House extension: joinery specifications on plan

For our purposes, the term ‘joinery’ refers to woodwork and concomitant activities. Amongst other technical information, a functional set of working drawings should include the joinery specifications on plan for all of the woodwork and associated ironmongery related choices make for your new extension. Here are some of the joinery decisions you will be making as part of the design process.

First up (pardon the pun) are the stairs. A well-crafted flight of stairs is comprised of many interchangeable parts and you have the duty putting this woody ensemble together such that the components are congruous with one another, but also the house. You will need to specify your choice of handrail, baserail, newel post, cap, whether the treads and stringers are open or closed, and choice of material for all the above; softwood, hardwood, glass or metal.

Where you have internal doors, specify the detail. You will need to identify the operation mechanism, be it sliding into wall pocket or a conventional swing-type; the door style/design as well as its fire-rating. Coupled to the door you have ironmongery selections around hinge colours, handles, escutcheons, locks and latches. This information should be ascribed onto the plans so as there’s no doubt about what you expect to be fitted on site.

Architraves also need selecting and specifying on plan. They occupy an influential spot as bridge between door and floor, where they connect with yet another item that needs to be decided, the skirting. Ponder carefully what you decide here, because these items serve as continuity threads through a room.

As do the cornicing, picture and dado rails. That is, if you opt for any part of this trio. Because what you decide to omit from your design is as important as what you incorporate.

No matter how ergonomically designed the extension, you may still find yourself with the odd off-cut of space under the stairs, adjacent to chimney stacks, behind the swing of a door or under the roof eaves. In these nooks, consider some bespoke carpentry to provide bonus storage, seating, shelving or other such comfort.

If you elect wood flooring, then make provisions to show so on plan. This will allow the fitter to make provisions for expansion spacing underneath the skirting, making the need for scotia beading redundant. On wood flooring, ruminate on the right material for your new space, be it laminate, engineered or hardwood flooring.

Fitted kitchens, cupboards and wardrobes should be left out of scope of the drawings because they will most probably be supplied and fit by external specialists, who will conduct their own design work in-house. The only consideration to your working drawings will be to allow for any utility supplies, the necessary install space and to adjust room centers accordingly.

Once you and your Architect have gone through the process of thinking through and detailing the joinery specifications on plan, the working drawings will start to take shape nicely.

If you would like some free planning advice, get in touch with us.