hand drafting as a pro - feasibility

Edwards Finance > CAD Drafting

Q. What do you think about a professional - architect or designer - that still hand draws all his projects? And, can one be financially successful (or efficient) today w/out CAD? BTW, to narrow the focus, let's say small, one or two man office, doing residential & small commercial design rather than, say, skyscrapers.

A. Why the question? Are you looking to be on your own and can't decide? Short answer: An office can have all CAD and no hand drafting, but no hand drafting office can afford to be without CAD. Whether I use CAD or not depends on the project. I use CAD for commercial projects, but only for CD's , though increasingly design-drawings for client's inputs on their lap tops while on the roads. 1) Easier to coord. with the PE's. All the trades and owners demand it for interactions and comments. 2) Many repeated details, ceiling grids..ability to insert mfg's details. 3) More precice . I use hand drafting for residentials: 1) Coord. with PE's not a problem, simple steel beams is done in house. Engineered Lumbers (TJI"s) has great service. 2) objective test for youngsters for hand eye coordination: as designer material or not. 3) One is apt to be more thoughtful and careful about what is drawn, since it takes energy to erase and re-draw. More white trace is a good thing. 4) I like doing it. The thinking process is more to my nature and force of habit. My residential clients like it. The human touch indicates their house is special and pride is involved. My drafting hand is excellent from 20 some years of practice. As for speed: draw as much as you can vert. and hor. with min. movement the drafting machine: just as fast as CAD. 5) Only once a residential clients requested CAD . 6) It works only with custom residential ( higher fees). Hand draft won't work at all if I were in business of doing revisions or flipping of stock plans for a residential developer. I do use CAD for residential for measuring odd angles and for creating a standard sheet for General Notes and Standard details. I have three drafting tables for a 1.5 man office. One spot for CAD, the other two with drafting machines. Just about right with about 80% residential projects. I've been in business for about 12 yrs, with a consistent and respectable profit.

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