RobDesLLC

I've previously posted this in response to a similar post:

Data & Financial Management:

I use Microsoft SharePoint as my primary repository for company files, with all design working files and assets (Chief Architect, Lumion, Adobe Creative apps, etc) on a local drive. I manage financials with Quickbooks Online. I use Microsoft Office 365 Business apps, including the use of Teams for project management and collaborating with clients. I sync SharePoint with OneDrive, and keep copies of all company files on a local drive synced to OneDrive. I also back up the company files to a NAS, and I back up the entirety of my Office 365 data (including all SharePoint files) to a cloud backup service. Design working files are backed up to a second local drive and another NAS. I also use Dialpad through my T-Mobile business account, allowing Ai to identify action items in my calls and messaging for adding to my task lists.

Document Sharing:

I have a folder for each project in my working files, and another in my company files. As I generate product to share with clients and trade partners, I save a copy from the working files project folder to the company files project folder, and the project folder is accessible through a tab in Teams for the project team. 

Contracts & Payments:

I use Adobe Sign for distributing and tracking contracts for e-signing. I both collect and make payments by ACH, with a handful of recurring expenses paid by debit card. I use a sweep account at my bank to receive payments (for more account security). 

It may sound like a lot, but it's actually very easy to use my system. I have redundant and accessible data storage, effective and easily searchable communications, efficient and easily auditable legal and financial transactions, and the ability to manage my business entirely from a Surface Pro tablet when I'm in the field or traveling - without any loss of functionality. I also use almost no paper, other than printing hard copies of layouts. 

Microsoft Teams:

Teams allows you to create a new team for each project, and to invite people to join from outside of your organization, such as clients, contractors, and engineers. Each team has access to the corresponding project folder in SharePoint. You can add apps to each team as needed, such as Planner for task management, Calendar, Adobe, and Approvals. The video conferencing, post, and chat features concentrate communications into a single platform, and maintain a record of communications for future reference as needed. 

This structure works well for me because it is easy to manage, effective, inexpensive, and scalable. It does not integrate into Quickbooks. I use Quickbooks Time for tracking billable hours, as well as time tracking in Chief Architect. 

You have Dropbox noted in your signature. Can you not share a compressed folder from Dropbox?

In my experience, as long as an accessible bath is provided, a private bath need not be designed to be accessible unless it provides a facility that isn't available elsewhere. For example, I redesigned the corporate offices of a local business that occupy a ground floor tenant space. The project included a fitness room and private bath for the CEO. An accessible bathroom was located down the hallway, open to everyone for use. Because his private bath included a shower, and no shower was provided elsewhere, the shower had to be accessible and therefore required grab bars and an area for a turn circle in the bath. 

If your private bath doesn't include elements not available elsewhere and requiring accessibility, it is a bathroom like any other in the space. An accessible bath elsewhere in the space would satisfy the ADA. Without reviewing the plan correction report myself, I am inclined to believe that the plan reviewer has made an error and is incorrectly citing code.

Also, that's a plan review item that falls under the jurisdiction of the building official, not the fire marshal.  

Is there another bathroom nearby that is ADA compliant? 

8 hours ago, winterdd said:

Does the platform version need a slight slope to it? I assume it does but can just note it on the drawing.

Just note it on the drawing. There's no benefit from modeling it, and it would eat up time that is best allocated to more profitable endeavors.

Draw it as a deck with rails, and then make the roof planes run into it.

I use Canvas for interior and exterior, photo document the whole house, and then spend a few hours correcting the model I receive from Canvas.

On 12/22/2023 at 3:19 PM, Gawdzira said:

I have killed this term from my vocabulary. The article being balanced is a bit of a stretch. A person of color tells her truth and calls out this outdated term for what it is (racist and lacking awareness) and then an interior designer from the south (who is also a person of color) appears to be preserving her client base by keeping this outdated term alive. 

 

Architecture has typically been a field populated with progressive thinking. I do not see a down side to moving the nomenclature to Primary Bed/Bath. I do see a down side to the preservation of the term "Master". 

 

P.S. I also am no longer using the term "Parlor" or "Drawing Room". Terms evolve.

"Master Bedroom" (or "Master" anything) isn't a racist term, and there is no such thing as "her truth", "his truth", "your truth", "my truth", etc. There is only "the truth". 

A good friend of mine just moved into a new home he built for himself that I designed. He grew up poor and black in the South, and he has owned a business in the construction industry for over 20 years. He never once had an issue with the term "Master Bedroom", and used it often across multiple projects, including this one. When I told him about this apparently being an issue for some people, he just shook his head and said, "That's stupid". I agree with him. This is the sort of thing that white women who don't have to work worry about. 

I'll be keeping the term on my plans, along with "Parlor" and "Drawing Room", which are both still in use. If someone were to label a guest house as "Slave Quarters", THAT would be offensive to a reasonable person, and I'd agree with the claim that it's racist, but that's not what we're talking about.

I prefer to use Canvas to do a lidar scan of the house, which I then send to Canvas to process and send back to me as a plan file. While I am on site scanning, I thoroughly photo document the house, and I take a few key measurements to send to Canvas for reference. After I get the plan file from Canvas, I transfer it to my plan template (from Rene Rabbitt), correct all materials and assemblies, and then bring the as-built plan back out to the site on a Surface Pro tablet, where I draw in the electric circuits in Chief. Then, back at my desktop, I import the survey and create a site model, at which point I have a complete as-built model to copy and develop into a renovation plan.

The stairs you have depicted will not comply with IRC 2021 Sec. R311.7.5.2.1. 

I use a roof plane schedule and include the area

Here are a few sheathing materials I made for myself.Sheathing.calibz There's green and red ZIP System, T-111PT, and Advantech.

I use Teams for video conferencing and have had no issues with multiple participants. I think the most I've had is 6. I like using Teams because 1) it's included in my Office 365 subscriptions, 2) it records meetings, and 3) it integrates perfectly with my Outlook scheduling.

I also like to use Teams because it automatically creates a site in Sharepoint, which I use to make project-related files (excluding working files) accessible to everyone on the team. I have folders for legal documents, financial documents, work product, surveys, geotech reports, etc. Other app add-ins allow me to manage project tasks and calendars, manage document e-signing through Adobe Sign, etc. I like the chat feature because it keeps all project-related messaging in one place, instead of having compartmentalized conversations through text that might cause conflicts. 

I have not used it with VOIP so I can't speak to that. I have Dialpad on my computer and my cell phone, which I set up through T-Mobile. Dialpad allows me to use my computer's microphone and speakers for hands free conversations and text messaging while I work, and I can switch between devices while on calls without issue. It also has a built-in AI that will automatically record transcripts of my calls, which it then scans (along with text messages) for action items from which it creates tasks for task lists. 

I created seamless textures for taped green and red ZIP System sheathing Photoshop, and then created materials in my user library. I have substituted these for the standard OSB sheathing in the Wall Type DBX when needed, and adjusted the layer thickness appropriately. It populates correctly on my material lists, but doesn't calculate tape (and there's no need for that). I took a similar approach to Advantech subfloor sheathing. 

I have an HTC Vive Pro 2 that I bought specifically for arch viz work. As much as I love the Vive Pro 2, I would agree with what Rene said, however I would qualify my statement by saying that you should research the pros and cons of each device you consider to determine which is best suited to your particular needs. There are trade-offs between weight and portability v. graphics performance and comfort, the hassles of cables v. the limitations of batteries, etc. 

Make a sloped polyline in elevation view, then convert to a 3D solid, change material to your floor tile, and adjust the depth in plan view so it snaps to each wall.

11 hours ago, DesignGallery said:

Again, super helpful! Thank you! Is it correct to assume that you're mainly an individual operation?

You're welcome! Yes, I'm a one man show.

On 11/18/2023 at 7:25 PM, DesignGallery said:

Wow! The video is super helpful! Sounds like Dropbox and OneDrive are common and possibly other NAS.

 

What do you all do for workflow? Generating and approving designs, selections, invoices, handing off project phases between team members?

I start my Pre-Design phase by looking up tax records and zoning information for the property before I meet the client. Once we have established a scope of work, I request from them any original construction documents for further review. I then determine a range of hours estimated to complete the design, and expected subconsultant fees. I verbally inform them of the total fee range to anticipate, and, if they wish to move forward, I draft a design retainer agreement and send it out for e-signing via Adobe Sign. 

Upon execution of the retainer agreement, I send an invoice for the retainer through Quickbooks, which includes a payment link. The client makes an ACH payment that is deposited into a sweep account, which then automatically transfers to the operating account. 

I then create 2 project folders - one in my company files, which goes into Sharepoint and contains all legal, financial, permitting documents, and work product, and a second in my working files, which is stored locally and not shared. I create a team in MS Teams, which includes the project folder in my company files. This allows my clients full access to all documents for total transparency. We also use the chat, task, and whiteboard apps, and the video conferencing capability built into Teams. If they have a contractor, I invite them to the Team, but I don’t give them access to the legal and financial documents folders.

I typically order a survey, and if it’s a renovation/addition, I usually request a flood certificate, and schedule a time to take as-built photos and do a Lidar scan using Canvas app. I then send the scan out for processing, and receive an as-built model as a Chief Architect plan. 

I start the Conceptual  Design phase with a survey in PDF and DWG, and (for renovations) a flood certificate, and an as-built model. I clean up the as-built model, convert the DWG into a terrain model, and generate an as-built layout. I save a copy of this plan and layout, rename it, and revise it into a conceptual model. For new construction, I obviously just start drawing a new plan. 

When I have a conceptual design ready to present, I schedule a Teams meeting and share my screen to show it in plan view and 3D. I mark it up with notes for changes (if necessary), and put that into a list that I email to the clients. We do another meeting to review the design, and if they approve, I generate a layout for them to approve. With their approval, I submit to the ARB for conceptual review. Based on that review, we either make further revisions and resubmit, or continue into Design Development.

The Design Development phase is similar, adding more details and exterior selections as required for preliminary approval by the ARB. Selections are specified on the plans and ARB application. With this phase complete, we move into the Final Design phase.

At the beginning of the Final Design phase, I send a PDF and DWG’s of the plans to the civil engineer, landscape designer, and structural engineer. The civil engineer sends back a grading & drainage plan, and I give that to the landscape designer, who sends back a landscape plan and irrigation plan. Both of those are required for final approval by the ARB.  The structural engineering is required for a municipal building permit, so I start now to save time. I finish the various details required. I then prepare a physical sample board, and with the clients approval, send the submittal to the ARB for final approval. 

With final approval, I create the Construction Documents. I combine the final plans with the engineering sheets, generate a ResCheck report, and share the complete package with the clients for permitting. 

I get client approvals documented by either Teams chat or email. I am going to switch to the Approvals app within Teams to better document approvals. 

Throughout this process, I log my billable hours and mileage in Quickbooks Time, and I send monthly statements to the clients. When the retainer dwindles down to a minimum threshold specified in the design retainer agreement, I invoice the clients again. I pay all of my project expenses by ACH through Quickbooks, eliminating the burden of handling checks and the security issues related to them. All vendors and subconsultants are instructed to submit their invoices by email to a dedicated ar-ap email account, which is scanned by automation to retrieve PDF’s and copy them to a Sharepoint folder for review and approval for payment. I make a lien waiver for each vendor payment and send it for e-signing prior to payment. The invoice is dragged and dropped into Quickbooks to be paid upon receipt of the e-signed lien waiver. 

I keep the Team active throughout construction so that file access is maintained and communication continues in the chat app. I deactivate the Team upon final inspection or CO. 

This system works for me because it documents everything well, it minimizes time to complete financial transactions, it nearly eliminates the use of paper, it can be accessed and managed through desktop pc’s, tablets, or smart phones, and it fosters effective communication and collaboration between myself, my clients, and their contractors. 

10 minutes ago, Renerabbitt said:

This is an eloborate setup, why are you backing up files to a NAS and to a cloud service and then to a cloud backup service? Why not just the cloud? then periodic system backups to the NAS? Do you use symbolic links? Onedrive saves a version history if you ever need to revert to a previous version...are you versioning your project process as you go?
Cool tip about dialpad.
I use dropbox for my project files, it doesnt have the same sync issues that onedrive has, (i use onedrive for other things) I recomend it.
An old vid of mine- iterative versioning, can always revert back to a previous design iteration, or a previous version of a current design, all through dropbox. Could take any of these folders and share to your sharepoint as well or symbolic link to a NAS or 2nd drive. Sounds like you have your system and it works so Im just sharing info

 

About 10 years ago I had a hard drive failure that cost me 3 weeks of productivity. By maintaining redundant storage across multiple platforms, I can mitigate the shortcomings of each and ensure the preservation of my data. It's a bit of work to set up initially, but it runs smooth and requires little maintenance to keep going. I have had no issues with OneDrive. I only access my folders through File Explorer on my desktop, or in Teams when using my Surface Pro tablet. All else just operates in the background.

This approach is only for business documents. All of my working files for design are kept on a local drive, and then backed up to a second storage drive on my computer and a separate NAS. I only use SSD's for reliability and read/write speed.

I appreciate the video. It's interesting to see how others approach the same problem and come up with different solutions, as I never stop learning. Thanks Rene.

I use SharePoint as my primary repository for company files, with all design working files and assets (Chief Architect, Lumion, Adobe Creative apps, etc) on a local drive. I manage financials with Quickbooks Online. I use Microsoft Office 365 Business apps, including the use of Teams for project management and collaborating with clients. I sync SharePoint with OneDrive, and keep copies of all company files on a local drive synced to OneDrive. I also back up the company files to a NAS, and I back up the entirety of my Office 365 data (including all SharePoint files) to a cloud backup service. Design working files are backed up to a second local drive and another NAS. I also use Dialpad through my T-Mobile business account, allowing Ai to identify action items in my calls and messaging for adding to my task lists.

I have a folder for each project in my working files, and another in my company files. As I generate product to share with clients and trade partners, I save a copy from the working files project folder to the company files project folder, and the project folder is accessible through a tab in Teams for the project team. 

I use Adobe Sign for distributing and tracking contracts for e-signing. I both collect and make payments by ACH, with a handful of recurring expenses paid by debit card. I use a sweep account at my bank to receive payments (for more account security). 

It may sound like a lot, but it's actually very easy to use my system. I have redundant and accessible data storage, effective and easily searchable communications, efficient and easily auditable legal and financial transactions, and the ability to manage my business entirely from a Surface Pro tablet when I'm in the field or traveling - without any loss of functionality. I also use almost no paper, other than printing hard copies of layouts. 

On 10/30/2023 at 12:20 PM, Ed_Orum said:

The problem is a couple of local building inspectors who want the plans to show the slope in section views.  I did a section view, then had to change it to a cad view, then had to slope the garage floor in cad.  Not so bad except if something changes, and the section in cad must be re-drawn.
The other issue is with the garage door heights.  Since the floor is 2" lower at the door, the automatic story pole dimensions are inaccurate.  Again, back to CAD or over riding the dimension.

That is insane. In my opinion, you should talk to the building official about it. If your plans went through the plan reviewer and a permit was issued, it isn't the inspector's role to make that demand. They have the authority to demand a revision for a code compliance issue, but not a minor graphic issue such as this. They're way out of line. 

A design alternative I use regularly that could solve the problem in a less confrontational way would be to specify a flat garage slab with a 1.5" x 11.25" recess at the overhead door opening. The recess would have a chamfered edge. I then use a standard recess detail for this section of the slab, show a dashed polyline on the foundation plan and call out the recess detail, and make no corresponding change to the model itself.

On 10/17/2023 at 4:01 PM, Ed_Orum said:

This house has a 10' wide, 4" thick concrete slab for the porch floor.  The outside edgeof the slab will be thickened to 12" Deep x 6" Wide.
The slab needs to have a slope of 1/4" per foot, so over the 10' distance the outer edge of the slab needs to be 2-1/2" lower than the edge against the building.

So, my question is how does Chief apply a slope to a slab?

Thanks in advance.

Lane

I set the floor elevation to the lowest point and let it stay flat. I address the slope in notes and annotations. In my opinion, most of the time the juice isn't worth the squeeze for sloping slabs.

On 10/18/2023 at 1:47 PM, jmyers said:

Does anyone have any thoughts or policies in place to protect yourself from accusations of copyright violations?  For example, consider these scenarios:

 

1. A client brings you a set of plans and asks you to redraw them. 
 

2. A client provides you with images of a design and asks you to  create a set of plans. 

 

3. A builder client asks you to redraw their plan collection. 
 

All of the above scenarios could potentially present the risk of a copyright claim and lawsuit by completing the client requests. 
 

Would anyone care to share their policies/practices or offer advice in order to avoid copyright violations and minimize the risk of copyright accusations?

 

Thanks to all who reply!

In Scenario #1, I do not redraw the plans without first contacting the original architect or designer to acquire their permission to do so. If they will not allow it, I refuse to do the work for the client. I always advise the client that it would be in their legal and financial interest to attempt to work with them on revisions rather than myself.

In Scenario #2, I advise the client that I will use the images only as reference material for style or to incorporate particular design elements, but I will not attempt to recreate someone else's design.

In Scenario #3, I ask the builder to state that they own the plans as their intellectual property, and I confirm this with the original architect or designer. 

I protect my own intellectual property with the following contract clause:

Quote

 

Consultant reserves the right of ownership and copyright to all documents and drawings produced under this Agreement, and does, by full and timely payment of all fees and expenses due under this Agreement, license the documents and drawings to Client only for their singular use in the construction of the project on the property described herein. Client acknowledges that the use of the documents and drawings produced under this Agreement for more than a single use, and/or on a property not specifically described by PID # or Tax Map # within this Agreement, is unauthorized and constitutes a violation of the intellectual property rights of Consultant. Client does therefore agree to pay Consultant for each unauthorized use an additional sum equal to 200% of the fees and expenses previously paid to Consultant under this Agreement, as well as all collection fees, attorney’s fees, court costs, or other expenses necessary to recover payment for unauthorized use.

 

If Client reuses or makes any modification to Consultant’s designs, documents or work product without the prior written authorization of Consultant, or uses the documents without retaining Consultant, Client agrees, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to release Consultant, its officers, directors, employees and subconsultants from all claims and causes of action arising from such uses, and shall indemnify and hold them harmless from all costs and expenses, including the cost of defense, related to claims and causes of action to the extent such costs and expenses arise from Client’s modification or reuse of the documents.

 

I mark all conceptual and preliminary plan sets as "NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION" in 1.5", bold, semi-transparent red letters across the entire title block. I also label my plan sets as "CONCEPTUAL SET", "PRELIMINARY SET", "ARB FINAL SET", "PERMIT SET", and, "CONSTRUCTION SET" in the title block, just above the sheet label.

I have default R values set for the different assemblies I use frequently, based on what is required locally under IECC 2009. I set the SHGC and U-factor for windows and doors after I receive the lumber yard's window & door quote from the contractor, and then I run the ResCheck report.