Thursday, 8 December 2011

First Drafts Always need Work

By Xander Davenport


I'd always had it in my head that once I'd lived thru my string of bad flats and a cramped townhouse in the middle of the town, I'd build my own place. The design would be all me, down to the cornices. Naturally I'd made a sketch on a cocktail napkin, done floor plans on the back of an envelope and come up with a hundred different concepts when I couldn't sleep. But as the day approached and my dreams were becoming fact, I realized it was going to be a touch harder.

The finances were in order, the property had been bought, now what? I had a feeling my mildly crooked drawing done in red lipstick was not really builder friendly. My sketches were not precisely what you would call to scale. I quickly realized I was in need of drafting services. Fortunately my bro is an architect and quickly stepped in, throwing words like cad drafting and finite modeling at me. Obviously he knew I had not got any idea what he was talking about, so he took me by the hand and sat me down for an explanation.

Here's the deal; there are tons of drafting contractors to be used. Most do something similar, create plans for buildings. But some are a lot better than others. Some just have an innate sense when it comes to design, its something you do not argue against and can never totally explain. I spent a second hoping he was one of the design geniuses, but way down I knew he could not disappoint.

He wanted to know absolutely everything. Ceiling height, rest room with tub or shower, single or double garage? I was overwhelmed initially, but working systematically we finished the first building design drafting. It just so happened that my brother was getting married some days later and would be away on his honeymoon for 3 months after. Fortunately he'd made some chums who were in drafting kit sales and set me up with computer drafting equipment, complete with some help from online drafting services.

Although it took a while to dip myself in the world of drafting (I even ended up studying about drafting equipment and drafting equipment repair), it was worth it. Having the ability to design my very own building from the sidewalk to the back fence was an overwhelming exciting, nerve wracking and forceful experience that I will not ever forget. Plan printing done, construction was a breeze and I am loving life in the home I designed myself (with some assistance).




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