I have a 30x40 metal shop currently, and I plan to overhaul the shop and then add on about 800 sq ft of living quarters. It is a simple project, but I want to get the layout, etc. right the first time. If you know of anyone in the North Texas area that can help me put a set of plans together, then please let me know. Thank you in advance. alandecker06@gmail.com

You might be better off going to a custom home builder, most of those guys either do that as well or have a guy they can call on to help you out.

this Is a fairly simple process and if the builder can't do it they usually have someone either in office or really close by that can get it done without the extreme cost of an architect.

Yep you're looking for a draftsman.

Speaking of draftsman, how about someone in Montgomery County?

http://tracyscustomhomes.com/about-us/

Roy and Tracy are both Ags.

Determine where your plumbing (kitchen and bath) will go, then build everything else around it. You're very limited already by size, so you won't have many options. You don't need an architect. Someone with an autocad program and a little experience should suffice. Again, with a 30'x40' rectangle, your options are limited. Others have already done this before you. So search the Internet. No need to "reinvent the wheel."

My dad used graph paper to design his barndo. We actually built off his hand drawn plans.

Are you planning to do most of the work your self?

Will the plans have to go through city or county review?

If you're just wanting the layout done in CAD so you know all the measurements are correct, I can help with that.

This is what I did for the Barndo I'm currently working on. A few revisions have been done since this version to clean up small stuff. But the idea is to be able to frame all of the walls off of this drawing, so far it has worked perfectly.


I made a similar one and gave it to my plumber so he could located the walls he cared about, then he did his standard offset from walls to place the drains ( X" for toilets, no offset for in-wall drains).

Will do another version of this for my electrical layout also.

I live on a ranch and have built many houses in rural areas.

A word of caution on design and building. Even if there is no required review and inspections, always design, build and get inspections from a licensed inspector. There can be dire consequences for substandard construction practices.

Just one example: ingress and egress.

Locogringo's Thread

Find bgrimm05. I believe he's building one.