Do You Need a 3D Model, or Are 2D As-Built Plans Enough?

4 days ago

3 min read

Before you renovate, add a second storey, or legalize a basement unit, you need accurate drawings of what's already there. The question we hear most often at Casabuilt is simple: do I need a full 3D model, or will 2D as-built plans do the job?

The honest answer is that most Toronto homeowners are well served by 2D drawings. A 3D model earns its cost in specific situations. Here's how to tell which one fits your project.

What 2D as-built plans include

2D as-built drawings are measured floor plans, and often sections and elevations, showing your home exactly as it stands today. They record wall positions and thicknesses, door and window openings, stairs, ceiling heights, and room dimensions.

They are the standard format the City of Toronto and other GTA municipalities expect for building permit and zoning applications, and the format most architects, designers, and contractors work from.

Our 2D packages:

Bronze: measured floor plans for every level. Ideal for interior layouts, furniture planning, real estate, and small renovations.
Gold: our most popular package, with floor plans, building sections, and exterior elevations. This is the full existing-conditions set most permit and addition projects need.

What a 3D model adds

A 3D model is a complete digital version of your house, built in Revit from our laser-scan data. Every wall, floor, roof plane, and opening sits in its true position, so the building can be viewed and cut from any angle.

Our Platinum package delivers this model along with the 2D drawings generated from it.

The value of 3D is coordination. When an architect, structural engineer, and HVAC designer all work from the same model, conflicts show up on screen instead of on site.

When 2D plans are enough

For most residential projects, 2D is the right call. Choose 2D if you are:

Renovating a kitchen, bathroom, or basement within the existing walls
Applying for a building permit for interior alterations or a basement second unit
Planning a rear or side addition with a straightforward roof tie-in
Selling a home and want accurate floor plans and square footage
Working with a designer on furniture, millwork, or layout changes

In these cases, a 3D model would add cost without changing any decision you need to make.

When a 3D model is worth it

A 3D model pays off when the geometry is complicated or many trades need to coordinate. Consider Platinum if your project involves:

A second-storey addition or major rebuild, where new structure must line up with existing walls, beams, and roof framing
Complex rooflines, split levels, or sloped ceilings that are hard to read from flat drawings
Older Toronto homes with walls out of square, floors out of level, or past additions stacked on top of each other
Heavy mechanical work, such as new ductwork or plumbing routed through tight joist and ceiling spaces
A design team already working in Revit, which can start directly from our model instead of redrawing it
Design presentations, where clients and Committee of Adjustment neighbours understand massing faster in 3D

Accuracy is the same either way

Choosing 2D does not mean less accurate measurement. We capture every home with a 3D laser scanner, which records millions of points throughout the house and outside around it. Both 2D and 3D deliverables are drawn from that same point cloud.

The difference is the deliverable, not the measurement. That also means you can start with 2D plans now and upgrade to a 3D model later without a second site visit.

What about a 3D tour?

A 3D tour is a walkthrough you can explore online, not a measured model. It's useful for remote design reviews, insurance records, and real estate listings. At Casabuilt it is offered as an add-on to any package.

Quick guide

Interior renovation or permit for alterations: Bronze or Gold
Addition or Committee of Adjustment application: Gold
Second storey, major rebuild, or complex geometry: Platinum
Not sure yet: start with Gold. The scan data is kept, so a 3D model can be added later.

Not sure which you need?

Tell us about your project and we'll recommend the right package. There's no point paying for a 3D model you won't use, or redrawing a house twice because the first set wasn't enough.

Call 416 613 8941 or email casabuilt123@gmail.com for a quote on as-built drawings anywhere in Toronto and the GTA.