Question : Books or Software to do Home Blueprints myself?
Im getting ready to build an 800 sq ft addition to my house. its a straight forward addition, just extending the house straight back. The roofing, etc is all very simple and I plan to do everything myself and contract out what I cant do. There are lots of good books people have referred me towards home building, framing, foundations, roofing, etc but am looking for any good books or software to do the blueprint work myself so I can turn into the city.

The few people Ive talked to in the construction biz want well over $ 4000k and up to do the blueprints for me. Im trying to save any which way I can and $ 4000 to do drawings is too much for me. I can do them myself if I have some knowledgeable books to go on. For reference, I do have one of my brothers sets of blueprints for the house he expanded which was a lot more involved than what I plan to do. He had several different roof angles to contend with becuase of his addition. I wont have that problem. I’ve got an A shaped roof and will just be carrying it back another 30 feet or so.

Anyways, any books or software out there I can do some research on? Much appreciated! Thanks!
home construction software

Best answer:

Answer by redleader
If you haven’t done so already, talk to your city’s building department and find out what they require. Some may accept a sketch on a legal pad sheet, if it’s a very straightforward, conventional construction. Other municipalities would approve a detailed, scaled pencil drawing on graph paper and others may require a licensed architect’s stamp on any submitted plans.
A contractor who is known by the building dept staff may gain more leniency with the detail required in the plans than a homeowner whose abilities may be questionable.
There is home design software available in the $ 100 price range that will produce fairly professional-looking illustrations of the intended addition, but true computer drafting software would be cost-prohibitive and require considerable training for most laypersons to operate.

If you are able to sketch all of the required details on paper, I believe you could submit that to an architect or draftsperson and have them “computerize” it for much less than the $ 4000 you were quoted.