Custom homes

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

• How detailed is the construction document set?+

  Permit-ready CDs include floor plans, elevations, sections, roof framing, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, structural notes, and details necessary for the AHJ and a competent GC to build the home. We don't produce full structural calcs — those go through a stamped structural engineer (typically $1,500–$3,500, itemized).

• Do you handle Title 24 / energy compliance?+

  For CA, NV, and AZ projects we produce energy compliance documentation through our partner energy consultants. The cost varies by jurisdiction and is itemized on the quote.

• Can you work from a napkin sketch, or do I need an architect for SD/DD?+

  Both. We can take a hand sketch + program brief and produce the schematic, design development, and CDs ourselves. Or, if you've already engaged an architect for SD/DD, we take their drawings to permit-ready CDs.

• Do you do interior elevations and millwork?+

  Standard interior elevations (kitchens, baths, built-ins) are in scope. Detailed millwork shop drawings are typically produced by your cabinet shop; we produce the architectural intent drawings that the shop uses.

• Do you stamp drawings?+

  We are a drafting studio, not a licensed architecture or engineering firm. For projects that need a stamp, we partner with licensed architects and engineers in your state and route the drawings through them. The cost of the stamp is itemized separately on your quote so there are no surprises.

• Do you submit permits on my behalf?+

  Yes — for an itemized fee, we file the permit package directly with the AHJ, handle correction cycles, and shepherd the set through to issuance. Or you can take the stamped set and submit it yourself. Your call; either way, the drawing scope is the same.

• What is your revision policy?+

  Every fixed-fee quote includes two rounds of revisions before construction documents are finalized. AHJ corrections (changes the city asks for after submittal) are bundled in — we don't charge extra for plan-check responses. Substantive scope changes after CD freeze are quoted separately at the hourly rate.

• Can you work with my existing GC, engineer, or interior designer?+

  Yes — most of our projects come in this way. We routinely coordinate with general contractors, structural / MEP engineers, kitchen designers, and interior designers your team has already retained. We work in their CAD format, attend their coordination meetings, and produce drawings that bid cleanly against their scope.

• How fast can you turn around a set?+

  Typical permit-set turnaround is 2–5 weeks from a complete brief; complex commercial TI or multifamily can stretch to 8–12 weeks. We commit to dates in writing on the quote and hold them — late-delivery credits are part of the contract.

• What languages do you work in?+

  English, Spanish, and Mandarin. Drafters in all three on staff. We can issue drawing sets bilingually if your trade contractors prefer Spanish — useful in Phoenix, Las Vegas, and Texas markets.