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bmccombs
Joined: 11 Aug 2005
Posts: 1
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 Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2005 12:20 pm Post subject: Residential Floor Plans |
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I've been drawing residential floor plans for the last twenty years as a hobby and would now like to try to make a living doing this. I would appreciate any advice as to how to get started doing something like this - like who to contact who'd be interested in them. Thanks!
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Beth McCombs
Chugiak, Alaska |
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phansford
Joined: 18 Apr 2004
Posts: 832
Location: SW Ohio
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| Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2005 7:19 am Post subject: |
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A few things to research first....
1) Does Alaska have any licensing requirements for residential designers?
2) How populated is the area you live? Is there an active home building industry? (Will you have a market for your services?)
Unless you are in an area that has a market for high design residential work (New York, LA, Chicago), most design work for houses are done by a draftsman or a residential designer (a gloried draftsman in most cases). The builder is normally the first point of contact and they have drafters/designers they work with or their own staff. Therefore.....
3) You need to find out who or how most builders in your area get the drawings they need.
In my area (SW Ohio), most builders just want a "permit set" of drawings. The minimum set of documents to obtain a building permit. (Foundation plan, floor plans with framing notes, exterior elevations, a typical wall section, and a window schedule). Now - locally, these drawings go for very little money (Under $5,000 dollars) - which means its low paying work. So......
4) Find out what builders want/need in a set of "permit" drawings and how much they typically pay.
Now the tricky part -
5) It is not enough to just draw some house plans - you need the technical knowledge of how a house is constructed from the foundation to the roof. You will be expected to size all the structural members and be liable for those calculations. You will need to know the local residential building code!!! (VERY IMPORTANT). This means sizes of egress windows, fire-ratings for certain construction. Stair design, ventalition, and so on. Would you be willing to pay ($$$) for the mistakes (whether they are really your mistakes or not) arising from your designs/drawings, because you are the author of the drawings and should know these things.
Okay....... enough of all of that...... If you are really interested in doing this for a living, you should find an architect who does residential design or a residential designer and work with them for a few years to gain the technical expertise and to learn your craft and the business. If you do not have some level of formal education - even a 2 year degree from your local community college - your chances of finding employment will be slim to none. |
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rabadger
Joined: 22 Feb 2005
Posts: 24
Location: Valparaiso, IN
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| Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2005 6:47 am Post subject: |
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I did HVAC sizing and design for contractors while working for wholesalers for 28 years. The last wholesaler I worked for filed bankruptcy middle of Dec. 2003. Thats when I started working on getting HVAC Consulting, Inc. started. It's not an easy thing. Get ready for hard times and don't give up your day job. In order for me to to make it I have to now get a night job. The health insurance will kill your overhead.
Do you use CAD? If not learn. I never had the oppertunity or free time to fit it in. I take the gdf. drawing files sent to me and have the local printer/office supply stores do the printed for me. For 5 mechanical drawing to be scanned and converted to jdf files for electronic transmission, it's expensive.
Do you mind if we talk via phone?
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Richard
Learn what you need before you shop!
A comfortable home is a happy home!
www.HVAC-consult.com |
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zoore.Joe
Joined: 29 Aug 2005
Posts: 2
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| Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2005 1:17 am Post subject: |
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i think it not enogh for drawing the floor plans if you want to make a living by it. you know you should extend you related knowledge such as the elevation drawing, detail drawing and so on .
so you can get the more opportunities for that |
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fynrdzynr
Joined: 09 Sep 2005
Posts: 5
Location: Qld, Australia
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| Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2005 5:47 pm Post subject: Re: Value of Residential Floor Plans |
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| phansford wrote: | A few things to research first....
1) Does Alaska have any licensing requirements for residential designers?
<snip>
3) You need to find out who or how most builders in your area get the drawings they need.
In my area (SW Ohio), most builders just want a "permit set" of drawings. The minimum set of documents to obtain a building permit. (Foundation plan, floor plans with framing notes, exterior elevations, a typical wall section, and a window schedule). Now - locally, these drawings go for very little money (Under $5,000 dollars) - which means its low paying work. So......
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I'd be very interested to know what value would be put on the sample plans at http://www.users.on.net/~fynrdzynz/index.htm.
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A bit slow, but still plodding |
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