Build Your own House -Finding a Home Designer - Draftsman

From: George

"You mention possibly using a draftsman in lieu of an architect.
How do I go about finding a good draftsman in my area?
Thanks,
George"

Hi George,

I mentioned using a draftsperson (I was corrected by several people not to use draftsman) in lieu of an architect as architects draw very few homes for us average individuals. They can’t make enough money drawing the average house unless they sell multiples of a plan trough plan books & web sites, or design for the “rich & famous”.


You can have a home designer/draftsperson draw up most homes. They are not too expensive. In fact, many lumber companies (not the big box home centers) have a draftsman on staff and offer free drafting service if you buy their lumber. They can at least recommend a draftsperson which is better than finding one in the yellow pages as you are getting the draftsperson’s recommendation.

You can of course use the Yellow Pages or the internet, but be sure to check the draftsperson’s references and local work.

In the Yellow pages, look under: “Home Designing & Planning Service”.



On the internet, this Google search produced a plethora of lumber companies with designers/draftspersons: Search terms - Home Designing & Planning Service + lumber company + your city & state

In any case, always get references for people the designer/draftspersons have done work for, ask to see their work, and if possible, go see some of it. At least, be sure to call their references to see if they were pleased.


Note: Most cities, townships or counties do not require the use of an architect unless the house is over a certain sq. footage or is very complex in design, and then they can require an architect’s signature, and an engineering seal of approval.

That would be expensive and NO reputable architect or engineer would sign off on someone else’s plans.

So, call the building inspection department where you plan to build and ask them what their blue print (house plans) requirements are.
Ask them point blank if an architect’s seal is required on the plans. Ask them if an engineer’s seal is required. Sometimes a separate truss plan is required with an engineer’s seal, even if the trusses come from a truss company that has its own engineers. (You can’t fight city hall)

The inspection dept. will most likely require a set of plans that include (but are not limited to) a foundation plan, elevations, floor plan, roof framing plan, and cross sectional framing plan, as well as a plot plan.


(see page 4 of my Reading House plans.


No matter who draws your plans have then reviewed by a structural engineer. It only took one bad experience for me to never overlook that step again. It’s not expensive. Structural failure is. Even sags are considered a failure.

Good luck,
Carl