Renovation costs compared
You want to renovate and are wondering what a construction drawing costs. The answer does not depend on a fixed price list per renovation type, but on the size and complexity of your specific project. A dormer window is simply more straightforward than a roof structure, and an internal wall removal requires less drawing work than a complete transformation of a property. In this article we explain which factors determine the price so you understand what drives your quote and encounter no surprises.
The price of a construction drawing depends on the scale and complexity of your renovation, not on a fixed price list per type. At Tekenpunt a construction drawing starts at €595; cost drivers are a structural calculation (+€700), the environmental permit application (+€500), a 3D visualisation (+€400) and express delivery (+€495). A dormer is the simplest, followed by a wall breakthrough, extension and roof extension; new builds and transformations require the most drafting work. You always receive a fixed price in advance.
Fixed price upfront: this is how it works at Tekenpunt
At Tekenpunt you always pay a fixed price. You receive a tailored quote and that price is what you ultimately pay. No post-calculation, no hourly invoicing for every revision and no additional costs for communication with the municipality.
The construction drawing starts from €595. That is the entry-level rate for a straightforward application: a project without major structural interventions, without permit-related complexities, and without additional services such as a 3D visualisation. The final price depends on what your project requires.
Tekenpunt has been working since 2016 and has completed more than 800 projects. Nine out of ten applications pass the aesthetic review first time. You always receive a fixed price upfront so that you can plan your total budget accurately.
The factors that make a construction drawing more expensive
The price of a construction drawing is not an arbitrary number: it follows directly from what is technically and administratively needed for your project. These are the main cost drivers. Structural interventions. Are you removing a load-bearing wall, installing a steel beam or changing the roof structure? Then a structural calculation is required. Municipalities increasingly demand this as a mandatory part of the permit application. A structural calculation at Tekenpunt costs +€700. At Tekenpunt, a KIWA-certified structural engineer is part of the permanent team, so drawings and calculations always align. Applying for an environmental permit. Not every renovation requires a permit, but if you need an environmental permit, submitting and managing that application costs +€500. This covers the entire process: from preparing the right documents to submitting them to the Omgevingsloket and following up on any questions from the municipality. 3D visualization. Want a realistic picture of the end result before construction starts? A 3D visualization costs +€400. This is not required for the permit but helps enormously in assessing the design and preventing disappointments afterwards. Rush delivery. In a hurry because the contractor is already waiting or you have a deadline? With the expedited option you receive the drawings in 1 to 2 weeks. The standard delivery time is 4 weeks. If you are in a hurry, expedited delivery is available: +30% for delivery in 2 weeks (minimum €295) or +50% for delivery in 1 week (minimum €495), on top of the regular drawing work. Number of facades and elevations. The more facades affected by the renovation, the more elevations need to be drawn. An intervention on the rear facade requires less drawing work than a renovation that affects multiple facades or introduces a new roof edge on three sides. Project size. A dormer is a relatively self-contained element: it affects one facade and does not change the rest of the home. An extension affects the foundation, the connection to the existing facade and the roof finish. A complete transformation or new build requires all disciplines at once. The more components come together, the more drawing work is needed.
From simple to extensive: how renovation types relate to each other
There is no fixed price per renovation type, but there is a logical progression from simple to extensive. That progression helps you understand why one renovation requires more than another.
Dormer window. A dormer window at the rear of the dwelling is one of the simpler interventions. Only one facade changes, the structure of the rest of the dwelling remains unchanged, and a dormer that meets the standard dimensions is sometimes even permit-free. If a permit is required, the drawings are relatively limited.
Internal opening. An opening in a non-load-bearing internal wall is limited in drawing terms and requires no structural calculation. If it concerns a load-bearing wall, the situation changes: a structural calculation is needed for the correct span and a structural substantiation for the permit. That makes an internal opening sometimes straightforward but sometimes also a more costly project.
Extension or addition. A rear extension touches multiple elements at the same time: foundation, existing facade, roof structure, and the connection to the existing building. Multiple elevations must be drawn and a structural calculation is often required. For larger extensions, the environmental permit also comes into play, especially for an extension that approaches the plot boundaries or is at the front facade.
Roof raise. A roof raise increases the living area by building on top of the existing roof. This is technically a major intervention: the existing load-bearing structure must be able to carry the new load, the roof is largely replaced, and multiple facades are modified. A structural calculation and environmental permit are almost always necessary.
New construction and transformation. A completely new dwelling or a major transformation of an existing building (such as converting a commercial property into homes) requires the most drawing work. All disciplines come together: architectural drawings for all floors, structural calculations, sometimes multiple elevations and sections, and an extensive permit procedure. These are the projects where all additional cost options come into play simultaneously.
Comparison table: drawing work per renovation type
At a glance: this is how the renovation types compare on the three factors that determine the drawing work.
| Renovation | Scope of drawing work | Structural calculation | Building permit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dormer (rear) | Limited | Usually not needed | Sometimes permit-free |
| Internal opening | Limited | Only for a load-bearing wall | Depends on the situation |
| Outbuilding or extension | Average | Often needed (new foundation) | Often needed |
| Roof extension | Extensive | Almost always needed | Almost always needed |
| New build or transformation | Most extensive | Always needed | Extended procedure |
The table is an indication: your own situation determines the final scope. Request a quote for a fixed price upfront.
Why you should not expect a fixed price list per type
A frequently asked question is: what does it cost to have an extension drawn? The honest answer is that two extensions of five by three metres can be fundamentally different.
An extension at a location where the municipality imposes few aesthetic review requirements and no structural intervention to the existing load-bearing structure is needed is cheaper to draw than an extension where load-bearing walls are relocated, three facades are modified and the municipality requires an extensive explanatory statement.
Context determines the price more than the type. The factors that determine the price are the technical complexity (structural or not), the permit situation (permit-required or permit-free), the number of facades that change, the scope of the drawing work and whether you take extra services such as a 3D visualisation or rush delivery.
A fixed price after the quote. What Tekenpunt does guarantee: once you have described your project and the quote has been drawn up, that price is final. You know in advance what you will pay and there are no additional costs afterwards. This allows you to plan your total budget accurately without uncertain items for drawing work.
How the environmental permit affects the price
Not every renovation requires an environmental permit. Under the Buildings and Living Environment Decree (Bbl), certain small structures are permit-free if they meet specific conditions for location, height and surface area. Tekenpunt assesses at the quote stage whether your renovation requires a permit and explains this clearly.
If an environmental permit is required, that adds an important step: the drawings must meet the submission requirements of the Omgevingsloket and the municipality assesses the plan against the Bbl and the municipal environment plan. In addition to the service for submitting the permit (+€500) you also pay municipal fees. Those municipal fees are a separate item that you pay directly to the municipality and are not included in Tekenpunt's quote.
The amount of the municipal fee differs per municipality and is usually linked to the building sum. You can find more information about this in the article Municipal fees and municipality costs.
Tekenpunt delivers the application completely and correctly so that the municipality does not need to send anything back. That saves you not only time but also the risk of additional municipal fee costs on resubmission.
Structural calculation: when is it mandatory and what does that mean for the price?
A structural calculation is a technical substantiation that demonstrates a construction is safe and stable. Municipalities require this for renovations in which the load-bearing structure is modified or subjected to new forces.
In practice, this applies to:
- removing a load-bearing interior wall;
- installing a steel or timber beam;
- constructing an extension with a new foundation;
- altering the roof structure for a roof extension.
At Tekenpunt, a KIWA-certified structural engineer is part of the permanent team. The calculation therefore connects seamlessly to the drawing work, which prevents revisions and extra rounds with the municipality. The structural calculation costs +€700 on top of the basic drawing work.
More about when a structural calculation is mandatory and exactly what it calculates can be found on the page When is a structural calculation required and the service page Structural calculation.
Getting a grip on your total budget: what you want to know in advance
Renovations regularly go over budget on construction costs in practice. That makes it all the more important to lock in the costs for drawings and permits as early as possible. Request a quote early. At Tekenpunt the quote is free of obligation and tailored. You describe your plans and we give you a fixed price in return. You can include this in your total budget before the first pile goes into the ground. Budget the municipal fees separately. You pay the municipal fees directly to the municipality and they are separate from the drawing quote. Factor them into your budget. Think about which additional services you need. A 3D visualization (+€400) is not mandatory but prevents expensive corrections on the construction site. If you are in a hurry, expedited delivery is available: +30% for delivery in 2 weeks (minimum €295) or +50% for delivery in 1 week (minimum €495), on top of the regular drawing work. And if structural interventions are involved: plan the structural calculation (+€700) directly into the quote request so you are not faced with an unexpected extra cost later. Nine out of ten applications pass the aesthetic review in one go. That means no extra delay round and no extra costs for revision of the design. Tekenpunt proactively aligns the design with the aesthetic review criteria of your municipality.
Frequently asked questions
Q01What does a construction drawing for a dormer window cost?
A construction drawing at Tekenpunt starts from €595. For a rear dormer window the drawings are relatively limited as long as no structural intervention is needed. If the dormer window requires a permit, you will also encounter the environmental permit service (+€500). The exact price depends on your specific situation. Request a no-obligation quote for a fixed tailored price.
Q02When is a structural calculation needed and what does it cost?
A structural calculation is needed when you remove a load-bearing wall, install a steel or timber beam, build an extension with a new foundation, or modify the roof structure. Municipalities are increasingly requiring this as part of the permit application. At Tekenpunt, a structural calculation costs +€700 on top of the basic drawing work. A KIWA-certified structural engineer is part of the permanent team so that the drawing and calculation are aligned.
Q03Are the municipal fees included in the Tekenpunt quote?
No. Municipal fees you pay directly to your municipality and they are a separate item. Municipal fees differ per municipality and are generally linked to the estimated construction cost. Tekenpunt ensures a complete and correct application so you do not risk repeated fee charges due to an incomplete submission.
Q04What does express delivery cost and how quickly are the drawings then ready?
The standard delivery time at Tekenpunt is 4 weeks. With the expedited option, the drawings are ready in 1 to 2 weeks. If you are in a hurry, expedited delivery is available: +30% for delivery in 2 weeks (minimum €295) or +50% for delivery in 1 week (minimum €495), on top of the regular drawing work. Useful if a contractor is already booked or if you have a deadline for the permit application.
Q05Why does an extension cost more than a dormer window?
An extension affects multiple elements at once: foundation, existing facade, roof structure and the connection to the existing work. This means more elevations are needed and in many cases a structural calculation is also required. A dormer window is a more self-contained element that modifies fewer parts of the house. The scope and complexity of the drawing work determine the price, not a fixed rate per type.
Q06Is a 3D visualisation mandatory for the permit?
No. A 3D visualisation is not mandatory for the environmental permit application. It is an optional service (+€400) that helps you assess the design before construction starts. Especially for larger renovations it prevents disappointments afterwards and makes it easier to make adjustments to the design rather than on the construction site.
Q07How do I know in advance what my renovation will cost in drawing work?
Request a no-obligation quote from Tekenpunt. You describe your plans and receive a fixed custom price. That price is definitive: no post-calculation afterwards and no hidden costs. Add to that the municipal fees you pay directly to the municipality. This gives you a complete picture of the costs for drawing work and permits in advance.
Q08Does a roof structure always require a structural calculation?
In almost all cases, yes. With a roof extension the existing roof structure is largely replaced and the load-bearing structure must be able to handle the new load. Municipalities require structural justification as part of the permit application. At Tekenpunt the structural calculation is part of the standard offering and a KIWA-certified structural engineer prepares the calculation.
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