Are you a licensed architect? No. Neither Shawn Ambrose nor CADDesign LLC is licensed to practice architecture in any capacity. CADDesign LLC is strictly a design & drafting service for single-family homes. However, CADDesign does work together with a licensed & insured structural engineer or architect on each project to produce signed & sealed "permit ready" documents that meet all federal, state and local building codes & zoning ordinances. How do you produce a set of permit-ready construction drawings? First, we develop a preliminary house and site design according to the client's goals that meets the approval of the neighborhood design review board (DRB) if any, as well as all applicable building codes, zoning ordinances and FEMA regulations. This design set will include a developed site plan, floor plans, roof plans, all exterior elevations and it will make provisions for the structural and mechanical aspects of the house. Please visit our Project Gallery to view some of the models and custom homes we've designed for our Florida clients. Once we receive design approval we'll develop this preliminary design set into a set of "pre-engineered" construction drawings that will be submitted to the truss manufacturer of the builder's choice. The truss manufacturer will develop a complete set of engineered truss drawings for the roof and floors (if applicable). Next, we'll submit a set of our pre-engineered drawings with a set of the truss manufacturer's drawings to the structural engineer for their review. The structural engineer will review both sets and add a series of recommendations, e.g., "redlines" that will get added to both sets (CADDesign will update their pre-engineered construction set and the truss manufacturer will change their truss set). Next, CADDesign's updated construction set will be returned to the structural engineer to be signed & sealed, the truss engineer will sign and seal their own drawings. Once the construction drawing set and truss set are signed & sealed, the builder can then submit both sets for permit approval.
How detailed are your construction drawings? We will supply you with a complete "builder set" that is pegged to the builder's contract specifications and contains sufficient detail to obtain permit approvals and construct the building accurately. The builder set is comprised of the construction drawings for the house and the typical structural details and notations that are supplied by the engineer or architect of record and attached to the back of the set. However, any detailing of mill work, cabinetry, fixtures, finishes, etc. is left generic unless otherwise requested by the builder and/or homeowner so as to allow the builder the maximum freedom possible to make any required adjustments without compromising the intent of the design.
How do you ensure the accuracy of your drawings? We use a drawing technique called "X Referencing" to produce fast and accurate drawings that are easy to engineer, easy to permit and help you to avoid costly mistakes in the field. This method makes it possible to quickly update an entire set of drawings using just a few master files that are linked to each sheet in the set. For example, we can make edits to a single master floor plan and the changes will be reflected automatically on every plan sheet in the set including site, foundation, floor, floor framing, electrical, roof, furniture layout and client presentation plans. We do the same with elevations, notes and details -- this reduces production time significantly and ensures the greatest consistency and accuracy throughout the set.
Do you write your own job specifications? No. Each builder is responsible for their own job specifications based on the contracts they have with their clients.
Do you sign & seal your own drawings? No. This is done by the structural engineer or architect of record.
Who normally does your structural engineering? Carotti Engineering in Bradenton, Florida, although we can work with whomever you prefer.
Do you produce your own truss drawings? No. CADDesign will provide schematic floor framing and beam layouts but the actual truss shop drawings are produced and engineered in-house by the truss manufacturer.
Do you generate your own energy calculations? No. Each builder is responsible to obtain energy calculations from the HVAC contractor of their choice prior to permit submital.
Can you work directly with our existing staff, model designs and CAD drawings? Yes. We can tag-team with your existing staff, or work alone. We can make revisions to your existing CAD files, or create new files from scratch. We can follow your existing CAD standards or utilize our own -- we strive for seamless integration so you'll want to work with us again and again.
Can you work directly with our Interior Designers? Yes. Actually, we believe that a good house design starts from the inside out, e.g., from functional furniture layouts, circulation patterns and how people will use the home -- not vice versa. We prefer to work together with the interior designers from the onset of a project so all aspects of the final design package can be properly integrated, including furniture selections and layouts, finishes, lighting, appliances, cabinetry, mill work, fixtures, and so on. Interior designers appreciate working with us.
Can you work directly with our customers? Yes. We'll show them the same professionalism and attention to detail you would expect from your own staff.
Do you ever work for private clients? Yes.
Can you come work in our office from time to time? Yes.
How do I receive drawings from you? PDF files are emailed directly to the client or to a local printer, hard copies are hand delivered.
How can I get reprints of my drawings? We'll email you the CAD files so you can print your job in-house, or to a local printer who will keep your job on file. In either case, you be able to make as many reprints as you'd like on demand.
Copyright - who owns the rights to your drawings? CADDesign LLC copyrights and retains exclusive ownership rights to all of its own intellectual property. However, each builder or private client can reprint and build any design we do for them as many times as they like with a re-use fee for each iteration. Please see pricing page for details.
Will you ever sell my model design to another builder? Not without your written consent.
What version of AutoCAD do you use? We currently use AutoCAD 2004.
Can you teach me AutoCAD so I can make simple edits to my own drawings? Yes.
What if I don't see my question answered here? Please call or email us with any additional questions.
