BARDOWL.
Dynamic Drafting Intake
Bardowl Design — New Build & Plan Review
design@bardowl.co  |  314-897-7649
Step 1 of 10
Tell us about your project.
This helps us tailor the intake to your role and your project's starting point. Every question that follows is designed to eliminate guesswork and feed directly into our Revit drafting workflow.
Your role
Homeowner
Builder / Contractor
Architect / Designer
Developer
Other
What are we working with?
Brand new build — no plans yet
Concept or sketch — needs full drafting
Existing plans — need review or redraw
Plans with structural gaps
Your name
Best contact email
Phone (optional)
Project location
Step 2 of 10
Build type.
What kind of structure are we designing?
Project type
Single-family home
Multi-family / Duplex
ADU / Guest house
Cabin / Retreat
Barndominium
Light commercial
Other
Stories
1 Story
1.5 Story
2 Story
2.5 Story
3+ Story
Not sure yet
Approximate size (total sq ft)
2,500 sq ft
Garage
None
1-car attached
2-car attached
3+ car attached
Detached garage
Shop / Outbuilding
Step 3 of 10
Site & geography.
Site conditions determine structural loads, seismic requirements, insulation minimums, and code paths. This prevents redesign later.
Where is the build site?
Lot setting
Urban — city lot, close neighbors
Suburban — neighborhood, standard setbacks
Rural — acreage, open land
Wooded / Heavily treed
Lakefront / Waterfront
Mountain / Hillside
Agricultural / Farm property
Terrain
Flat
Gentle slope
Moderate slope
Steep grade
Mixed / Varies across lot
Not sure
Exposure & wind loads
Sheltered — trees, buildings, low exposure
Moderate — some open exposure, typical neighborhood
Open — hilltop, lakefront, prairie, minimal windbreak
High exposure — coastal, ridge, open plains
Not sure — we'll determine from location
Seismic category
Low risk — central U.S., stable geology
Moderate risk
High risk — West Coast, known fault zones
Not sure — we'll determine from location
Climate zone
Hot-humid (Gulf Coast, Southeast)
Hot-dry (Southwest, desert)
Mixed-humid (Mid-Atlantic, lower Midwest)
Mixed-dry (upper Southwest, intermountain)
Cold (upper Midwest, Northeast, mountain)
Very cold (northern plains, high altitude)
Not sure — we'll determine from location
Known site conditions
Select all that apply.
Flood zone / Flood plain
High water table
Expansive soil / Clay
Rock / Shallow bedrock
Wetland adjacent
Wildfire zone (WUI)
HOA restrictions
Historic district restrictions
None known
Not sure
Step 4 of 10
Function & rooms.
How will this home be used day-to-day? Room count, special spaces, and below-grade decisions drive floor plan layout and structural load paths.
Bedrooms
1
2
3
4
5+
Bathrooms
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5+
Special rooms & features
Select all that apply.
Home office
Media / Theater room
Mudroom
Pantry / Butler's pantry
Laundry room
Bonus room / Flex space
Workshop / Craft room
Wine cellar / Storage
Safe room
Exercise / Gym
Other
Basement
None — slab on grade
Crawl space
Full unfinished — conventional poured walls
Full unfinished — ICF walls
Full finished — conventional poured walls
Full finished — ICF walls
Walkout basement — conventional
Walkout basement — ICF
Not sure yet
Primary living floor
Main level — single story living
Main level — bedrooms upstairs
Main level — primary suite on main, secondary upstairs
Multi-level — living distributed across floors
Not sure yet
Step 5 of 10
Structure & framing.
How the building stands up. Bardowl designs wood-first by default — Douglas Fir glulam is our baseline for primary structural members. Tell us if you have preferences, otherwise we'll specify what's right for the build.
Foundation
Slab on grade — conventional
Slab on grade — post-tensioned
Crawl space — conventional
Crawl space — conditioned
Full basement — poured concrete walls
Full basement — ICF walls
Pier / Post & beam
Helical piles
Not sure — recommend based on site
Primary framing system
Conventional wood frame — 2x4 exterior walls
Conventional wood frame — 2x6 exterior walls
Advanced framing (OVE) — 2x6 @ 24" O.C.
Timber frame / Post & beam
Hybrid — conventional with timber accents
ICF walls — 1st floor or full structure
Steel frame with wood infill
SIP (structural insulated panel) walls
Not sure — recommend
Zone framing
Different framing strategies for different parts of the home.
Same system throughout — keep it simple
Zone framed — different systems by area
Not sure — recommend based on build type
Which zones?
ICF — basement / below grade
ICF — 1st floor walls
ICF — full structure
Conventional frame — upper floors
Timber frame — great room / main living
Steel moment frame — large spans
SIP — roof / upper envelope
Other
Exposed structural elements
Select all that apply.
Exposed beams — interior
Exposed beams — exterior (covered)
Exposed roof decking
Exposed columns / posts
Exposed trusses
Tongue & groove ceiling
Exposed steel connections / hardware
None — all concealed
Open to suggestions
Roof structure
Conventional trusses
Stick-framed rafters
Exposed timber rafters
Timber trusses
SIPs (structural insulated panels)
Hybrid — trusses + exposed timber in select areas
Not sure — recommend
Long spans or special structural conditions
Select all that apply.
Great room / Open living over 20'
Multi-story open volume (double height)
Cantilevered sections
Large window walls / Curtain wall
Rooftop deck / Green roof
Heavy point loads (stone fireplace, hot tub, etc.)
None anticipated
Not sure
Step 6 of 10
Building envelope.
How the building keeps weather out and energy in. Wall assembly, insulation, air sealing, and performance targets.
Wall assembly strategy
Standard — sheathing, housewrap, insulation in cavity
Enhanced — continuous exterior insulation + cavity
High performance — double wall, exterior insulation, or Passive House approach
ICF — insulated concrete form walls
SIP — structural insulated panel walls
Not sure — recommend based on climate zone
Cavity insulation
Fiberglass batt
Blown-in fiberglass
Blown-in cellulose
Open-cell spray foam
Closed-cell spray foam
Mineral wool batt (Rockwool)
None — ICF or SIP handles it
Not sure — recommend
Continuous exterior insulation
None planned
Rigid foam board (XPS / EPS / Polyiso)
Mineral wool board (Rockwool Comfortboard)
Zip-R sheathing (integrated foam)
Not sure — recommend based on climate zone
Air barrier strategy
Standard — housewrap + taped seams
Enhanced — taped sheathing (Zip System or equivalent)
High performance — dedicated air barrier membrane
Spray foam as primary air barrier
ICF / SIP — inherent air barrier
Not sure — recommend
Roof / Attic insulation
Vented attic — insulation on ceiling plane
Unvented / Conditioned attic — insulation at roofline
SIP roof panels
Exterior rigid insulation over roof deck
Combination
Not sure — recommend
Windows & glazing
Standard double-pane, low-E
High performance double-pane (U-0.25 or better)
Triple-pane
Mixed — triple on north/west, double on south/east
Not sure — recommend based on climate
Green building certification or performance target
Select all that apply.
None — just build it well
Energy Star certified
LEED for Homes
Passive House (PHIUS or PHI)
Net Zero ready
DOE Zero Energy Ready Home
NGBS (National Green Building Standard)
Local green program
Interested but not committed — help me decide
Blower door / Air tightness target
Code minimum (typically 3–5 ACH50)
Better than code (2–3 ACH50)
High performance (1–2 ACH50)
Passive House level (0.6 ACH50 or below)
No specific target
Not sure what this means — recommend
Step 7 of 10
Exterior.
The outside of the building — style, roofline, cladding, and outdoor living.
Architectural style direction
Modern / Contemporary
Craftsman
Farmhouse / Modern farmhouse
Mountain / Lodge
Ranch / Prairie
Traditional
Rustic / Cabin
Industrial
Mid-century modern
Coastal
Transitional — blend of styles
Not sure — open to direction
Roof style
Gable
Hip
Shed / Single slope
Flat / Low slope
Butterfly
Combination
Not sure — recommend
Roof pitch preference
Low pitch (2:12 – 4:12)
Medium pitch (5:12 – 8:12)
Steep pitch (9:12 – 12:12)
Mixed pitches
Not sure — recommend based on style
Roofing material
Asphalt shingle
Architectural shingle
Standing seam metal
Corrugated metal
Cedar shake
Synthetic shake / Slate
Clay / Concrete tile
TPO / Membrane (flat roof)
Not sure — recommend
Exterior cladding
Select all that apply.
Wood siding — cedar
Wood siding — Douglas Fir
Board & batten — wood
Board & batten — fiber cement
Fiber cement lap (Hardie or equivalent)
Fiber cement panel
Stone / Stone veneer
Manufactured stone — Affinity stone
Manufactured stone — Versetta stone
Brick
Metal panel
Standing seam metal wall
Stucco — traditional
Stucco — synthetic (EIFS)
Reclaimed / Accent wood
Mixed / Combination
Open to suggestions
Soffit & fascia
Wood — stained or painted
Fiber cement
Aluminum / Metal wrap
Exposed rafter tails — no soffit
Not sure — recommend based on style
Outdoor living
Select all that apply.
Covered front porch
Covered rear porch / Patio
Wraparound porch
Deck — wood
Deck — composite
Screened porch
Three-season room
Outdoor kitchen area
Pergola / Covered structure
Breezeway
None
Outdoor structure materials
Select all that apply.
Exposed glulam beams — exterior treated (Hi-Clear II)
Natural timber posts & columns — exterior treated
Douglas Fir decking (Select Dex)
Cedar decking
Tongue & groove porch ceiling — wood
Timber rafter tails — exposed
Composite decking with wood structure
Steel connectors / Exposed hardware
Open to suggestions — show me what wood-first looks like outside
Exterior features
Select all that apply.
Shutters — functional or decorative
Timber accent brackets / Gable details
Exposed rafter tails
Cupola / Dormer
Porte-cochère / Covered entry drive
Courtyard
Privacy wall / Fencing
Landscape retaining walls
None
Step 8 of 10
Interior.
Layout, ceilings, finishes, and how the inside of the home feels.
Floor plan concept
Open concept — kitchen / living / dining
Semi-open — defined rooms with flow
Traditional — separate rooms
Not sure yet
Ceiling heights (main living areas)
Standard 8'
9'
10'
Vaulted / Cathedral
Mixed heights
Not sure — recommend
Interior exposed wood & timber
Select all that apply.
Exposed glulam beams — natural finish
Exposed glulam beams — stained
Exposed glulam beams — painted / wrapped
Exposed solid timber beams
Exposed timber columns / posts
Exposed timber trusses
Tongue & groove ceiling — Douglas Fir
Tongue & groove ceiling — Cedar
Tongue & groove ceiling — Pine / Whitewood
Exposed roof decking — natural
Wood accent wall / Feature wall
Timber mantel / Fireplace surround
Timber stair components (treads, stringers, posts)
Timber shelving / Built-in millwork
None — all concealed
Open to suggestions — show me what wood-first looks like inside
Primary flooring
Select all that apply.
Hardwood
Engineered hardwood
LVP / Luxury vinyl
Tile — porcelain / ceramic
Concrete — polished / stained
Natural stone
Carpet (bedrooms)
Open to suggestions
Kitchen style
Modern — clean lines, flat panel
Transitional — mix of modern + traditional
Traditional — raised panel, warm tones
Rustic / Farmhouse
Industrial
Not sure yet
Finish level
Builder grade — functional, clean
Mid-range — upgraded fixtures, finishes
High-end — custom details, premium materials
Luxury — no compromises
Interior trim & millwork direction
Minimal — clean reveals, no casing
Modern — flat stock, simple profiles
Traditional — profiled casing, crown, base
Craftsman — wide trim, detailed headers
Rustic — rough sawn, natural character
Not sure — recommend based on style
Step 9 of 10
Energy & systems.
Mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and energy systems that affect structural design, framing layout, and wall cavities.
Heating / Cooling
Central forced air — gas furnace + AC
Central forced air — heat pump
Mini-split / Ductless heat pump
Radiant floor — hydronic
Radiant floor — electric
Geothermal
Wood stove / Pellet stove (primary)
Combination
Not sure — recommend
Hot water
Standard tank — gas
Standard tank — electric
Tankless — gas
Tankless — electric
Heat pump water heater
Solar thermal pre-heat
Not sure — recommend
Ventilation strategy
Standard — bath fans + range hood
Whole-house supply ventilation
ERV (energy recovery ventilator)
HRV (heat recovery ventilator)
Balanced system — ERV/HRV + dedicated supply/exhaust
Not sure — recommend based on envelope tightness
Electrical service
Standard 200 amp
Upgraded 400 amp (large home, shop, EV, heavy loads)
Not sure — recommend based on scope
Fireplaces
Select all types needed.
Wood burning — masonry
Wood burning — zero clearance / Prefab
Gas — direct vent
Gas — ventless
Electric
Outdoor fireplace / Fire pit (gas)
Outdoor fireplace / Fire pit (wood)
None
Fireplace locations
Select all rooms that will have a fireplace.
Living room / Great room
Family room
Primary bedroom
Primary bathroom
Kitchen
Dining room
Home office / Study
Basement
Screened porch
Covered patio / Outdoor living
Other
Mantel
Timber — natural edge / Live edge
Timber — hewn / Rustic
Timber — clean / Milled
Glulam — Douglas Fir
Timber with corbels
Timber with legs / Full surround
Wood — painted / Wrapped
No mantel — clean wall
Surround & Hearth
Natural stone — full surround
Stacked stone / Ledgestone
Manufactured stone — Affinity stone
Manufactured stone — Versetta stone
Brick — traditional
Brick — thin brick veneer
Granite slab
Marble slab
Concrete — poured or precast
Tile — porcelain / ceramic
Plaster / Stucco finish
Metal — steel or blackened iron
Floor-to-ceiling stone / Masonry
Other
Different treatments by room?
If fireplaces differ by room, note here.
Renewable & backup energy
Select all that apply.
Solar PV — roof mounted
Solar PV — ground mounted
Solar-ready rough-in only
Battery storage (Tesla Powerwall or equivalent)
Whole-home generator — natural gas
Whole-home generator — propane
Portable generator hookup only
Wind turbine
None planned
Smart home & low voltage
Select all that apply.
Structured wiring / Cat6 to all rooms
Whole-home audio
Smart lighting control
Smart thermostat
Security system — wired
Security cameras — pre-wired
Motorized shades rough-in
EV charging — Level 2 (240V)
EV charging — multiple bays
Central vacuum rough-in
None
Plumbing considerations
Select all that apply.
Standard municipal water + sewer
Well water
Septic system
Water softener / Filtration
Recirculating hot water loop
Outdoor shower
Pool / Spa rough-in
Greywater system
Rainwater collection
None of the above
Step 10 of 10
Budget, timeline & final notes.
We don't need exact numbers — just enough to make sure we're designing within reality, not around it.
Total construction budget range
Under $250K
$250K – $500K
$500K – $750K
$750K – $1M
$1M – $2M
$2M+
Prefer not to say
When do you want to break ground?
ASAP — within 3 months
3 – 6 months
6 – 12 months
12+ months — still planning
No firm timeline
Do you have a builder selected?
Yes — under contract
Yes — verbal agreement
Interviewing builders
No — haven't started
I am the builder
Do you have land / lot secured?
Yes — own it
Yes — under contract
Still looking
Building on existing property
Has a survey been completed?
Yes — have current survey
Yes — but it's outdated
No
Not sure
Has a soil / Geotech report been done?
Yes — have report
No
Scheduled
Not sure
What matters most to you about this build?
Select all that apply.
Budget discipline
Design quality
Energy efficiency
Speed to completion
Resale value
Natural materials
Low maintenance
Aging in place
Privacy
Views / Orientation to site
Indoor-outdoor connection
Inspiration or reference images
Pinterest boards, Houzz saves, photos — paste links or describe what you're drawn to.
Anything else we should know?
HOA restrictions, site challenges, accessibility needs, deal-breakers, or non-negotiables.
Which Bardowl Design services do you need?
Select all that apply. Each is scoped and priced independently.
Full drafting package
Structural layout
Material takeoff (MTO)
3D visualization / Renders
Not sure — help me decide
Review Your Intake
Everything we need to get started.
Review your selections below. When you submit, this intake feeds directly into our Revit workflow. You'll receive a response with estimated pricing and confirmed scope within one business day.
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Intake received.
Your intake has been submitted to Bardowl Design. You'll receive a response within one business day with estimated pricing, confirmed scope, and next steps.
Clarity before commitment. That's the work.