These articles were written by Tim Davis. You may use these articles on your website as long as the URL's remain intact and the article is not changed in any way. Just email me at tim@parsonscorner.org to let me know where you have placed the article.

Do you want to draw your own house plan?

Great idea, it sure saves money. Also eliminates the middle man. Those architects and designers can get expensive. I've heard that some designers can charge up to ten dollars per square foot for simple drawings containing a floor plan and exterior elevations. Now that is a chunk of change. If you are going to do it for yourself, you're going to need to know how. Below are just some of the things needed to know to draw a simple ranch style home.

So what do you need to know to draw your own house plan?

1. You need to know how to lay out your Floor Plan. The floor plan is the template for your entire set of drawings. From the floor plan show where we want our electrical, tell how big our rooms are, note our window and door sizes, etc., so this is where we have to begin. Sure you could start with the exterior views but that would limit our interior of the home to what the outside looks like. Not a good idea! The house needs to be functional first and look pretty second out of necessity.

2. You need to understand the mechanics of a well designed kitchen A kitchen is a place where the homemaker spends a majority of their time. It needs to be comfortable but functional. This area consists of a Sink area, Cooking area, & Food storage area. The best layout for a kitchen is one in which the least steps are taken to reach each appliance. This is called the working area or working triangle. A good working triangle doesn't exceed 12 to 14 feet all the way around.

3. The builder of the home would sure appreciate knowing where the walls, windows, & doors are located exactly. They would also like knowing door and window sizes, not to mention anything else special that is on the plan. That's where the dimensions and notes come in handy. You need to be able to create a dimensional string and groups of notes that aren't confusing.

4. The Electrical Plan is very important to you as it gives you the opportunity to customize the home to your power and comfort needs! On the other hand, it is not always needed. What I mean by this is that any electrician who has taken a test for his or her license knows what is required electrical service by code. Chances are that they have already wired quite a few residences and barring any special needs or preferences can do the job without this plan. Always be aware though!!! Certain states require that you be a licensed Architect or Electrical Engineer to do Electrical plans. Be sure to check with your local building inspector to see what your limitations are! This will definitely save you some headaches down the road.

5. In standard construction, at least in the South Eastern United States, houses are built on Masonry Foundations or Basements. A foundation is the part of the home that anchors it to or keeps it from settling into the ground. This knowledge is a must in completing your plans.

6. What about how the exterior is going to look? It is no small matter if you are wanting to convey the idea of how the finished product is going to look when construction is complete. What is it going look like when its built? How to determine the best roof pitch, do we use brick, siding or rock?

7. Folks, I defiantly don't believe in mind reading! Neither does to typical contractor! If there is anything special you are wanting to build into your house, how is the builder to know unless you show them? You can make all the notes you want to on your plans and elevations but the message of how you want the house constructed may not always come across. That's why you need to understand how to draw details.

8. Then there is the task of finishing your drawings and not letting goofs and slip-ups get out the door. You need to understand the most common mistakes made by people who draw house plans so you can look out for them!

9. Last but not least in drawing your house plans is to know how to print them out and in what format and size.

My name is Tim Davis and I draw architectural plans for a living. I know what I'm talking about. I also teach others how to draw plans in a virtual classroom on the internet called House Plan Drafting 101 at http://houseplandrafting101.com. Above are the basics I teach in that class.

5 Reasons Why You Should Learn To Draw Your Own House Plans

Learning how to draw your own house plans with CAD is a great way to start building your own house. Even if you are not ready, but plan on doing it, it will all start with a plan. Or, if you are ready, and are just itching to get the process started, learning how to draw your own house plans and floor plans has a number of options that you don't want to pass up. Here are five reasons why you should learn to draw your own plans for your dream house.

1. It Is Convenient
   • Once you have your own version of CAD, and have completed the lessons, you will then be able to work on your house plans at your convenience. With our busy schedules today, it can be difficult to try to find time to regularly meet with someone else who will do it for you. This way, you can sit down at your computer for just a few minutes a day - at your convenience and complete your floor plans in a rather short term.
   • Doing it this way there are no schedules to meet, and no one will be looking over your shoulder rushing you - and no fees. If you decide to wait a week or two until you get to it again - no problem. If you want to stop and think about a feature of the house - not a problem. It is all up to you. On the other hand, if you have the time, and are in a rush, you won't have to wait for someone else who is too busy to schedule in time for your house plans. You can devote a lot of time to it - if you want.
2. It Is Flexible
   • Being able to work into your own dream house plans those features that you are not yet sure of, gives you plenty of time and room to experiment. You can draw in a room, stairs, closets, cabinets, even the furniture and appliances. Then, if you decide you want to create a different look in your house, you can rearrange them - at no additional cost! This gives you maximum flexibility and power over your own floor plans and designs.
3. It Is Cheaper
   • Hiring expensive architects to make your drawings could be very costly, and sometimes it is very hard to explain just what you are looking for. But if you are not ready to go to an architect because you are not yet even sure what style of architecture you want in your new home, or what you want in it, then this will save you a lot of money, headaches and time. Although, in some instances you may still need an architect (in many rural areas one is not needed), drawing your own house plans gives you a way to draw, experiment, and fine-tune your plans at your leisure.
   • Revisions with an architect will cost you money - especially if you are not sure of what you want. Dreaming and rethinking your plans is fully allowed in this way. You and your mate can dream together and both contribute their ideas as you put it together in CAD.
4. It Is Progressive
   • At any stage of the drawing, you can see how it looks and make additions or improvements. You can even go online and look over other house plans to see what additions you might want to put into your new house. Even better yet, print out the plans you have and talk to your friends and get some of their input. Of course, you will get some funny ideas this way, but then again, who knows - you may hear some tremendous ones, too, that will make you want to go home right away and add that feature in to make your dream house perfect.
5. It Is Yours
   • After it is all said and done, you will have the joy of knowing that you designed it. Starting out with learning how to draw house plans, you went on and will have the confidence and pride of knowing that it was your ideas that helped put your dream house together. It meets your specifications, will match your needs, and best of all - it is just for you and your family to enjoy.
   • By Tim Davis, experienced draftsman and home designer. For more information about a low cost course teaching you to draw your own house plans, with personal help from the Instructor, please visit: http://houseplandrafting101.com

This article may be reproduced on your Web site only if you use this bio box and active links.

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Description:

Drawing your own house plans gives you a lot of leisure to design your dream house the way you want it. Here are five great reasons why learning to draw your own house plans is the perfect way to go.

Keywords:

house plans, floor plans, how to draw house plans, dream house, draw house plans

Learn Quickly to Draw and Customize Your Own House Plans

When it comes time for you to start thinking about building your own dream home, you will want to consider drawing and customizing your own house plans. After all, it is going to be your home for some time - do you really want it to look like a carbon copy of someone else's home? Why not learn to draw your own house plans, floor plans, and home design, to suit your unique tastes and needs, and make it your signature house by drawing it yourself? Here are some details about drawing your own house plans to get you headed in the right direction.

It Does Not Take Long To Learn

Learning how to draw house plans with CAD can be learned in just a few short weeks. While learning CAD itself will certainly take longer, a special course designed to teach you to draw house plans will enable you to learn just what you need to know to put your dream house together before long.

It Has Almost Unlimited Potential

Just think about what you could do if you knew how to put together your own house design! You would not have to settle with pre-made house plans - like everyone else, or pay high prices for architects to draw everything for you. Of course, if you live in a city, you need an architect's approval, but you are free to present your ideas to him or her with already drawn house plans in which you have already worked out many of the details. This could lead to some real savings for you.

Once you learn how to use the home design software, you could apply it to your custom-designed home. You will learn how to draw:

" Foundations

" Walls - exterior and interior

" Cabinets - kitchen and bathroom

" Basic electrical - 110V and 220V

" Stairs, decks and porches

" Front, side and elevation views

It Is Useable For Years To Come

Even after you use your house plans to build your home, you can still use the instruction you gained to build other things. You could design and add on a garage, a workshop, a pool house, or even use it for interior remodeling and additions. Each of these projects requires floor plans and a similar design structure to build. Besides that, who knows, you may even be able to use your talent to get a job drawing house plans.

It Is Uniquely Your Design

Like other people that have built their own homes, you will certainly be able to enjoy it. You, however, will have an even greater privilege and be able to point to your home with pride and say - "But I designed my own home and laid out the floor plans, too." How many others do you know can say that?

Learning to draw your own house plans simply starts out by looking into some of the details of the course and understanding what is involved. The cost of the first course is low, but it will give you what you need to know to draw a ranch home. The second course - also very inexpensive considering the value - will teach you how to draw a two-story home.

The great thing here is that your custom-designed house plans and floor plans start by just taking a look. What can you use those other pre-drawn house plans for? - Just more fuel for your own unique ideas.

By Tim Davis, experienced draftsman and home designer. For more information about a low cost course teaching you to draw your own house plans, with personal help from the Instructor, please visit:

http://houseplandrafting101.com/

This article may be reproduced on your Web site only if you use this bio box and active links.

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Article Summary:

Learning to draw your own house plans adds the thrill of doing it your way. You can freely add the features you want and take as long as you want - to make it your own unique home design.

Keywords: house plans, house design, home design, floor plans, how to draw house plans, draw your own house plans, dream home

Using the Old Drafting Board

By: Tim Davis Sr. ~ Master Drafter, Architectural Designer ~ Instructor, House Plan Drafting 101 http://houseplandrafting101.com/

Over the years as a draftsman I have mastered several Computer Aided Design (CAD) programs. AutoCAD, Generic CADD Level 3, Generic CADD 6, Generic CADD 3D, CadVance, TurboCad, and most recently, Chief Architect 8. Facts are though, I have been a drafter since the 1970's and the one thing I keep coming back to is the drafting board. You might ask me why would I return to the old hammer and chisel method of drafting with all these fine programs are available to me.

Honestly, I go back to the drafting board for one thing and one thing only, the discipline. I learned on the drafting board. I was able to concentrate better using it and it takes me back to a time when I was less hurried and more able to take pride in the skill of using the tools of the trade. Discipline is something rare today in our instant society. People want it now. What's wrong with that approach? Ever heard the saying: "if you want it right, it's worth waiting for"? Well, that is true.

I know that the Drafting board is a thing of the past and I really marvel at what technology has come up with, but sometimes I figure it is just worth the time to "Stop and smell the roses".

The New Automated Drafting / Drawing Programs

As you have probably seen in the previous article, I like doing things the old fashioned way. But I am not dumb. If a new tool comes out that will make my life simpler, I investigate it. One of those new tools is Chief Architect. I learned to use CAD (Computer Aided Drafting) programs back in 1989 and they were an exellent tool to work with. But when I was introduced to Chief, I was in Drafter Heaven.

I found that if I would simply lay out my Floor Plan and include the roof lines, viola, I had the Elevations too. A simple click of a couple of controls and I had a Foundation or Basement Plan. A few more controls and I had Framing Plans, Sectional Details, and most anything else needed to complete a set of submittable Architectural Plans.

Link to House Plan Drafting 101 Main Section ~ http://houseplandrafting101.com/

The Description of a Set of House Plans

Depending on how much detail your builder or local building inspector requires, the minimum set of plans should include the floor plan, exterior elevations, foundation or basement plan, and a roof plan.

A floor plan is a view of a house that would be seen if you were to take a knife and slice the house to see the walls, windows, doors, etc. from the top about mid ways down the walls. This is also called the dimensional plan. Most all floor plans are drawn at the scale of 1/4" = 1'- 0". It should include all the dimensions (measurements) of the wall, window, and door locations, door and window sizes, stair locations, room labels, locations of exposed beams, cased opening sizes and locations, bathroom layout showing sink vanity, tub, and toilet, kitchen cabinets with appliances & sink fixtures, and construction notes.

Some floor plans include the electrical symbols showing the receptacles, light switches, light fixtures, ceiling fans, cable connections, telephone jacks, and meter base locations. These can be included in the dimenstional plan but many opt to have it on a seperate drawing.

The exterior elevations include all four (4) views of the home which are front, left, rear, & right drawn also at 1/4" = 1' - 0" scale. The are some plans that have the front elevation drawn at 1/4" scale and then the left, rear & right at 1/8" = 1' - 0" On these views are notes about what type of siding or veneer, the roof pitches (angles), grade locations, finished floor & ceiling locations, and a roof plan showing the house from the top view. The roof plan is usually drawn at 1/8" = 1' - 0" scale or 1/16" = 1' - 0".

The foundation or basement plan is the same type as the floor plan showing wall types, footing sizes, floor joist or truss locations, support beams, pilasters or piers, and ventilation vents & openings. The foundation or basement plan is also a dimensional type drawing. Most of these plans are drawn at the scale of 1/4" = 1'- 0".

If the plan is more detailed we would see sectional details showing the wall and roof construction of the home, HVAC plan, plumbing plan, and cabinet elevations. Even more involved plans would show the types of mouldings, pediments, & trims in greater detail.

Tim Davis has been a professional home designer since 1990. His website is at http://customhouseplans.8m.com and he also teaches architectural drafting at http://houseplandrafting101.com.

Tags: architecture, blueprints, drawings, home, house, plans

All articles are © Tim Davis 2008. Use these articles with permission only!

IT CAN BE DONE!!! In Solitare, after I clicked on the last King, my score reached 725. How about that??? 7-22-2008