What we produce
Rendered elevations are the standard elevation drawings with materials, colours, glazing and shadows added. They show exactly what each face of the building will look like, from the brick or render to the window frames and roof finish. Internal 3D visuals show the inside of a space, such as an open plan kitchen or a double height hall, so you can understand light, proportions and how the rooms connect.
Both are produced from the same design as the plans and elevations, so what you see in the visuals matches what is drawn for planning and building regulations.
How visuals help homeowners
Most people have never commissioned a building before, and it is hard to picture a new extension or house from a set of orthographic drawings. Visuals let you see the result before you commit. They make it easier to compare options, such as cladding against render, or a flat roof with glazing against a pitched roof with rooflights, and they help you make decisions early rather than on site, when changes are expensive.
How visuals help neighbours and planning officers
Planning officers are experienced at reading drawings, but a clear visual can still help them understand a design, particularly for contemporary new builds or larger extensions that change the appearance of a house. Neighbours are often less familiar with drawings, and seeing a realistic picture of what is proposed can answer questions before they become objections. A well presented application, with visuals where they add something, tends to be easier to assess.
When visuals are worth adding
Visuals are not needed for every project. They are most useful for:
- New build homes, where the whole appearance of the house is being decided
- Larger extensions and full transformations that change the character of a property
- Projects where material choices are central, such as cladding, render, large glazing or black aluminium windows
- Sensitive locations, where the planning officer needs to understand how the design fits its surroundings
- Homeowners who simply want to see the finished result before building
For a simple single storey rear extension, standard drawings are often enough. We will tell you honestly whether visuals are worth adding to your project.
How visuals relate to the technical drawings
Visuals sit alongside the planning drawings and the building regulations package, not instead of them. The planning application still relies on scaled plans and elevations, and the builder still prices from the building regulations drawings and structural calculations. What the visuals add is clarity. Our pages on new build plans and house extension plans explain the full process, and you can see examples of our work on our projects page.
Every project starts with a free on-site consultation with no-obligation quotation. Contact us to discuss your design.
Making decisions with confidence
Visuals are particularly valuable when you are choosing between options. Seeing the same extension with brick, render or timber cladding side by side, or with a large picture window instead of sliding doors, makes the choice much easier than imagining it from a sample board. Internal visuals help with layout decisions too: where the kitchen island sits, how much glazing is needed to light the back of a deep room and how a double height space will feel.
They can also help with the conversations that come after planning. Builders and kitchen suppliers can see what you are aiming for, and family members who find drawings hard to follow can understand the project. Because the visuals come from the same design as the drawings, they stay consistent with what is approved and built, rather than being an artist's impression that drifts away from reality.
We will always tell you honestly whether visuals add value. For a modest rear extension the standard drawings may be all you need; for a new home, a full transformation or a design where appearance really matters, they are often money well spent.
Recent jobs
- Rendered elevation drawing for a client (Dorset)
- Rendered new build internal 3D visuals
- New build holiday home (Shedfield, Southampton)
We work across Hampshire, roughly 40 miles around our Whiteley office, with occasional projects in London. See the areas we cover.
Frequently asked questions
What is a rendered elevation?
It is an elevation drawing with materials, colours, glazing and shadows added, so it shows what that side of the building will actually look like.
Can visuals be included in a planning application?
Yes. They can be submitted alongside the scaled drawings to help the planning officer and neighbours understand the design.
Do I need 3D visuals for a small extension?
Often not. Standard plans and elevations are usually enough for a simple extension. Visuals are most useful for new builds, larger projects and material choices.
Can you show the inside of a new build?
Yes. Internal 3D visuals show rooms, light and layout, which can help with decisions on kitchens, glazing and open plan spaces.