HillsideDB

From what I hear, they still are. I checked Fort Collins and Co Springs and talked to people on forums and both towns need a lot more housing. Seemed to be the story for most of the front range. But my boss at work said that only licensed architects could do plan work out there. He said he had tried to do some work for a family member and they wouldn't allow it. But then I got to thinking that i just finished a plan for a guy in Lakewood. It had to be engineered but as a business owner out there I'd be fine with that . Hell, I prefer it.

Thats disheartening to hear. I figured with the amount of building that is going on out there, there would be plenty of need for people to work on plans. I'll probably still give it a try. Plan on moving out there either way, even if I have to frame to get out there. thanks for your input!

Hey guys and gal I am trying to plan a possible move to Colorado Springs this Summer and would love to start a drafting/design business when I get there. In a meeting with my current bosses today, they mentioned that only licensed architects are allowed to design and draw houses and plans in Colorado. Is this true?? I found it hard to believe because I just finished some changes to one of our plans for a guy building in Lakewood. I made changes to the plans, then he took them to an engineer and I coordinated with the engineer on structural changes and he would add his sheets into the set at the end. Plans were submitted to city and everything was ok. So I'm curious. If I move to Co Springs could I still plan on doing design and drafting work for myself? I didn't really want to have to work for anyone beside this and maybe some general contracting. Can anyone give me some info? thanks! -Tony

Hm. I'm in X7 and I thought he was in HD 2016. I have HD 2015 so I thought he'd be able to save it down to an older version for me to work in it. I guess not. I'll double check our versions and see if compatible. Thanks for the quick response and info.

I am trying to help a guy out with a project and he's sent me the file a couple times. He is working in HD Pro and not thinking I tried to open it in Chief and it wouldn't work. It said the file was done in a newer version so I couldn't open it. I tried to open it in HD Pro and it gave me the same message. So today he saved it down as an older version and sent it to me and it still gave the same message of not being able to open it because it was done on a newer version. Is there a way to open new files on a program that is a year old. I know with AutoCad you could save the file down to an earlier version and then anyone from that version and up could open it. Am I forgetting to do something? I even downloaded it and saved it to my computer and tried to open it and no luck. I feel like there is a way I just don't know it. Any tips would be appreciated. Thanks!

Oh nice. Cool I'll make sure to do that. Thanks for the tip!

Are there groups of notes in Chief? Is there a way to make somewhat of a database of notes to grab quick for plans. In softplan its called speed notes. You hit a keyboard shortcut and your list pops up that you can organize by foundation notes, structural notes, elevation notes, etc. I was just curious if there is anything like that in Chief. Or can I build one? Does anyone else do it?

Dshall, thats what I originally thought the roof would look like.And the builder drew out what he wanted to see, which is what i sketched out. I just could not for the life of me, get the roofs to meet and look pretty. Chopsaw thanks for the plan! i think I'll play with it a bit to get that ridge to be level. Thanks for the help guys! Hope I can return the favor.

hey guys sorry for not responding sooner. I was on the laptop and it died and i didnt have much left in the tank. Looks like Glenn and Chopsaw got it! I sure appreciate the help. I couldn't figure it out and i was going crazy. Alan, I wish we could have just made that bump out square that would have solved a lot of problems or even using a gable over the whole thing would have been easy. And I agree, that front entry way is really tiny. This is a new house build that is already bought. The homeowners wanted the bay area in the back (for what reason, I have no idea) and I'm guessing that front entry is tiny so those bedrooms can get as wide as possible. I'm just doing what Im told! haha, this is my first for this builder and I've never had that kind of problem before with a roof section. I sure appreciate the help and quick responses!! Thanks a ton guys!

yeah that makes sense. if the roof plane is a 6/12 off the straight wall, go to a 4/12 on the angle walls?

Here ya go guys, sorry about that. Adkins Residence.plan

I cant seem to post the plan. Sorry, I'm a newb. Ive selected the file and attached and it says no file was selected for upload.

And when I do create a ridge, I the fascias are sloped and i cant seem to get them to connect. I thought i had the roofs on here figured out, but i guess not. I added another pic of the roof and attached the plan itself. Its probably a simple fix that im not seeing.

hey guys, im not having luck. I know what the roof is supposed to look like, how I would build it, but I dont know how to make the program build it. As you can see from the pics, in plan its correct. But in 3d I need there to be a ridge for the hips to connect and the ridge would then tie back into the main. Ive made the roof planes manually and cannot get them to connect correctly and create a ridge. I'm getting frustrated because this would be such a small simple roof to build. What am i doing wrong here fellas? I use Softplan at work during the day and I hate to say I think the roof system is better in that program. That hurt to say that. haha!

Gawdzira, thats what I was afraid of. At the same pitch as the rest of the roof the bump out roof is too tall and goes over that near hip. I agree about using the main roof to cover the bump. Just make it a 2' overhang and it would cover the bump and cut cost of extra roof framing and material. I think this is what I'm gonna go with and send it back to the builder to get his 0.02. Thanks Shane for the info, I couldn't get it to work right. I wasn't sure exactly what you meant. I'll see what the builder says and we'll go from there. Thanks guys

I did try auto build, but since it's so close to the corner, it incorporated the hip from the main roof into that small roof and it looked really weird and I think my builder wants a separate roof for the bump out.

Hey guys I'm having trouble with this roof. I have a small bump out on a rear wall that has angled walls like a bay window except this is full height and the sliding door will be in it. However, I have killed myself trying to get this roof to work. I'm usually decent at figuring how a roof will go together but nothing seems to look right in the 3d and in plan view it looks worse. And then to make matters worse it seems to be cutting into the ceiling. I've got my baselines on the wall exteriors just like the other roof planes. I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong here. Any help would be much appreciated. I attached jpegs of the roof and plan area. Thanks, Tony

I'm in Omaha/council bluffs and might be able to help. Let me know if you're still looking. Thanks Tony Wright

Just starting my business I've done a few plans for custom homes but in really rural areas that don't require much info. Mostly sets for the contractors to use and then a set for the material suppliers to do estimates. I worked for a home builder who wanted a lot of details but this was because the framers he used needed a lot of help on building things. The bigger cities in the area require more info/details and are pretty strict with that and plot plans. Its a bummer to have to do all the extra work but its nice being able to charge for it now and not too terrible on the back! And thanks for the tips RL-Inc.!

This is all great to hear! Ive been in the construction industry for a while mostly framing and a couple years drafting, but just started a design/drafting business of my own. I'd love to be able to just draw up plans and do renderings instead of swinging a hammer in -20 or 110 temps. I've done a couple homes and love it. Not trying to get rich, would just like to stay busy. I think the work is there, I just have to get my name out and find it. I was thinking of sending a business flyer to local contractors and builders. How did you guys get hooked up with contractors? Really glad to see everyone is staying pretty busy.