working with a building designer — particularly one with construction experience — delivers better outcomes:
Design decisions that save money: A draftsman draws what you ask for. A building designer evaluates whether what you’re asking for is the most cost-effective way to achieve what you actually want. I’ve seen clients save tens of thousands by adjusting design details that a draftsman would never question.
Construction-ready documentation: Plans produced by a building designer with builder experience contain the level of detail that builders need to give you an accurate fixed price. Vague plans lead to vague quotes, which lead to costly variations during construction.
Compliance and approvals knowledge: Gold Coast City Council’s planning scheme includes flood overlays, bushfire overlays, coastal protection areas, and character overlays. A building designer who works within these overlays every week knows what council will approve before you commit to a concept.
Fewer problems on site: When I design a home, I’m thinking about how a builder will interpret these plans on site — whether the steelwork can be delivered, whether the fall on that slab will cause problems, and whether the specification matches what suppliers actually stock.
Drafting and building design fees on the Gold Coast vary based on project complexity, scope, and the level of design input required:
Basic drafting (plans drawn to your instructions): From $1,500–$3,000 for straightforward projects where all design decisions are already made.
Full building design services: Typically 4–7% of the construction cost, starting from $3,000 for smaller projects. For a $500,000 home build, expect fees between $20,000 and $35,000 including concept design, 3D modelling, full construction documentation, and council submission.
Consultation: The initial consultation at Design Science is $280 and includes a thorough assessment of your project scope, likely costs, and the best approach. If you proceed to design, this fee is credited in full to your project.
For a detailed fee breakdown, read our building designer cost guide.
A draftsman produces technical construction drawings — floor plans, elevations, sections, and site plans — that builders and councils require before construction begins. They translate your design ideas into documented plans using CAD or drafting software.
A draftsman draws plans based on instructions you provide. A building designer provides both the design thinking and the technical documentation — evaluating your brief, making design recommendations, selecting materials, ensuring compliance, and producing construction-ready plans. A building designer takes professional responsibility for the design.
Basic drafting services on the Gold Coast start from $1,500 for simple projects. Full building design services typically cost 4–7% of construction cost, starting from $3,000. The fee depends on project complexity, the level of design input required, and the scope of documentation needed for council approval.
For most Gold Coast residential projects — custom homes, renovations, extensions, granny flats — a building designer delivers excellent results at lower fees than an architect. Architects are best suited to large-scale commercial projects or architecturally complex designs. At Design Science, our dual-licensed builder and designer brings construction knowledge that most architects and draftsmen lack.
For a comprehensive overview of all our building design services on the Gold Coast, visit our building designer Gold Coast page. If you are planning a renovation, see our dedicated Gold Coast renovation design page.
Whether you need drafting services, full building design, or you’re not sure which level of service your project requires, I’m happy to discuss your options.
The initial consultation is $280 and includes an honest assessment of your project scope, likely costs, and the best path forward. If you proceed to design, the consultation fee is credited to your project.
Call David Steadman on 0404 039 029 or request a consultation online.
QBCC Licensed Builder & Building Designer — Licence #15277902
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Transparent pricing with no hidden costs. Every project includes full 3D digital modelling, detailed construction documentation, and a complete bill of quantities.
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