Room Additions in Smyrna, GA

Every addition is built twice: once on paper and once on the lot. Changes on paper cost almost nothing, so one of the most useful things a homeowner can do before room additions get underway is to learn to read the drawings well enough to spot problems before framing starts. For a Smyrna homeowner who has never read a set of plans, that can feel intimidating, but each sheet answers a simple question.

This page explains what each common drawing shows, what to check on it and how to handle questions before the set is final.

The site plan: where the room sits on the lot

The site plan is a bird’s-eye view of the whole property. It shows the property lines, the existing house, the outline of the addition and the distances between them. It may also show the driveway, trees, fences, slopes and the routes of utility lines. It is usually drawn from a property survey, so an accurate survey makes for an accurate site plan.

Check that the addition is where you pictured it, that it leaves the yard space you want and that nothing important, such as a mature tree or the path to a gate, sits in the way.

The floor plan: rooms, sizes and openings

The floor plan cuts through the house at about waist height and looks down. Lines of dimensions run along the walls, giving overall sizes and the positions of doors and windows. Small arcs show which way each door swings, and tags next to windows refer to a schedule listing their sizes and types.

Bring your furniture measurements. Drawing a bed, a sofa or a desk to scale on a copy of the plan quickly shows whether the room works and whether a door swing or a window location gets in the way.

Elevations: the outside of the house

Elevations show each side of the house as if you were standing in front of it. They reveal the roof shape and pitch, the siding and trim, the height of window tops and how the addition lines up with the original walls. Compare them with photographs of your house: the roofline, the window heights and the siding pattern of the addition should look like they belong.

Wall sections and details: how it is put together

A wall section slices vertically through the addition from footing to roof. It shows the foundation type, the floor framing, the wall thickness and insulation, the ceiling height and the roof structure. This is where you confirm that the new floor meets the existing floor at the same level and that the ceiling height is what you expect.

Detail drawings zoom in on tricky spots, such as where the new roof meets the old one or where the new foundation sits beside the existing footing. You do not need to judge the engineering, but it is fair to ask what each detail is solving.

Electrical and mechanical layouts

Some plan sets include an electrical layout with symbols for outlets, switches, lights and fans, and a mechanical layout showing heating and cooling registers. Walk through the room in your mind: where you enter, where you reach for a switch, where a lamp or television will plug in. Moving a symbol on paper is free; moving a box after drywall is not.

Asking questions and settling revisions

Write questions directly on a copy of the drawings and return it, so every concern is tied to a specific spot. When revisions are made, each sheet should carry a revision date or number. Before construction starts, confirm that you, the contractor and any permit application are all working from the same final set, and keep a copy for yourself.

If a larger plan is on the table, such as a new home rather than an addition, our page on house building in Smyrna explains that process.

Smyrna permit notes

Smyrna is in Cobb County. According to the city’s Building Division, Community Development takes permit applications only through its online portal, and inspection requests received by 4 p.m. go on the schedule for the next business day. Homeowners may pull a permit only for a home that is their current permanent residence and listed in their legal name, and a landlord may not do work on a rental unless they hold a Georgia contractor license. Ask the division which permits apply to your addition.

If the addition requires a new building sewer, the city code (Sec. 102-53) requires its connection and testing to take place with the city’s department director or a representative present.

Plan-reading questions from Smyrna homeowners

What is the difference between a floor plan and an elevation?

A floor plan is a view from above, as if the roof were lifted off, showing room sizes, walls, doors and windows. An elevation is a straight-on view of one side of the building, showing the roofline, siding, trim and the height of windows and doors. Together they describe the layout inside and the appearance outside, and both should be checked before approval.

Where do the drawings show the ceiling height of the new room?

Look at the wall section or building section, which slices through the addition from the foundation to the roof. It labels the finished floor and the ceiling, often with a dimension between them. Some floor plans also note ceiling heights inside each room. Compare that number with the ceiling in the adjoining room so you know whether the two will match.

Can I do the work myself on an addition to my Smyrna rental house?

Not unless you hold a Georgia contractor license, according to the City of Smyrna. Homeowner permits are limited to the owner’s own current permanent residence, held in their legal name, and a landlord without that license may not do the work on a rental. A rental addition is therefore normally handled by a contractor.

Review a set of drawings with us

Whether you already have plans or are just starting to think about an addition, you can reach us at 404-409-4448. We can sit down with the drawings, look at the house and the lot, point out anything that needs attention and then prepare a written estimate based on the final set.