Drafting & Design of East Tennessee

Another master suite addition. Beautiful home on an amazing site that the family did not want to leave but is instead remodeling to meet their growing needs. Here is a rendering of the proposed addition.

Another smaller project getting ready to break ground in East Tennessee. Thank you Tim, it has been a pleasure working with you!

You can find this new home going up at 708 Richland St, Columbia SC. Thanks to builder Matt Varner. And thank you Lyudmila for your assistance on the renderings!

Completed another barndominium for a homesteader in Vonore Tennessee. These services included a floor plan, elevations & 3d views. Now the builder is ready to get started! (Another great thing about living in Monroe County is how little "red tape" is needed to apply for a building permit.)

This project has been an enjoyable design both for the challenge and the folks I have gotten the chance to work with. Below is a quick rendering of this two story porch enclosed to become a new master bath on the first floor and a laundry room on the second.

Another home designed in partnership with Columbia Builders LLC.

Here are two complete "Barndominiums". The first one is over 12k sq.ft. that utilizes "eco-panels" walls, "superior" wall foundations and engineered sub-floor and trusses.
The second one has a large workshop with nice living areas on the south side.

Announcing a new name for Shales Design Services. Drafting & Design of East Tennessee! Thank you Brett for all your help with the logo!
Also, an updated website:
https://draftingdesigneasttn.com/
Thank you all for your support. It means so much!

Just finished up a commercial job @ 1407 Elmwood Ave. A two story deck on a historic residence turned salon. Thank you Russell Driggers for your partnership!

Are you new to the area but bought a home without a deck or need it replaced? Consider the following four reasons why a deck is a great project to consider.

1) Increased Property Value: Adding a deck can enhance the overall value of your property. Potential buyers often view a well-maintained deck as an attractive feature, making your home more appealing and potentially leading to a higher resale value. According to HouseBeautiful.com, a deck or outdoor living space is one of the features that consistently is present when a home sells for above asking price.

2) Enhanced Aesthetics: A well-designed deck can significantly improve the appearance of your home's exterior. It provides an outdoor space for relaxation, entertaining guests, and enjoying the natural surroundings, which can boost the overall curb appeal of your property.

3) Connection with Nature: A deck can enhance your lifestyle by encouraging you to spend more time outdoors, leading to a healthier and more enjoyable daily routine. It's a retreat within your own home, offering a place to unwind and relax. Spending time outdoors has numerous mental and physical health benefits. It can often provide a peaceful and relaxing environment right at your doorstep.

4) Cost-Effective Extension: Compared to adding a room or other structural renovations, building a deck is often a more cost-effective way to expand your living space. The cost per square foot is generally lower for a deck compared to interior additions. Many modern decking materials are designed to be durable and require minimal maintenance, especially if you opt for materials like composite decking. Regular cleaning and occasional staining or sealing are usually all that's needed to keep a deck looking great.

Shales Design Services can help you take the next step towards the deck you have in mind by creating for you the design that will bless your home and family for years to come.

Another project for Christ Central @ Mission Lake.

https://www.christcentralministries.org/mission-lake

Hello Homeowners of Monroe, McMinn and Loudon counties.
How would you go about finding a good residential contractor? Especially if you are new to the area.
Below are 5 tips that might help you find a good fit for you and your project.
1. Try your hometown local building supply store, and ask for a short list of contractors. A good contractor is one who has developed relationships in the community and that means they are often known by the suppliers who are doing the same. Although this list might be biased, it will give you a starting point to match names that may come up again and again.
If you are in Monroe County try visiting here:(https://www.facebook.com/ValleyBuildingSupplyTN)
2. Realize that a Google search may be limited. Here is why: the contractors that are in high demand often don’t have a compelling reason to spend the time and money to have a heavy internet presence. If you find one online who gives you a long lead time, they can often be worth the wait.
3. This one is a little technical but worth it. Under the Freedom of Information Act, you are permitted to ask your county for public information to be provided to you. This includes all construction permits issued in your area. What does this give you? The golden list of who is working, where and how often. For example: you may ask for permits pulled for the last 3 months on new and existing homes (additions). They may not give you the name of the construction company but it will show the contractor who was issued the permit and the address it was located for. If you get the list but have trouble sorting it out, contact me and I’ll help you through it.
4. Your realtor! They are a great source of connections in most cases. If your agent was not local, try reaching out to the seller's agent for recommendations.
5. Last but not least… me! It is part of my job to form relationships with reliable contractors in the area and what better way than to find one who values the processes of good planning? Give me a call. Regardless of whether or not you use my services, I would be happy to listen to your project details and do my best to match you with a contractor who will serve you well.

Drafting & Design of East Tennessee Design-Drafting-Asbuilts
Working with Homeowners to Build Better Homes and Additions

This home was built in 1890. If walls could talk....
The homeowner has contracted SDS to create existing drawings and then create remodel plans. This home was built without bathrooms and the kitchen is simply a room with no plumbing. Excited to see this project move forward.

Here is a rendering of a project that started out as a detached garage but transitioned to an attached option in the Historic section of Sweetwater TN. With the requirement that the addition not alter the existing street view we were able to pull off a four car garage design.

For the past month Ralph Walden and I have been working on a gym addition for GETHSEMANE BAPTIST CHURCH in Lexington SC.
This rendering was made by Som Souvong ([email protected])

Here is another addition and remodel by Greg Marcy Design. The large screen porch and kitchen remodel plans was a collaborative effort with a focus on cost savings.

Here is a remodel that doubles the square footage of the existing home without changing anything from the street view. The schematic was created by Gregory Marcy Design (the beautiful sketch attached) and I was hired to convert into constructions documents.

Hello All,
It has been awhile but I'm back at it. Here is a new design for a local client. A garage addition that they have been dreaming about for a long time.

Hello All!
I'm in transition for the foreseeable future and will not be able to take on any additional work. Thank you so much for your support and positive reviews of the years.

My brother got me this shirt. No really.

Here is a rendering that Dean and myself have completed for City Light.

Since you guys seem to like animals so much... meet "Stig", my latest helper. He enjoyed batting my tape measure.

I have found this to be true. Maybe not working for free but placing a high value on the experience and knowledge gained vs. money alone. (Proverbs 14:23)

The Incredible Power of Working for Free – Hacker Noon When I was growing up, my dad talked often about income statement thinking vs. balance sheet thinking.

One of my favorite builders to work with.

During a kitchen remodel project I had a little help from the homeowner's dog. Although, he was happy to see me leave.

The Clark Building on State Street West Columbia. We have finished the upfit phase of this project with some much needed improvements to the rear of this historic building. Call Mary Winter for leasing info. Thank you Ralph Walden (architect) Benny McDaniel (electrical), Mike Vaught(hvac/plumbing) and James Caulder (structural) for your help!

A home located in the Five Points neighborhood. One of the strangest floor plans I have come across and one we are going to fix!

A home in Columbia that is looking to add a bedroom on the 2nd floor and a dinette expansion. Will update as the plan unfolds.

West Columbia home along the river that needs a lot of TLC. Will update you all as things progress.

Upcoming project for some friends I have known for years. Andy and Diane. I'll be modeling the roof of their new home to look something like the photo attached.