2. DOCUMENTATION — DOKUMENTACJA 2.1. Introduction — Wstep Construction of a house is a very complicated process which requires making a lot of decisions and complying with legal requirements before any new structure is erected or an extension is added to an existing building. You have to choose a house project/design, a building plot and complete all necessary formalities which include obtaining a building permit. During this stage there is a need to seek professional technical assistance and advice (such as a certified architect or project manager). Vocabulary building plot — dziatka budowlana extension — dobudéwka, przybudéwka building permit — pozwolenie na formalities — formalnosci budowg house project — projekt domu erect — wznosié legal requirements — wymogi prawne 2.2. Project — Projekt Choosing a house plan to meet your lifestyle and needs is definitely time- consuming and may seem overwhelming, but if you specify your needs it can help the architect/designer lead you to success while selecting a house plan for your new home. When deciding on your house project it is important to choose one that not only meets your individual needs but also considers your building plot, natural landscape, zoning conditions and energy consumption.12 Vocabulary energy consumption - zuzycie energii landscape — krajobraz, pejzaz overwhelming — przytlaczajacy time-consuming — czasochtonny 2.2.1. Family lifestyle — Styl 2ycia rodziny Lifestyles and family needs differ from individuals and families depending on their cycles, stages and future plans for the house they want to build. Features that newly married couples look for in a house plan are completely different from the characteristics that a retired couple might find significant. Before choosing a house plan it is a good idea to ask yourself a number of questions that might be helpful in making a final decision. — Are you newly married? If so, do you have plans to start a family? How many children do you plan to have? Is there adequate room in your house plan for expansion as your family grows? — Will you need guest rooms for overnight guests? What about additional living space in the future to possibly care for elderly parents or grandchildren? — How do you plan to entertain? Do you want a formal dining room and traditional living room for large formal entertaining, or do you prefer small relaxed family get~ togethers? — Think about the time you presently spend in certain rooms in your home, and why. Some families like to make the kitchen the focal point for daily family gatherings and would require a large sunny eat-in kitchen with lots of space, others prefer a family room with lots of room for large sofas and a fireplace. ~ How much privacy do you need and where do you need it? Most new home owners prefer home plans with more privacy in the master bedroom and personal living spaces, others might need privacy in a home office space.13 — Another important consideration is how much privacy you would want and need from other occupants and neighbours. If privacy is important to you, consider a house plan with an L or U shape design. — Check your house plan for placement of windows to see if they will provide ‘adequate privacy from your neighbour's windows and yards. Consider how you plan to use and enjoy your outdoor yard space to see whether your house plan features balconies, patios, porches or pools will meet your needs for privacy. Landscaping, plot type and location can play an important role in how much privacy your outdoor spaces will have. Will the floor plan of your new home plan accommodate your existing or new furniture and furnishings ? When planning room sizes, carefully consider the seating areas and how furniture placement will affect the overall feel of the room. ‘Vocabulary accommodate — pomiescié focal point — punkt centralny expansion — rozbudowa furnishings — wyposazenie domu family gatherings — spotkania furniture — meble rodzinne porch — ganek feature —cecha significant — znaczacy, wazny fireplace ~ kominek yard — podwérko 2.2.2. House project — Projekt domu Ahhouse project can be defined as a set of construction or working drawings (Sometimes still called blueprints) that meet all the construction specifications of a residential house such as dimensions, materials, layouts, installation methods and techniques. The principal information provided in a set of house drawings is as follows: + Site plans which are drawn to show the exact location of a home on the property. It is an overhead view of the construction site and the home as it sits in reference to the boundaries of the building plot. Site plans should outline the location of utility14 services, easements, location of driveways and walkways, and sometimes even topographical data that specify the slope of the terrain. + Afloor plan is an overhead view of the completed house. You can sce there parallel lines that scale the required width of the walls. Dimensions are usually drawn between the walls to specify room sizes and wall lengths. Floor plans will also indicate rooms, all the doors and windows and any built-in elements, such as plumbing fixtures and cabinets, water heaters and furnaces etc. Floor plans will include notes to specify finishes, construction methods, or symbols for electrical items. + Elevations are a non-perspective view of the home. Plans include front, rear and both side elevations. The elevations specify ridge heights, the positioning of the final fall of the land, exterior finishes, roof pitches and other details that are necessary to give the home its exterior architectural styling. Fig. 2. Front elevation Fig, 3. Rear elevation15 + A section cuts through the dwelling and the location of this ‘cut through’ is noted on the floor plan, It describes how the building will be constructed and discusses how the internal finishes are supposed to look. Sections are used because they explain certain conditions in more detail. These conditions may include ceiling height, ceiling type (flat or vault), and window and door dimensions. Moreover, additional information may also be provided: Foundation plan, including dimensions and locations for footings. The width of walls, including the materials that can be used. The sub-floor plan gives details of how this area will be constructed and how services will be arranged. Roof plans, including type, pitch and framing. Interior elevation drawings (interior walls). + Detail drawings, such as built-in shelving, mouldings, and columns. Schedules for elements such as windows and doors. Structural layouts. Electrical and telecoms drawings: show locations of all the outlets, sockets, switches and fixtures. Also indicate which switches operate. which lights, and where the electric wires should be run. Plumbing schematic drawing: plumbing fixtures and piping. + Cost estimates. Vocabulary blueprint — plan projektu floor plan — rzut kondygnacji boundary — granica footing — lawa fundamentowa built-in - wbudowany flaming — poszycie dachu dimension — wymiar furnace — piec dwelling — mieszkanie layout ~ plan, rozklad easements ~ prawo przejazdu moulding — gzyms, profil elevation — elewacja outline — zarys, szkic, nakreslié exterior — strona zewnetrzna plumbing fixture — armaturarear—tyt structural — konstrukeyjny ridge ~ kalenica study — gabinet roof pitch — kat nachylenia dachu, switch — wlacznik, wytacznik spadek utility services — przylaeza mediéw section — detal, praekr6j vault ~ sklepienie shelving — péiki water heater — podgrzewacz wody site plan — szkic orientacyjny working drawing — szkic roboczy socket — gniazdko, kontakt House plans generally include the following rooms, depending on the size and type of house: Fig. 4, Floor plan + 01 living room + 02 dining area + 03 kitchen + 04 pantry05 laundry 06 boiler room 07 garage ‘= 08 entrance hall/passage * 09 study 10,13,14 bedrooms 11,12,15 closets 16 passage ¢ 17bathroom 18 bathroom for guests Other features: * patios, terrace veranda = porch breakfast nook + basements offices closets ° attics . hallways, vestibule Vocabulary attic - strych breakfast nook — kacik sniadaniowy closet — garderoba hallway — przedpok6j porch — ganek 2.2.3. Work space — Strefa robocza The next thing which needs to be taken into account is organizing the work space, for example, the location of a laundry room and how large space it will need. You18 might have some hobbies or special interests that require additional space or rooms to enjoy them. You might need a large workshop for messy or noisy projects. If you enjoy gardening you may want to include a utility room for quick and easy cleanup. If you are a “pack-rat” you will need lots of attic or storage space to store your treasures. People who do their work at home may need a special study room. ‘Another important factor to consider when planning to buy a new house plan is the number of cars you currently own. You also have to think about adequate driveway space as your family grows or parking if you entertain large groups of people. Vocabulary driveway — podjazd utility room — pomieszezenie gardening — ogrodnictwo gospodarcze laundry — pralnia workshop — warsztat ~pack-rat” — ,,chomik”, zbieracz 2.3. Choosing a building plot — Wybér dzialki budowalnej Once you have succeeded in choosing a house project you need to select a site where you can construct your dreamed house. 2.3.1. The shape of the plot — Ksztalt dziatki ‘The overall shape of the plot must be analysed while choosing the type of house. House plans for flat plots are less difficult and less expensive to build, although they are not always as eye-catching as a sloping plot. A sloping plot will allow you to put the garage under the house and possibly plan for a daylight basement. Narrow plots generally require a house design that rises up instead of spreading out, whereas wider shallow plots can be ideal for broad one-story house plans. Sloping plots with spectacular views might inspire to choose a house plan that includes large panoramic windows and roomy outdoor deck space which will allow you to enjoy wonderfal landscapes, sunrises and sunsets.19 Vocabulary basement ~ suterena, piwnica sloping plot — dziatka nachylona, broad - szeroki, obszerny ze spadem eye-catching ~ prayciagajacy wzrok spread out - rozszerzaé sig flat plot ~ ptaska dziatka narrow plot — waska dziatka rise up — pigé sig 2.3.2. Building plot — Dziatka budowlana Here are some questions to ask yourself as you search for a plot but remember, you will probably have to make a few compromises. The first thing that should be done is preparing a list of preferences which could include what you liked and disliked about places you have lived and visited in the past. Once you have prepared a complete list of the most important attributes that you are searching for you can begin checking out lot locations. While searching for your ideal building lot, evaluate each plot based upon the qualities that you have identified on your list. Check if the building plot is large enough for the house plan that you want. Often there are building code restrictions limiting the precise location on the lot space upon which the actual house construction can take place (e.g. clearance from the plot border). Therefore, check with local building department prior to purchase to determine what restrictions might apply to the plot. If your chosen house plan necessitates a particular side or location for a driveway or garage you will need to determine how much space will be necessary for clearance and turn space and allow for adequate distance on one of the sides. The next significant point is whether the plot will flood. Check the drainage during the spring melt and after heavy rain. Make sure the plot is not in a floodplain. A plot with standing water or heavy flow of water during a rainstorm can lead to wet basements and other problems. Plots which are situated on low-lying areas adjacent to20 streams that periodically overflow may cause your property to flood. A landscape architect can suggest some solutions to bad drainage or flooding concerns. Check the direction of the sun. Where does it rise and where does it set? If you are an early riser you might enjoy those early rays of sunshine beaming into your bedroom windows, or you might enjoy watching the sunset from a backyard deck. Which side will get a southern exposure making it ideal for growing plants and flowers, also, you might want to position the house so the garage and or storage buildings can be on the north side. This keeps them in shadows most of the day and allows the living areas to receive more light. However, if you are planning to build / design big windows area from the southern side, good solution can be to place the shutters. Their role is to regulate the level of sunlight entering the house. ‘Another point to consider is the direction of the wind. By positioning the house to shield the outdoor living spaces from northwest winter winds you could extend the seasonal usage of some spaces (e.g. terrace) by three or four months. Keeping the above factors in mind will help you select the perfect plot for your new home. Vocabulary adjacent to — przylegajacy do building code / building regulations — prawo budowlane building department — wydziat budownictwa clearance — odstep drainage — drenaz, evaluate — oceniaé exposure — ekspozycja extend — przedtuzaé flood — ulegaé podtopieniu overflow — wylewaé precise location — doktadne potozenie property ~ nieruchomosé purchase — zakup restriction — ograniczenie shutter — okiennica standing water — stojaca woda turn space — przestrzei do zawracania21 2.4. Building permit — Pozwolenie na budowe A construction or building permit is a permit required for new construction or adding on to pre-existing structures and in cases of major renovations. This document is issued by municipalities and is a means of regulating construction to ensure compliance with national, regional and local building codes and also with safety, health and zoning requirements. A building permit must be obtained before excavation, erection, enlargement, alteration or demolition of any building or structure. For any of these circumstances an application for a building permit must be filed. Vocabulary application — podanie compliance — zgodnosé alteration — przerébka demolition — wyburzenie building code/building regulations — prawo enlargement — powiekszenie budowlane erection — wznoszenie building/construction permit - pozwolenie na excavation — wykopy budowe municipalities - wiadze miasta 2.4.1. Before getting a building permit - Przed uzyskaniem pozwolenia ‘You must be aware of certain district plans, policies and regulations that may apply to the property. The following must be checked before submitting an application: - Official Community Plan — the community plan divides the area into different land use designations, Check the official community plan for the designation of your property and the land uses allowed - Development Permit Areas ~ this identifies the type of development permit area in which your property is located: commercial, industrial and institutional or multiple residential. It also contains specific guidelines that apply to all development within each type of area - services — check whether the required services such as sewer or water are available or whether additional servicing is neededa - Natural Hazard Area — consult the map in the Planning Services Department to see if your property is in this area and they will provide you with the special requirements - rights-of-way — check rights-of-way on your property. Complete information is usually available at the Land Registry Office Once the review of the plans, policies and regulations are completed and are ready to be applied for a building permit, the staff at the Planning Services Department will initiate the application. A building inspector is assigned the responsibility of processing the application which may include referral to the fire, engineering, planning departments for comment. Once the comments from the other departments have been reviewed, the building inspector determines whether the building permit can be issued cor whether the application requires corrections. When the building permit is approved you can pick it up. Building permit in Poland in valid for 3 years (which means from the date it is approved you have 3 years to start-up the construction). Vocabulary commercial — ustugowy Development Permit Areas — strefy zagospodarowania ekonomicznego industrial — przemyslowy and use ~ spos6b uzytkowania gruntu Land Registry Office — Wydziat Ksiag Wieczystych Natural Hazard Area — teren wystepowania zagrozen naturalnych Official Community Plan — plan zagospodarowania przestrzennego Planning Services Department - Wydziat Gospodarki Przestrzennej Rights-of-way — prawo przejazdu services — media 2.5. Questions — Pytania 1. What steps do you have to take if you want to build a house? 2. What must be taken into account when choosing a house project?23 How do family needs and lifestyle affect the choice of a house project? What rooms can be placed in the work space of a house? How can you define a house project? What do site plans show? What do floor plans indicate? What are sections used for ? ePr ea YY What additional information can be provided in a house project? 10. What rooms in a house can you enumerate? 11. What shape of a house should you chdose if you need a lot of privacy? 12. What are the pros and cons of a sloping plot? 13. Describe the influence of the shape of the plot on choosing a house project. 14. How do you choose a building plot? 15. What influence does the sun have on positioning the house? 16. When is the best time to check drainage on the plot? 17. What is a building permit? 18. When do you have to obtain a building permit? 19. What must be checked before getting a permit? 20. How long is a building permit valid in Poland?