Things To Know

I am not an Architect. I am a licensed builder/contractor with a degree in Architectural drafting and a degree in AutoCad backed with 25 plus years of hands on construction and design experience.

• Almost all towns do not require an Architect to prepare the plans. My costs  are generally 60% lower than the cost of an Architect. An Architect will charge anywhere from $5k to $10k to design your home. My fees are  usually between $800 and $3k. This is a huge savings for you.
• It can generally take 1 week to 3 months to complete a set of plans based on the complexity of the project. I will have a good idea of how long it  will take once the scope of work is determined.
• Email and cell phone is the best means of communication as I am emailing you new ideas and/or questions daily.
• I will not change my fee unless there are extensive changes to the plans.

Blueprints or House Plan requirements vary from town to town but most require the same information.Typically a full set of house plans can have five to ten pages of drawings depending on the size or complexity of the home and project. A typical full set of plans usually contains the following:

• Existing  Elevations - These drawings are generally required when a homeowner is  looking to add on their home. These are a drawing of the total building  exterior in its current condition. 
• Proposed Elevations - These are drawings that show what the exterior of the home will look like once completed.
• Demolition  Plan - Primarily created when knocking down a portion of a home or any interior walls. This lets the building inspector know what you are removing.
• Foundation Plan - This is drawn for the concrete contractor to pour the footings and foundation for the home.
• Existing Floor Plans - Often drawn for a home remodel and addition.
• Proposed Floor Plans - These are required for both new homes, remodels and additions.
• Framing  Plans - These drawings show the homes framing at each level. It  includes the floor joist, ceiling joist and roof rafter layouts.
• Section  Details - This is a "cut through" view at various locations of the  home. This gives a deeper detail to the homes construction.