Looking for suggestions....

[zurgswife]

We are planning on putting on an addition on our house. 2floors and a basement. We will be doing most of the work ourselves...elec, plumbing, dry wall. We will have a contractor build the shell.

So, we don't need an architect to do a full blown set of plans. Is there some other way to get drawings for the basic shell so we can give them to our contractor. Or is there a way to locate a novice architect...we really don't want to spend a lot of money as we know exactly what we want, just want someone to check the measurements of the addition in connection with the main house.

ideas???

 

[Saffron]

Will's not doing anything but playing poker on the computer. I bet I could get him to whip you out a "plan" in no time. It would free! And quite interesting.

 

[CajunDixie]

I realize we're pretty "small town" around here but most contractors here can draw up a basic addition plan. You don't necessarily need an architect. Maybe look for some software and do it yourself.

 

[Saphire]

My husband is not an architect but a draftsman, and does exactly this kind of work in the evenings/weekends. He gets all of his work through referrals. Ask around to anyone and everyone you know who has an addition, and see how they got their plans done. Chances are there is someone like my husband who can do the work for you at a fraction of what an architect will charge. Good Luck!

 

[hiwaygal]

Is there a local college that has an architecture or structural engineering department? Try getting a student to draw something up for you.

 

[zurgswife]

Will's not doing anything but playing poker on the computer. I bet I could get him to whip you out a "plan" in no time. It would free! And quite interesting.

Hey Maggie...tell Willy we all say howdy here.....We need to get together again sometime.

also,....I bet those plans would be a doesy....

 

[zurgswife]

My husband is not an architect but a draftsman, and does exactly this kind of work in the evenings/weekends. He gets all of his work through referrals. Ask around to anyone and everyone you know who has an addition, and see how they got their plans done. Chances are there is someone like my husband who can do the work for you at a fraction of what an architect will charge. Good Luck!

That's what I was looking for...I wasn't sure if that is what draftsman do....We actually are in a really small town and most people use the same contractors and all use a couple of architects that are to pricey for me...I'll have to figure out how to locate a draftsman.

 

[MareQ]

Some contractors will do a drawing for you. We put an addition on - told them what we wanted - they did a basic drawing - which we approved and off we went. Everything turned out great.

My Dh is an EE so he has drafting experience and ACad on our puter and could have done a much more detailed drawing - but it wasn't really necessary.

 

[zurgswife]

Some contractors will do a drawing for you. We put an addition on - told them what we wanted - they did a basic drawing - which we approved and off we went. Everything turned out great.

My Dh is an EE so he has drafting experience and ACad on our puter and could have done a much more detailed drawing - but it wasn't really necessary.

The contractro we are planning on using is a small business guy...doesn't have the capability to do drawings...

 

[FroggyinArk]

ok contractor here,, i actually have been doing my own plans for several yeras.

i use a very simple computer program called 3d home architect, from broderbund, its very easy to use and fairly in expensive. it also comes with an option that will allow you to see hte rooms in 3d, with variuos colors of paint, flooring, even a furnishing option that will let you place several name brands of furniture into each room to check them out.


my dad is a draftsman, he has seen some of my plans, and went out and bought a copy for himself, he uses it for simple plans now.

 

[zurgswife]

ok contractor here,, i actually have been doing my own plans for several yeras.

i use a very simple computer program called 3d home architect, from broderbund, its very easy to use and fairly in expensive. it also comes with an option that will allow you to see hte rooms in 3d, with variuos colors of paint, flooring, even a furnishing option that will let you place several name brands of furniture into each room to check them out.


my dad is a draftsman, he has seen some of my plans, and went out and bought a copy for himself, he uses it for simple plans now.

i must be an idiot because I 've struggled with this program for a week or so and just can't get it to do what i want. I have a rough plan but I can't get things to line up. I'm just frustrated right now.

 

[hiwaygal]

I did a search and found this: http://www.servicemagic.com/task.Draftsperson-CADD.40214.html?m=cahscontactdigi&entry_point_id=94

not sure if it will work for you, but you put in the info and answer some questions and I guess someone will get in touch with you.

DH uses that software too...I'm an AutoCAD girl myself but I know it is cumbersome to try to learn for a quick plan.

You might consider calling a few small firms and see if they know of someone...more and more CAD/drafting folks are doing "contract" work on their own.

 

[janey99]

Hi!

I see you have gotten great advice about using students/draftsmen, etc., but no one has mentioned something that would be very important in my town - homeowners are permitted to do their own drawings, and hand them in for permitting/application/approval purposes. If anyone else does the drawings, the plans need to be sealed by a licensed engineer, which can ratchet up the cost if you follow this requirement to the letter.

Sometimes in my town they give people a hard time if their drawings look "too professional" and the homeowner claims he did them himself and they have no engineer's seal. This happened to us becasue DH is a landscape architect with autocad and a professional printer (and fantastic design skills!).

Just something for you to be aware of.

Good luck -

Jane

 

[MinnieGirl33]

Hi!

I see you have gotten great advice about using students/draftsmen, etc., but no one has mentioned something that would be very important in my town - homeowners are permitted to do their own drawings, and hand them in for permitting/application/approval purposes. If anyone else does the drawings, the plans need to be sealed by a licensed engineer, which can ratchet up the cost if you follow this requirement to the letter.

Because of the size of the addition I would seriously reconsider using an architect or at the least a last year architectural student.

You are talking major work - including a basement - not just addidng a deck or a spare room.

I would want to be absolutely certain that everything is sound from a structural/engineering standpoint. Not the place where I would look to save money.

JMHO.

 

[corie161]

Where are you purchasing your materials from? Most of the time they have someone that can do plans for you.

My DH is a contractor (does not draw plans), when we put on our addition 5 years ago the lumber yard where we purchased all of our materials from did up our plans. I think even Menards, Home Depot and the like could do this.

I work with the builiding permits in our city (also a small town) and we do not require engineered plans. The only time I have seen the Building Inpector require them have been on bigger buildings (business) making a major interior structural change.