Are your drawings working for you—or just looking pretty? Ever notice how everyone assumes their plans are “standard”? Have you ever had the opportunity to compare architectural drawings? Most people haven’t. I’m in a unique position as a structural engineer: I see everything. I review drawings from all corners of the construction world—custom homes, pole barns, remodels, decks, additions, pergolas, you name it. I’ve seen napkin sketches that somehow made it to permit review, DIY SketchUp exports from a free trial version, gorgeous high-end architectural plans and even seen hand-drafted masterpieces from old-school architects who refuse to touch a computer.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗿𝗮𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 (𝗵𝗶𝗻𝘁: 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝘁) It can certainly impress, but its first job is to inform...